The second part of the testimony of faith, “Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah”, has seven conditions which have to be fulfilled in order for it to benefit the one who utters it.

FIRST CONDITION

To acknowledge the fact that Muhammad ﷺ has been sent as a Messenger with a Message and to believe in that in one’s heart.

SECOND CONDITION

To state this acknowledgement explicitly with the tongue.

The evidence for both of these conditions is the statement of Allah the Exalted:

إِنَّمَا المُؤمِنونَ الَّذينَ آمَنوا بِاللَّهِ وَرَسولِهِ ثُمَّ لَم يَرتابوا وَجاهَدوا بِأَموالِهِم وَأَنفُسِهِم في سَبيلِ اللَّهِ ۚ أُولٰئِكَ هُمُ الصّادِقونَ

{The believers are only those who have believed in Allah and His Messenger and then doubt not, but strive with their properties and their lives in the cause of Allah. It is those who are the truthful}

[al-Hujurat (49): 15]

And He the Exalted said:

تِلكَ آياتُ اللَّهِ نَتلوها عَلَيكَ بِالحَقِّ ۚ وَإِنَّكَ لَمِنَ المُرسَلينَ

{These are the Verses of Allah, We recite them to you in truth, and surely, you are one of the Messengers (of Allah).}

[al-Baqarah (2): 252]

THIRD CONDITION

Following him by practising the truth he came with and abandoning the falsehood he prohibited.

Allah the Exalted said:

قُل إِن كُنتُم تُحِبّونَ اللَّهَ فَاتَّبِعوني يُحبِبكُمُ اللَّهُ وَيَغفِر لَكُم ذُنوبَكُم ۗ وَاللَّهُ غَفورٌ رَحيمٌ

{Say, if indeed you love Allah, then follow me and Allah will love you and forgive you your sins. Allah is Oft-Pardoning and the Giver of Extensive Mercy}

[Aal-‘Imran (3): 31]

And Allah the Exalted said:

وَرَحمَتي وَسِعَت كُلَّ شَيءٍ ۚ فَسَأَكتُبُها لِلَّذينَ يَتَّقونَ وَيُؤتونَ الزَّكاةَ وَالَّذينَ هُم بِآياتِنا يُؤمِنونَ

…الَّذينَ يَتَّبِعونَ الرَّسولَ النَّبِيَّ الأُمِّيَّ

{…And My mercy encompasses everything. I will decree it (especially) for those who fear (Me) and pay the zakah and those who believe in Our verses. Those who follow the Messenger, the unlettered Prophet…}

[al-A’raf (7): 156-7]

And the Exalted said:

فَآمِنوا بِاللَّهِ وَرَسولِهِ النَّبِيِّ الأُمِّيِّ الَّذي يُؤمِنُ بِاللَّهِ وَكَلِماتِهِ وَاتَّبِعوهُ لَعَلَّكُم تَهتَدونَ

{…So believe in Allah and His Messenger, the unlettered Prophet, who believes in Allah and His Words, and follow him so that you may be guided}

[al-A’raf (7): 158]

FOURTH CONDITION

Truly believing in what he came with in terms of commandments, prohibitions, knowledge of the unseen, the past, the future and other than that.

Allah the Exalted said:

وَما آتاكُمُ الرَّسولُ فَخُذوهُ وَما نَهاكُم عَنهُ فَانتَهوا

{And whatever the Messenger gives you, take it, and whatever he forbids you from, abstain from it}

[al-Hashr (59): 7]

Abu Sa’id al-Khudri reported from the Messenger of Allah ﷺ who said:

“…do you not trust me while I am the trusted by the One Who is above the heavens? The news of the heavens comes to me morning and evening…”

Reported by al-Bukhari, no. 4094 and Muslim, no. 1064.

FIFTH CONDITION

Loving him more than loving oneself, one’s wealth, parents. children and all people.

Anas b. Malik reported from the Messenger of Allah ﷺ that he said:

“None of you (completely) believes, until I am dearer to him than his parents, his children and all people.”

Reported by al-Bukhari, no. 15 and Muslim, no. 44.

Abu Hurayrah reported from the Messenger of Allah ﷺ that he said:

“By the One in Whose Hands is my soul, none of you (completely) believes until I am dearer to him than his parents and his children.”

Reported by al-Bukhari, no. 14.

Another evidence in this regard:

‘Abd Allah b. Hisham said:

“We were with the Prophet ﷺ and he took the hand of ‘Umar. So ‘Umar said to him:

“O Messenger of Allah, you are indeed dearer to me than everything except for myself.”

The Prophet ﷺ said:

“No, by the One in Whose Hand is my soul, not until I am dearer to you than yourself.”

So ‘Umar said:

“Indeed, now by Allah, you are surely dearer to me than myself.”

The Prophet ﷺ said:

“Now, O ‘Umar.””

Reported by al-Bukhari, 6257.

SIXTH CONDITION

Giving precedence to his words over all people whoever they maybe, and acting upon his ﷺ Sunnah.

Allah the Exalted said:

يا أَيُّهَا الَّذينَ آمَنوا لا تُقَدِّموا بَينَ يَدَيِ اللَّهِ وَرَسولِهِ ۖ وَاتَّقُوا اللَّهَ ۚ إِنَّ اللَّهَ سَميعٌ عَليمٌ

{O you who have believed, do not put yourself ahead of Allah and His Messenger. Fear Allah. Indeed, Allah is All-Hearing and All-Knowing.}

[al-Hujurat (49): 1]

SEVENTH CONDITION

Exalting him ﷺ, respecting him, honouring him and considering him to be great. It also means to exalt, revere, respect and honour what he came with from Allah, which is the Book and the Pure Sunnah.

This cannot be achieved except by acting upon them both and having a love for them both which is greater than the love one has for himself.

Allah the Exalted said:

إِنّا أَرسَلناكَ شاهِدًا وَمُبَشِّرًا وَنَذيرًا

لِتُؤمِنوا بِاللَّهِ وَرَسولِهِ وَتُعَزِّروهُ وَتُوَقِّروهُ

{Indeed We have sent you as a witness, and a bringer of good tidings and a warner. So that you may believe in Allah and His Messenger and tu’azziruhu and tuwaqqiruhu…}

[al-Fath (48): 8-9]

The meaning of {tu’azziruhu} as stated by Ibn ‘Abbas and others is: to exalt him.

The meaning of {tuwaqqiruhu} comes from tawqir: to respect, hold in esteem and revere as stated in the tafsir of Ibn Kathir.

Source:

Muhammad b. ‘Abd al-Wahhab al-Wasabi al-‘Abdali, al-Qawl al-Mufid fi Adillat al-Tawhid, (San’a: Maktabat al-Irshad, 1427/2006), pp. 36-8.