Although currently still a small minority, there is a modern movement among Muslims
that vigorously rejects such an assertion, denying that the Shahadah is an essential act
or profession of the Islamic faith. These groups contend that there isn’t a single
passage in the Quran requiring Muslims to utter this statement of faith. They insist
that the Quran defines the true Shahadah as being nothing more than a declaration of
Allah’s unity. They even accuse those Muslims who uphold this pillar of committing
idolatry:
This is the true shahada of God, the angels and those
who possess knowledge. See 3:18
Many Muslims insist on adding Muhammed's name to the shahada, defying God and
the idea of keeping the religion absolutely to GOD ALONE. No where in the Quran can we
find Muhammed's name added to the name of God in the shahada. The statement,
"Muhammed Rasoul Allah" is a statement of fact and should not be confused with
the statement of shahada that we bearwitness [sic].
The first pillar of Islam, (Shahada) is the same first commandment given to Moses , and
it has to be the same commandment given to all the prophets and messengers.
"I, the Lord, am your God who brought you out of
the Land of Egypt, that place of slavery. You shall not
have any other gods beside me. ....." Deuteronomy 5:6
"We did not send any messenger before you (O Muhammed) except with the inspiration
: "There is no god except Me; you shall worship Me ALONE." 21 :25
The Islamic Shahada ( that equals the first commandment) is mentioned in 3:18
"God bears witness that there is no god
except He, and so do the angels and THOSE WHO POSSESS KNOWLEDGE. Truthfully and equitably,
He is the absolute god; there is no god but He, the Almighty, Most wise." 3:18
(Source)
Islamic exegisists have always maintained that the confession of faith,
the "shahada", which is the first cornerstone of Islam is twofold and reads :
"I bear witness that there is no God but Allah
and that Muhammad is His servant and messenger."
These exegisists are misleading those who claim to be Muslims, and those who claim to
be Muslims are, by following these exegisists, buying hell for salvation.
Hell, they should remember, is forever.
These exegisists refuse to accept the clear injunctions of the Quran and insist on
reiterating their corrupted confession of faith and associating the name of Muhammad with
that of God.
In fact, based exclusively on the Quran, the confession of faith as expounded by the
exegisists leads to perdition, if only they knew. Ibliss has so adorned
their idolatry in their eyes that they are absolutely convinced of the rightness of their
ways in spite of the Quran.
In the first place, God Himself lays down the confession of faith that is acceptable to
Him. In Chapter 3, 'Ali-I'mran, at verse 18, God, in His infinite mercy, gives
us the right confession of faith.
"God bears witness that there is no god but Him
and so do the angels and those possessed of knowledge. In justice, there is no god but
Him, He is the exalted, the wise."
This is the confession that God Himself bears witness to. It makes no mention of any
human being Muhammad included. It must therefore stand as the confession which God
sanctions for His servants and they have absolutely no right to deviate from it.
As for "...and Muhammad is His servant and His
messenger." this is a statement of absolute fact. Anyone
refusing to accept Muhammad as a messenger of God and the seal of His prophets falls
outside the pale of Islam. The correct answer to the question 'is Muhammad a
messenger of God and the last of the prophets?' is 'with certitude he is!'. It
is not part of the confession of faith as dictated by God, but merely a statement of
fact…
We have presented evidence, based exclusively on the Quran, beyond reasonable doubt,
that those who insist upon including Muhammad's name in the confession of faith are, in
fact, discriminating in his favour and are therefore not believers.
What, then, are they? Again the Quran tells us. Chapter
63, Al-Munafiqoon, verse 1 states:
"When the hypocrites come to you they say 'We bear
witness that you are the messenger of God' God knows that you are His messenger, and God
bears witness that the hypocrites are liars."
It is significant that God uses the term knows that Muhammad is His
messenger. He does not use the phrase bears witness. This further reinforces
the concept that it is a fact that Muhammad is God's messenger but not the confession
of faith. Had it been the confession of faith God would have said "God bears
witness that you are His messenger." He does not; it is the Hypocrites
who bear witness that Muhammad is God's messenger whereas God knows that Muhammad is His
messenger and bears witness that the Hypocrites are liars.
Some misguided people claim that the two parts of the confession of faith are in the
Quran with the second part, 'Muhammad is His messenger', is stated at chapter 63,
Al-Munafiqoon, verse 1.
They should read it more carefully. They will find that the phrase 'bear(s)
witness' is used, in connection with Muhammad, only by the hypocrites, not by God as
explained above. God does bears witness that they are liars though.
Thus if they insist on this verse to support their claim, they are in fact using the
confession of faith of the hypocrites who are, by God's testimony, liars…
God nowhere in the Quran commands us to bear witness that Muhammad is His messenger but
He does, however, command us to accept him as the messenger and to believe him and
encourage and support him and follow the light that was sent down to us with him.
(Source)