Ashhadu
alla ilaha illallahu wa ashhadu anna Muhammadan ‘abduhu wa rasuluh.
I bear witness that
there is no deity worthy of worship except Allah, and I bear witness that
Muhammad (pbuh) is His servant and Messenger.
This testimony is an integral
part of the Tashahhud (the testimony) that I recited at the beginning of my
sermon and is a fundamental aspect of Islamic life, whether in Salat (prayer)
or in every aspect of a Muslim believer's life. This testimony prevents anyone
from considering the greatest and seal of prophets, Hazrat Muhammad (pbuh), or
any person or thing on this earth as equal to Allah.
As the Khalifatullah
and Messenger of Allah in this era, it is important for me to present to you
what I, as a believing Muslim, hold to be true. First and foremost, I firmly
believe in the existence of an All-Powerful God Who is perfect in all His
attributes. Allah is a Being without any flaws, weaknesses, imperfections,
insufficiencies, laziness, and He lacks nothing and never forgets. None of the
human or animal weaknesses that afflict His creatures affect Him, the Creator.
He possesses all excellent qualities at the highest level, beyond the full
understanding and realization of humanity.