The Meaning of the Shahadah: Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah
The testimony Muhammad Rasoolullaah means affirming with the tongue and believing in the heart that Muhammad ibn ‘Abdullah al-Qurashi al-Hashimi is the Messenger of Allah to all creation—both jinn and mankind.
Allah, the Most High, says:
"Verily! I am Allah’s Messenger to you all. He is the One to whom the dominion of the heavens and the earth belongs; none has the right to be worshipped but Him; It is He Who gives life and causes death.
So believe in Allah and His Messenger, the Prophet who can neither read nor write, who believes in Allah and in His Words [this Qur’an] and follow him so that you may be guided."— [Qur’an, Surah Al-A’raaf (7): 158]
He also says:
"Blessed be He Who sent down the Criterion [the Qur’an] to His slave [Muhammad] that he may be a warner to the ‘Aalameen (mankind and jinn)." — [Qur’an, Surah Al-Furqan (25): 1]
What This Shahadah Requires
-To believe in everything the Messenger informed you of.
-To obey all his commands.
-To avoid what he forbade.
-To worship Allah only in the way he prescribed.
It also means:
-Not to believe that the Messenger has any share in Allah’s Lordship (Ar-Ruboobiyyah) or control over creation.
-Not to worship the Messenger in any way; he is a slave and servant of Allah, not to be worshipped.
-He is a Messenger who must not be disbelieved.
-He cannot bring harm or benefit except by Allah’s will.
Allah says:
"Say [O Muhammad]: 'I do not tell you that with me are the treasures of Allah, nor that I know the unseen; nor do I say that I am an angel. I only follow what is revealed to me.'" — [Qur’an, Surah Al-An’am (6): 50]
And:
"Say [O Muhammad]: 'It is not in my power to cause you harm or to guide you to the right path. None can protect me from Allah’s punishment except Him alone.'"— [Qur’an, Surah Al-Jinn (72): 21-22]
Also:
"Say [O Muhammad]: 'I possess no power of benefit or harm to myself except as Allah wills. If I had knowledge of the unseen, I would have secured for myself an abundance of wealth, and no evil would have touched me. I am but a warner and a bringer of glad tidings to those who believe.'"— [Qur’an, Surah Al-A’raaf (7): 188]
Summary
From this testimony, one understands that:
-No creation deserves worship—not the Messenger nor anyone else.
-Worship is for Allah alone.
-The Messenger’s right is to be honored as Allah’s slave and Messenger, nothing more.
Source: Translated by Dr. Saleh as-Saleh, from Understanding Worship – Fiqh ul-‘Ibadah by Shaykh Ibn Uthaymeen
https://abdurrahman.org/2015/02/15/the-meaning-of-muhammad-is-the-messenger-of-allaah-shaykh-ibn-uthaymeen/
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