Creed and SunnahThe Meaning and Requirements of the Testimony That Muhammad Is the Messenger of Allah
All praise is due to Allah, Lord of all the worlds. May Allah’s peace and blessings be upon our Prophet Muhammad, his family, and all his Companions.
The testimony that Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah is the second testimony by which a servant enters Islam. The two testimonies are inseparable; after his mission began, a person cannot enter Islam while denying or rejecting his message. This testimony is not merely knowing his name or uttering words that leave no effect. Rather, it is an affirmation by the tongue, a belief in the heart, and submission to what he brought, peace and blessings be upon him.
The better a Muslim understands its meaning, the better one knows how to combine loving and honoring the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, with devoting worship sincerely to Allah alone. The Muslim believes him, follows him, does not disobey him, and preserves his proper status without neglect or exaggeration.
Allah, the Exalted, says:
{Say, “O humanity! I am Allah’s Messenger to you all. To Him alone belongs the kingdom of the heavens and the earth. None has the right to be worshipped except Him. He gives life and causes death. 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-Araf: 158].
Article sectionWhat Does the Testimony That Muhammad Is the Messenger of Allah Mean?
It means that a Muslim testifies with knowledge, certainty, and truthfulness that Muhammad ibn Abdullah, peace and blessings be upon him, is truly Allah’s servant and Messenger, whom Allah sent to all jinn and humankind; that he is the final Prophet and Messenger; and that everything he brought from Allah is true and must be accepted and followed.
Its requirements are summarized in four well-known, comprehensive statements:
- Believing him in everything he reported.
- Obeying him in everything he commanded.
- Avoiding everything he prohibited and warned against.
- Worshipping Allah only in the manner he legislated.
These meanings are derived from the texts of the Quran and Sunnah; they are not slogans detached from action. See: The Meaning of the Two Testimonies.
For an explanation of the first testimony, see La Ilaha Illallah: Meaning and Conditions.
Article sectionWhy Do We Say: His Servant and Messenger?
Describing him as both a servant and a Messenger brings the truth together and protects a Muslim from two opposite forms of deviation:
- He is Allah’s servant: he is not worshipped, he is not invoked besides Allah, and he possesses none of the exclusive qualities of Allah’s Lordship or divinity.
- He is Allah’s Messenger: he must be believed, obeyed, and followed, and no one’s statement may be given precedence over his Sunnah once it has been authentically established and correctly understood.
Allah, the Exalted, says:
{Muhammad is not the father of any of your men, but he is the Messenger of Allah and the seal of the prophets. Allah has perfect knowledge of all things.} [Al-Ahzab: 40].
The verse affirms his prophethood and that prophethood ended with him. This requires believing that there will be no prophet after him and that anyone who claims prophethood after him is a liar.
Umar ibn Al-Khattab, may Allah be pleased with him, reported that he heard the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, say:
“Do not exaggerate in praising me as the Christians exaggerated in praising the son of Maryam. I am only His servant, so say: the servant of Allah and His Messenger.”
Narrated by Al-Bukhari (3445). Exaggerated praise means exceeding the proper limit in praising someone.
Neglecting his rights is misguidance, and exaggerating his status is also misguidance. Guidance is to love, honor, and follow him while believing that he is a servant who must not be worshipped and a Messenger who must be believed and followed.
Article sectionFirst: Believing Him in Everything He Reported
Every report authentically established from the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, is true because he conveyed it from Allah. This applies whether it concerns Allah and His names and attributes, the angels and prophets, accounts of earlier nations, what will occur after death, or the rulings of what is lawful and unlawful.
Allah, the Exalted, says:
{Nor does he speak from his own desire. It is only a revelation sent down to him.} [An-Najm: 3-4].
The testimony also requires believing that he, peace and blessings be upon him, conveyed his Lord’s message completely, fulfilled the trust, sincerely advised the Ummah, and concealed nothing that Allah commanded him to convey.
Allah, the Exalted, says:
{O Messenger! Convey everything revealed to you from your Lord. If you do not, then you have not conveyed His message. Allah will protect you from the people. Indeed, Allah does not guide the disbelieving people.} [Al-Maidah: 67].
This does not mean that every statement circulated among people and attributed to him is authentic. The authenticity of a hadith must first be verified, and then it must be understood according to the language, the other revealed texts, and the understanding of qualified scholars.
Pausing to confirm whether a hadith is authentic or asking about its meaning is not denying the Messenger, peace and blessings be upon him. What is prohibited is rejecting a hadith merely because of personal desire, an opposing custom, or an opinion preferred over revelation after its authenticity and meaning have become clear.
For more detail, see How to Verify a Hadith or Islamic Information.
Article sectionSecond: Obeying Him in Everything He Commanded
Obedience to the Messenger, peace and blessings be upon him, is obedience to Allah because Allah sent him and commanded people to follow him.
Allah, the Exalted, says:
{Whoever obeys the Messenger has truly obeyed Allah. As for those who turn away, We have not sent you as a keeper over them.} [An-Nisa: 80].
Abu Hurayrah, may Allah be pleased with him, reported that the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, said:
“All of my Ummah will enter Paradise except those who refuse.” They asked, “O Messenger of Allah, who would refuse?” He replied, “Whoever obeys me will enter Paradise, and whoever disobeys me has refused.”
Narrated by Al-Bukhari (7280).
Obedience applies to what is authentically established from him, peace and blessings be upon him, and includes his commands concerning creed, worship, dealings, and character. When his command conflicts with personal desire or people’s customs, a Muslim gives precedence to his command while consulting qualified scholars to determine the text’s authenticity and meaning and to reconcile the relevant evidence.
Article sectionThird: Avoiding Everything He Prohibited and Warned Against
Just as the testimony requires obeying his commands, it requires leaving what he prohibited, because declaring things lawful or unlawful is Allah’s right, and His Messenger, peace and blessings be upon him, conveyed His law.
Allah, the Exalted, says:
{Let those who oppose his command beware, lest a trial afflict them or a painful punishment befall them.} [An-Nur: 63].
This does not mean that every person who commits a sin has invalidated the testimony and left Islam. Sins vary. A sinner who acknowledges Allah’s ruling but is overcome by desire is not like someone who denies the Messenger or rejects the foundation of his message. Nevertheless, the sinner bears sin according to the degree of disobedience, faith decreases, and repentance is required. The testimony must not be used as an argument for treating the Messenger’s commands and prohibitions lightly.
Article sectionFourth: Worshipping Allah Only in the Manner He Legislated
Worship is founded upon sincerity to Allah and following His Messenger, peace and blessings be upon him. Merely intending good is not enough. A person may not invent an act of worship or restrict an unrestricted act of worship to a particular cause, form, time, place, or number while believing it possesses a special virtue without evidence.
Allah, the Exalted, says:
{Indeed, in the Messenger of Allah you have an excellent example for whoever hopes in Allah and the Last Day and remembers Allah often.} [Al-Ahzab: 21].
Aishah, may Allah be pleased with her, reported that the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, said:
“Whoever introduces into this matter of ours something that does not belong to it will have it rejected.”
Narrated by Al-Bukhari (2697) and Muslim (1718). “Rejected” means that it is returned to its doer and not accepted.
In another narration in Muslim:
“Whoever performs a deed that is not in accordance with our matter will have it rejected.”
Narrated by Muslim (1718).
This includes both a person who invents an act of worship and a person who practices an innovated act introduced by someone else. Beneficial worldly or organizational means that serve a legislated act of worship without themselves being treated as worship are not called religious innovations merely because their form is new, provided they do not oppose a revealed text or become an independent act of worship. The distinction between an act of worship and a means serving it is determined by the evidence and qualified scholars, not by personal approval alone.
For more detail, see Bid‘ah in Islam: Meaning, Guidelines, and Maslahah Mursalah.
Article sectionFollowing the Sunnah According to the Companions’ Understanding
The Companions, may Allah be pleased with them, were the most knowledgeable people concerning the Prophet’s intent, peace and blessings be upon him. They witnessed revelation, heard its explanation, learned directly from him, practiced the Sunnah, and transmitted it to the Ummah. Following the Sunnah therefore does not mean separating its texts from the Companions’ understanding and the way they reconciled the evidence.
Al-Irbad ibn Sariyah, may Allah be pleased with him, reported:
The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, led us in prayer one day. He then turned to us and delivered a profound admonition that caused eyes to shed tears and hearts to tremble. Someone said, “O Messenger of Allah, this sounds like the admonition of someone bidding farewell, so what do you instruct us?” He said, “I advise you to fear Allah and to hear and obey, even if an Abyssinian slave is placed in authority over you. Whoever among you lives after me will see much disagreement. You must therefore adhere to my Sunnah and the Sunnah of the rightly guided caliphs. Hold firmly to it and bite onto it with your molar teeth. Beware of newly introduced matters, for every newly introduced matter is an innovation, and every innovation is misguidance.”
Narrated by Abu Dawud (4607) and authenticated by Al-Albani.
The Companions, may Allah be pleased with them, are the best of this Ummah after its Prophet and the most knowledgeable concerning his Sunnah and intent. Allah and His Messenger praised them; they witnessed revelation, received its explanation directly from the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, and conveyed the religion to those who came after them. Their consensus is authoritative, and their understanding of the texts takes precedence over the understanding of those who oppose their way because they were the Ummah’s most complete generation in knowledge, faith, and adherence.
Article sectionLoving and Following the Prophet, Peace and Blessings Be Upon Him
Loving the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, is obligatory. It appears through giving precedence to his Sunnah, rejoicing in his guidance, defending his honor, loving his family, his wives who are the Mothers of the Believers, and his Companions, learning his biography, sending peace and blessings upon him, and following his character and worship.
Anas, may Allah be pleased with him, reported that the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, said:
“None of you truly believes until I am more beloved to him than his father, his child, and all people.”
Narrated by Al-Bukhari (15) and Muslim (44).
Allah, the Exalted, says:
{Say, “If you love Allah, then follow me; Allah will love you and forgive your sins. Allah is All-Forgiving, Most Merciful.” Say, “Obey Allah and the Messenger.” If they turn away, then Allah does not love the disbelievers.} [Ali Imran: 31-32].
Sincere love leads to following. It is not a claim that permits disobeying his command or inventing acts of worship he did not legislate. For more detail, see Loving the Prophet Muhammad: Meaning and Signs.
Article sectionHonoring the Prophet Without Neglect or Exaggeration
Properly honoring him includes respecting him, believing his reports, supporting his Sunnah, observing good manners when mentioning him, sending peace and blessings upon him, and not placing opinions and desires before his guidance.
Allah, the Exalted, says:
{Indeed, Allah and His angels send blessings upon the Prophet. O believers! Send blessings and abundant peace upon him.} [Al-Ahzab: 56].
Exaggeration, however, is not legitimate veneration. The Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, must not be invoked besides Allah, asked after his death for something only Allah can do, made the recipient of vows or sacrifices, described with any of Allah’s exclusive qualities, or believed to possess absolute knowledge of the unseen. He knew only the matters of the unseen that Allah disclosed to him through revelation.
Allah, the Exalted, says:
{He is the Knower of the unseen, and He does not disclose His unseen to anyone, except a messenger whom He has chosen. Then He appoints guards before and behind him.} [Al-Jinn: 26-27].
Love for him is not expressed by establishing acts of worship or religious occasions he did not legislate, but by following him as Allah commanded. For more detail, see How to Follow the Prophet’s Sunnah in Daily Life.
Article sectionThe Sunnah Explains the Quran and Is Authoritative
The authentic Sunnah is authoritative. It explains the Quran and details what is stated in general terms. Through it we know how to perform prayer, the prescribed amounts of zakah, the rites of Hajj, and many other religious rulings. The Quran itself commands obedience to the Messenger, following him, and referring disputes to his judgment. It is therefore invalid to claim adherence to the Quran while rejecting the authentic Sunnah as a whole.
Allah, the Exalted, says:
{We have revealed the Reminder to you so that you may explain to people what has been revealed for them and so that they may reflect.} [An-Nahl: 44].
He also says:
{But no, by your Lord, they will not truly believe until they make you judge in their disputes, then find no discomfort within themselves concerning your judgment and submit completely.} [An-Nisa: 65].
Judging a particular individual who denies the Sunnah, interprets a text, or rejects a hadith because he believes it is inauthentic involves details, conditions, and impediments that must be referred to qualified scholars. Individuals must not rush to declare people disbelievers or attack them.
Question and answerWhat Does the Testimony That Muhammad Is the Messenger of Allah Mean in Brief?
It means believing that Muhammad, peace and blessings be upon him, is Allah’s servant and Messenger to all people and the final Prophet; believing him in everything he reported; obeying him in everything he commanded; avoiding everything he prohibited; and worshipping Allah only in the manner he legislated.
Question and answerIs Uttering It Sufficient to Enter Islam?
It does not benefit a person before Allah if the person says it while denying or rejecting his message. What is required is understanding and believing its essential meaning, not memorizing a particular academic formulation. After entering Islam, a person gradually learns the religious rulings that are needed.
Question and answerWhy Do We Say That Muhammad Is His Servant and Messenger?
Saying “His servant” prevents exaggeration and worshipping him besides Allah, while saying “His Messenger” prevents neglect, denial, and abandoning adherence. He is the most complete of people in servitude to Allah and His chosen Messenger who must be obeyed.
Question and answerDoes Obeying the Messenger Contradict Worshipping Allah Alone?
No. We obey the Messenger in compliance with the command of Allah who sent him. Worship belongs to Allah alone, and obedience to His Messenger is part of worshipping Allah. Directing supplication, sacrifice, or vows to the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, is not obedience to him; rather, it contradicts the Tawheed of Allah to which he called.
Question and answerIs Loving the Prophet, Peace and Blessings Be Upon Him, Sufficient Without Following Him?
A claim alone is not sufficient. Obligatory love appears in believing him, obeying him, and giving precedence to his guidance. A Muslim may still fall into a shortcoming or sin, in which case the Muslim repents and does not claim that love permits disobedience.
Question and answerDoes Every Violation of the Messenger’s Command Expel a Person From Islam?
No. Violations are not all at the same level. Some are sins that diminish faith without expelling a person from Islam, while others contradict the foundation of the message or Islam. A particular person is not declared a disbeliever merely because of a sin. The matter is governed by evidence, and precise rulings are referred to qualified scholars.
Question and answerWhat Should I Do If an Authentic Hadith Conflicts With What I Am Accustomed To?
It is not permissible to reject what is authentically established from the Messenger, peace and blessings be upon him, merely because of personal desire or custom. A person may, however, think that a weak hadith is authentic, misunderstand a hadith, or believe it conflicts with other evidence. The person should therefore consult hadith and fiqh scholars to reconcile and properly understand the texts. Seeking verification is not called rejecting the Sunnah.
Question and answerIs the Quran Sufficient Without the Sunnah?
No. The Quran commands obedience to the Messenger, and the Sunnah explains it and details many of its rulings. Without the Sunnah, the prayers, their forms, and the required amounts in many rulings would not be known in the manner conveyed by the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him.
Question and answerWhat If an Authentic Hadith Appears to Contradict the Quran?
The authentic Sunnah cannot genuinely contradict the Quran, because both are revelation from Allah and truth does not contradict truth. The hadith may be inauthentic; the understanding of one of the texts may be incorrect; one text may be general while the other specifies it; one may be unrestricted while the other qualifies it; or one may precede a later text that abrogates it. A Muslim should not reject a hadith merely because of an apparent difficulty or attempt an uninformed answer. Rather, the relevant texts should be considered together and qualified scholars consulted.
Question and answerIs Everything the Prophet Did a Sunnah That Must Be Followed?
No. His Sunnah includes what is obligatory, recommended, and permissible. It also includes natural human actions performed according to custom, and certain matters may have been exclusive to him. The ruling of an action is known from the evidence, contextual indications, and scholars’ explanation, not merely from establishing that he performed it. Nothing from his guidance may be treated with contempt, but people must not be obligated to perform something recommended or customary as though it were obligatory.
Question and answerDoes Following a School of Fiqh Contradict Following the Messenger, Peace and Blessings Be Upon Him?
It does not contradict following him when the purpose is to benefit from the jurists’ knowledge in understanding and applying the evidence, rather than believing anyone after the Messenger, peace and blessings be upon him, to be infallible. A layperson asks qualified scholars, while a scholar exercises juristic reasoning according to its required tools. Once a Sunnah is authentically established and its meaning properly understood, it may not be rejected out of partisanship toward a person.
Question and answerIs It Permissible to Invoke the Prophet Besides Allah on the Grounds of Loving Him?
No. Supplication is worship belonging to Allah alone. True veneration of the Messenger is expressed by following him and practicing the Tawheed of Allah to which he called, not by directing any worship to him. It is legislated for a Muslim to send peace and blessings upon him and ask Allah to grant him Al-Wasilah and virtue, as established in the Sunnah.
Question and answerWhat Is the Best Wording for Sending Peace and Blessings Upon Him?
A Muslim may say, “O Allah, send Your peace and blessings upon our Prophet Muhammad.” Among the best wordings is the Ibrahimic prayer that the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, taught his Companions. It must not be assigned a regular collective form that is not established, nor may a particular number or time be given a special virtue without evidence. For more detail, see The Virtue of Sending Salah Upon the Prophet.
Question and answerDoes Following the Sunnah Mean Being Harsh or Excessively Strict?
No. The Sunnah came with knowledge, justice, mercy, and wisdom. It includes what is obligatory, recommended, and permissible, and each ruling has its proper status. Part of adherence is not treating the recommended as obligatory, not pursuing concessions according to personal desire, and not turning valid scholarly disagreement into a cause of attack and conflict.
Key takeawayConclusion
The testimony that Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah is a covenant of belief, obedience, and adherence; it is not a statement detached from life. Whoever loves the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, follows his guidance. Whoever honors him does not raise him above servitude to Allah. Whoever supports his Sunnah learns it, practices it, and calls to it with knowledge and wisdom.
A Muslim should renew the truthfulness of this testimony by maintaining the obligations, avoiding prohibitions, repenting from shortcomings, returning to the authentic Sunnah, and asking Allah for steadfastness upon the truth.
Allah, the Exalted, says:
{Whoever obeys Allah and the Messenger will be with those whom Allah has blessed: the prophets, the people of truth, the martyrs, and the righteous. What excellent companions they are!} [An-Nisa: 69].
