The Obligation of Belief Along with the Two Testimonies
Machine translationRead the Arabic original
Q: Uttering the testimony of faith undoubtedly requires belief in it. What is that?
A: First, one must utter the two testimonies. If a person is able to utter them but refuses to do so, he does not enter Islam until he utters the two testimonies. This is a point of consensus among the scholars. Then, along with the utterance, one must believe in the meaning of the two testimonies and be truthful in that. This means believing that there is no true deity worthy of worship except Allah. If he says them while lying, like the hypocrites who say them while believing that there are other gods besides Allah, this word does not benefit them, and they do not enter Islam in reality. As Allah the Exalted said: [Surat al-Nisa: 145]. And the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said: : [Surat al-Baqarah: 8].
Therefore, one must believe in his heart with certainty that there is no true deity worthy of worship except Allah. If he is arrogant and refuses to submit to the legislation of Allah, he is a disbeliever, and uttering the two testimonies does not benefit him. Allah the Exalted said: [Surat al-Hajj: 62]. And He, the Exalted, said: [Surat Ghafir: 60]. Likewise, if he is arrogant and refuses to testify that Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah, or if he says it while lying, he remains a disbeliever until he believes that Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah and submits to his legislation. This is a matter on which the scholars have reached consensus. And Allah is the One to be sought for help.
A: First, one must utter the two testimonies. If a person is able to utter them but refuses to do so, he does not enter Islam until he utters the two testimonies. This is a point of consensus among the scholars. Then, along with the utterance, one must believe in the meaning of the two testimonies and be truthful in that. This means believing that there is no true deity worthy of worship except Allah. If he says them while lying, like the hypocrites who say them while believing that there are other gods besides Allah, this word does not benefit them, and they do not enter Islam in reality. As Allah the Exalted said:
Indeed, the hypocrites will be in the lowest depths of the Fire
إِنَّ الْمُنَافِقِينَ فِي الدَّرْكِ الْأَسْفَلِ مِنَ النَّارِAnd of the people are some who say, "We believe in Allah and the Last Day," but they are not believers.
وَمِنَ النَّاسِ مَنْ يَقُولُ آمَنَّا بِاللَّهِ وَبِالْيَوْمِ الْآخِرِ وَمَا هُمْ بِمُؤْمِنِينَTherefore, one must believe in his heart with certainty that there is no true deity worthy of worship except Allah. If he is arrogant and refuses to submit to the legislation of Allah, he is a disbeliever, and uttering the two testimonies does not benefit him. Allah the Exalted said:
That is because Allah is the Truth, and that which they call upon other than Him is falsehood, and because Allah is the Most High, the Grand.
ذَلِكَ بِأَنَّ اللَّهَ هُوَ الْحَقُّ وَأَنَّ مَا يَدْعُونَ مِنْ دُونِهِ هُوَ الْبَاطِلُ وَأَنَّ اللَّهَ هُوَ الْعَلِيُّ الْكَبِيرُAnd your Lord says, "Call upon Me; I will respond to you." Indeed, those who disdain My worship will enter Hell [rendered] contemptible.
وَقَالَ رَبُّكُمُ ادْعُونِي أَسْتَجِبْ لَكُمْ إِنَّ الَّذِينَ يَسْتَكْبِرُونَ عَنْ عِبَادَتِي سَيَدْخُلُونَ جَهَنَّمَ دَاخِرِينَ
Source
binbaz.org.sa
The Arabic text is copied verbatim from the original source, without any edits.