Kalima Shahadat or Kalimat ash-Shahādah (كَلِمَاتْ اَلشَّهَادَة) is the Second Kalima. Shahadah is an Arabic word translated as “Witness” or “Testimony”. Just like Kalima Tayyabah, the 2nd Kalima also has two parts.
In the first part, the reciter testifies to the oneness of Allah سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَى and in the second part, the Prophet-Hood of Muhammad ﷺ testifies. In a broader sense, the first and second Kalimas complete the faith of a Muslim. While the first Kalima is the profession of faith, the 2nd Kalima bears the witness of the faith. Muslims recite the second Kalima frequently in their daily routine, along with the first Kalima.
By reciting Kalima 2, we give our Shahadat (Witness to faith) that Allah سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَى is the only worth of worship and that He is the One Alone. The reciter further witnesses that Muhammad ﷺ is the Messenger and Servant (Abd) of Allah سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَى. Hence, to complete faith, a Muslim must recite these Kalimas frequently and abundantly in his daily routine. That’s why when a person intends to embrace Islam, he is asked to read these Kalimas together.
In most of the Muslim societies, especially the South Asian Countries, all these Kalimas are taught to the kids as the first religious awareness.
Shahadah (Word of Evidence)
Ashadu an lā ilāha illā-llāh waḥdahu lā sarīka lahu, wa ashadu anna muḥammadan ʿabduhu wa rasūluhu
I bear witness that (there is) no god except Allah; One is He, no partner hath He, and I bear witness that Muhammad [PBUH] is His Servant and Messenger
Ashadu an lā ilāha illā-llāh waḥdahu lā sarīka lahu, wa ashadu anna muḥammadan ʿabduhu wa rasūluhu
I bear witness that (there is) no god except Allah; One is He, no partner hath He, and I bear witness that Muhammad [PBUH] is His Servant and Messenger
Kalima Shahadat is a testimony of one’s unconditional faith in the oneness and almightiness of Allah سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَى and on the Prophet-Hood of His Messenger Muhammad ﷺ. By bearing witness to this faith, we actually negate the concepts of Shirk (making someone else as the partner of Allah سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَى) and Askkal (having any doubts in mind about any of the religious beliefs.)
The Kalima Shahadat comprises the following important and most crucial elements of faith, to which we bear witness while reciting it:
I bear witness that:
Allah سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَى is only One and Alone.
Allah سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَى does not need a partner nor He has any.
Only Allah سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَى is worthy of our Worship.
Muhammad ﷺ is the Prophet and Messenger of Allah سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَى
Prophet Muhammad ﷺ is the Servant (Abd, عَبْدُ) of Allah سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَى
So, a Muslim's faith (Imaan) entirely depends on this Kalima (together with the first Kalima). Our faith cannot be considered valid or complete unless we firmly believe in these 5 basics and bear witness from the core of our hearts. Simultaneously, these beliefs must be reflected in our lives and daily routine actions and deeds.
The significance of this Kalima is evident from Hadith Number 57, as narrated in Balugh Al-Maram:
Translation - Allah’s Messenger (ﷺ) said: “If one after performing ablution completely recites the following supplication: (Ash-hadu an la ilaha ill-Allahu wahdahu la sharika lahu, wa ash hadu anna Muhammadan ‘abduhu wa Rasuluhu) ‘I testify that there is no one worthy of worship but Allah, He is Alone and has no partner and Muhammad (ﷺ) is his slave and Messenger’, all the eight gates of Paradise will be opened for him and he may enter through any gate he wishes”.
That reflects how important this Kalima is for the Muslims.
As with most duas, supplications, and other religious acts, reciting Kalima Shahadat is unrestricted; it can be read anytime, anywhere, and as many times as we like.
As said earlier, it can be read anytime, anywhere. However, traditionally, in most parts of the South Asian Countries, Muslims recite it specifically for the ease of death of a person. They believe that reciting this Kalima makes the harshness of death smooth and easy.
Apart from that specific tradition, it can be read frequently during the day and night. It can also be read at the difficult times of our lives, especially to come out of fears of all kinds. There is no restriction of time and occasion for reciting Kalima Shahadat. The beauty of Islamic norms is that every worship, supplication, or Dua carries many rewards in addition to its other specific benefits. Hence, the second Kalima can be recited as and when one has the time. It hardly takes a few seconds to recite it.
Again, there are no restrictions. You can recite it as many times as you wish. But at least one must recite it a couple of times a day; if he can, he may recite it hundreds of times a day. You can even recite it while doing your routine job in your office while driving, and even while taking a rest.
Although simply reciting the second kalima has a lot of benefits, we should try to implement its teachings in our practical life and the acts and deeds we commit as a routine to get the real benefit out of it. When we recite this Kalima, we commit that only Allah سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَى is worthy of our worship and Muhammad ﷺ is His Messenger. So, that makes the baseline for all our endeavors in this world. It means that all our actions should be according to this belief; so, we should only seek mercy and guidance from Allah سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَى by following the guidelines given in the Quran and Hadith.
So, reciting this Kalima repeatedly and making it a habit in our daily routine will have an impact on our personal life behavior and dealings with our fellow Muslims, may that be our family, friends, or any other persons with whom we come into contact.
Second, Kalima has a unique importance. It is an integral part of the Call to Prayers (Adhan). Hadith number 709 of Ibn Majah narrates it as under:
Translation: The Messenger of Allah taught me the Adhan with nineteen phrases and the Iqamah with seventeen. (Allah is the Most great, Allah is the most Great, Allah is the most Great, Allah is the most Great; I bear witness that none has the right to be worshipped but Allah, I bear witness that none has the right to be worshipped but Allah; I bear witness that Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah, I bear witness that Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah; I bear witness that none has the right to be worshipped but Allah, I bear witness that none has the right to be worshipped but Allah; I bear witness that Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah, I bear witness that Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah; Come to the Prayer, Come to the Prayer; Come to the prosperity, Come to the prosperity; Allah is the Most great, Allah is the Most Great; None has the right to be worshipped but Allah). And the Iqamah is seventeen phrases: (Allah is the Most great, Allah is the most Great, Allah is the most Great, Allah is the most Great; I bear witness that none has the right to be worshipped but Allah, I bear witness that none has the right to be worshipped but Allah; I bear witness that Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah, I bear witness that Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah; Come to the Prayer, Come to the Prayer; Come to the prosperity, Come to the prosperity; The prayer is about to begin, the prayer is about to begin; Allah is the Most great, Allah is the Most Great; None has the right to be worshipped but Allah)."
The benefits of reciting this Kalima, apart from being a part of Adhan, can be summarized as follows:
It helps make the death of a person easy; hence, it is often recited when someone is on a deathbed
It is believed that reciting this Kalima helps a person's journey after death. It is believed that his / her grave expands and becomes spacious.
Bearing witness to Oneness of Allah سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَى and Muhammad ﷺ being His Messenger, pleases Him.
The reciter will get the company of highly blessed people in Paradise.
The reciter will get the best of the rewards on the Day of Judgement.