Is Your Shahadah (Testimony of Faith) Real? Do You Observe & Witness?

May 14, 2026 May 20, 2026

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From the Realities of Mawlana (Q) as taught by Shaykh Nurjan Mirahmadi

أَعُوذُ بِاللَّهِ مِنَ الشَّيْطَانِ ٱلْرَّجِيمِ
بِسْمِ ٱللَّهِ ٱلرَّحْمَٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ

A’uzu Billahi Minash Shaitanir Rajeem
Bismillahir Rahmanir Raheem

I seek refuge in Allah (AJ) from the accursed Satan
In the Name of Allah, the Most Compassionate, the Most Merciful

Alhamdulillahi Rabbil ‘aalameen, was salaatu was salaamu ‘alaa Ashrafil Mursaleen, Sayyidina wa Mawlana Muhammadul Mustafa ﷺ. Madad ya Sayyidi ya Rasulul Kareem, Ya Habibul ‘Azeem, unzur halana wa ishfa’lana, ‘abidona bi madadikum wa nazarekum.

Atiullah wa atiur Rasul wa Ulil amre minkum. Always a reminder for myself, ana abdukal ‘ajeez, wa dayeef, wa miskin, wa zhalim, wa jahl, and but for the grace of Allah (AJ) that we’re still in existence.

أَطِيعُوا اللَّهَ وَأَطِيعُوا الرَّسُولَ وَأُولِي الْأَمْرِ مِنكُم… ﴿٥٩﴾‏ …

4:59 – “…Atiullaha wa atiur Rasula wa Ulil amre minkum…” (Surat an-Nisa)

“…Obey Allah, obey the Messenger, and those in authority among you…” (The Women, 4:59)

The Path of Humility and True Servanthood

To think of ourselves as nothing, and they remind us and teach us from realities so that to humble ourselves. That for others also to take from the teachings and to be humble. That, everything in this dunya (material world) wants to pump us up, make us to think that we’re something. When in reality, that “Atiullaha wa atiur Rasula wa Ulil amre minkum…” (Qur’an, 4:59). That Mawlana Shaykh’s (Q) teaching that begin to teach from the realities so that we can be humbled by them, and understand the greatness of the path. The greatness of what Allah (AJ) has in-store for us, and what Allah (AJ) and Prophet ﷺ and Ulul Amr (saints) are bringing for us.

The Reality of Faith Beyond Titles

That they teach us that how can we have a title with our name and how can we call ourselves so many things? When yet we haven’t even reached the maqam (station) of iman (faith). They teach that the station of faith is not easy to achieve, that we have merely accepted Islam. They come into our lives and begin to teach that you make your shahadah (testimony of faith), you make your salah (daily prayer). You give some zakah (charity), you attempt to fast, and with all of that you make your pilgrimage to Allah (AJ).

If you are able to make the Hajj (pilgrimage) to Makkah and Medina, alhamdulilah. If not, every year, we are making a hijrah (migration), every prayer is a hijrah to Allah (AJ). But they teach us that this Islam, because those are the pillars of Islam. That those are the ones that we work for years on those pillars for Allah (AJ) to open up the station of iman. That’s not an easy station to achieve.

True Greatness Lies in Humility, Not Titles

They want us to understand these things because we live in a world now where everybody has a title. Everybody is a doctor, everybody is a Mawlana, everybody is a pir (spiritual guide), everybody is an ‘allama. ‘Allama means most knowledgeable amongst the knowledgeable. So means there is no more shyness in titles, when in reality there were no titles. That, Prophet ﷺ declared that I’m bashar, that to keep the way of humility. That Prophet’s ﷺ greatness is beyond imagination and Ashab an Nabi ﷺ, the companions and Ahlul Baytin Nabi ﷺ (Holy Family of the Prophet (pbuh)). They teach us these are the ways of haqqaiq and realities, is to forget about the titles but to understand the reality. Then we’ll understand who has those titles.

Maqamul Ihsan (Station of Moral Excellence) – Worship from the Soul

That they teach us that those pillars of making your shahadah, that not really opened. That coming to your salah, your salah not really real. Because every level of iman and Ihsan (Moral Excellence) will begin to explain. That Prophet ﷺ described that pray as if you see Allah (AJ), if you don’t see Allah (AJ), know that He sees you.

عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ رَضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنْهُ:(جِبْرِيلْ عَلَيْهِ السَّلَامْ) قَالَ: فَأَخْبِرْنِي عَنْ الْإِحْسَانِ.
قَالَ ﷺ: “أَنْ تَعْبُدَ اللَّهَ كَأَنَّك تَرَاهُ، فَإِنْ لَمْ تَكُنْ تَرَاهُ فَإِنَّهُ يَرَاك.”
[المَصْدَرْ: صَحِيحْ اَلْبُخَارِيْ ٥٠]

‘An Abi Hurairah (ra): (Jibreel (as)) Qala: “Fa akhberni ‘an al Ihsan.” Qala ﷺ: “An Ta’bud Allaha, Ka annaka tarahu, fa in lam takun tarahu fa innahu yarak.” [Sahih Bukhari 50]

Narrated by Abi Hurairah: (Archangel Gabriel (as)) said, “Now, tell me about Ihsan (Spiritual Excellence).” The Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) replied, “It is to worship/serve Allah (AJ) as though you behold/see Him; and if you don’t behold/see Him, (know that) He surely Sees you.” [Source: Authentic by Bukhari 50]

So means then at the highest level of salah, the heart must be open and we must be seeing. The zakah, it can be of money and the highest can be of the self. Sacrificing the self and its desires. Not sacrificing the self, and harming everybody on the subway, astaqfirullah. Sacrificing the self is a constant analysis of myself, is, ‘Do I need this, do I want this? Is this for me, is this for Allah (AJ)?’ Every aspect of our life is then the fight. That if I’m going to open my mouth, is it for Allah (AJ)? It stops all fighting, all arguing. If you open your mouth, is it for Allah (AJ) that you are opening your mouth? Say no, it is not for Allah (AJ). So I’m going to fight and keep it closed. If it is not for Allah (AJ) then it is for shaitan.

Pillars of Islam at the Level of Maqamul Ihsan

That becomes the greatest battle. That’s the one that Prophet ﷺ said that this is the greatest battle, the battle against the self. Because they want us to know the intricacy, the little aspects, the details of it are what’s important. Because all these titles are confusing, and all these claims that people have are confusing. We take a path of humility and a path of analysis of ourselves. They begin to teach that this path is daayim, it is constant and eternal. That you merely accepted and made your shahadah.

Salah: That you merely accepted and you are attempting to pray. Don’t put any value on it. It is not really real, you are not seeing anything.

Zakah: You are attempting to give and hands are shaking. If they describe what somebody gives and what somebody else gives, you will have a heart attack. So means our darajats (stations) all the way to those who give entirely themselves and become mukhles (sincere). That they have surrendered their entire being into service.

Fast: They fast, they are fasting from the mouth and there are people who fast with their ears, on a daily basis. They abstain from everything that would bring agitation into their heart. Some people, Ramadan is once a year. They stop everything, stop everything bad, they say Ramadan has come and here we go. But there are people who live Ramadan every day. They fast with their mouth, they fast with their ears, they fast with their eyes. They fast with their breath, they don’t bring everything into their body to contaminate themselves. They fast with their hands, they fast with their feet. They fast with their entire being.

Hajj: They make a Hajj at every moment, they are in a hijrah to Allah’s (AJ) Presence. That hijrah, once they reach to the hijrah, then each time the circle should become more and more real. That’s what the Companions were saying that if you’re not growing every day, it better you be in the grave. Because you are just going in circles and wasting your time. Most definitely dunya will capture you. If you don’t try to improve yourself, discipline yourself, build yourself with the time that you have. When the wife comes, and children comes, and work comes, and mortgages come, you’ll never have a time to build yourself and will be constantly in a state of struggle. Or if you’ve passed all that time and entered retirement, then you have time before the grave to build yourself. You are accountable for your time.

The Eternal Journey from Islam to Iman

They begin to teach this Islam is not easy to reach iman but the Islam is an eternal path. As soon as you reach towards that pilgrimage, they say now go back through the door again. That, go with your pilgrimage and make your shahadah to be real. That your shahadah is a state of witnessing, and are you witnessing. Then we begin to understand all these titles. If you asked all these people who have these titles a simple question: Do you witness what you testify in your Islam? Then say, ‘Don’t lie! When you say “Ashhadu an la ilaha illallahu wa ashhadu anna Muhammadan Rasulallah ﷺ,” do you see Prophet ﷺ when you are making shahadah?’ If you are not seeing, you are giving false testimony.

التَّحِيَّاتُ لِلَّهِ وَالصَّلَوَاتُ وَالطَّيِّبَاتُ. السَّلاَمُ عَلَيْكَ أَيُّهَا النَّبِيُّ وَرَحْمَةُ اللَّهِ وَبَرَكَاتُهُ، السَّلاَمُ عَلَيْنَا وَعَلَى عِبَادِ اللَّهِ الصَّالِحِينَ، أَشْهَدُ أَنْ لاَ إِلَهَ إِلاَّ اللَّهُ وَأَشْهَدُ أَنَّ مُحَمَّدًا عَبْدُهُ وَرَسُولُهُ.

“Attahiyatu Lillahi wa salawatu wat tayyibatu. Assalamu ‘alayka ayyuhan Nabiyu ﷺ, wa rahmatullahi wa barakatuhu. Assalamu ‘alayna wa ‘alaa ‘Ibadulllahis saliheen. Ashhadu an la ilaha illallahu wa ashhadu anna Muhammadan ‘abduhu wa Rasuluhu.”

“All the best compliments and the prayers/praising and the pure/good things are for Allah. Peace and Blessings be upon you, O’ Prophet ﷺ! Peace be on us and on the righteous servants of Allah. I testify that there is no deity but Allah (AJ), and I testify that Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) is the servant and Messenger of Allah (AJ).”

The Knowledge that Doesn’t Open Your Heart is of No Value

We said many times it is always an example for us to be burned into the heart and into the mind. Anyone who goes to court and gives false testimony is deemed the liar. So, we are in a state of lying, and they consider us to be children. So then how can you put a title upon yourself? No matter how great the title and how many years you studied. If what you studied didn’t open your heart, and you’re not witnessing your shahadah, what value was your studies?

Might as well be a donkey carrying books. Because you can accumulate a lot of things and become like a hamar, like a donkey. That just carries a load and everywhere it goes it identifies this load that it is carrying. But that’s merely Islam, that you come and you begin to perfect yourself. But yet the heart is not open. That your worshipness is with the body only, and it is by imitation.

True Islam is to Move from Imitated Shahadah to Real Witnessing

There are many people who may call themselves imams (religious leader), and shaykhs and all the different people that we know. Our analysis ourself and of other people is that the Islam has to be real. Their prayer has to be real. Their shahadah has to be real, that they have to witness what they are saying, then they are truthful servants of Allah (AJ). We are imitated servants of Allah (AJ), like our children, we don’t get angry with them.

But they try to teach these darajats and these stages, when they give shahadah, it is real. They witness what they say. When they come to their salah, their salah is real salah. In our salah we say “Assalamu ‘alayka ayyuhan Nabiyu ﷺ,” we’re saying and given salaams (greetings) to Prophet ﷺ right in front us. Not past tense, in present tense, in the salah. Before you close your salah you are giving salaams to Prophet ﷺ. Then we should be witnessing Prophet ﷺ. “Wa ‘alaa ‘Ibadulllahis saliheen,’ and the saliheen (righteous).

التَّحِيَّاتُ لِلَّهِ وَالصَّلَوَاتُ وَالطَّيِّبَاتُ. السَّلاَمُ عَلَيْكَ أَيُّهَا النَّبِيُّ ﷺ وَرَحْمَةُ اللَّهِ وَبَرَكَاتُهُ، السَّلاَمُ عَلَيْنَا وَعَلَى عِبَادِ اللَّهِ الصَّالِحِينَ،…

“Attahiyatu Lillahi wa salawatu wat tayyibatu. Assalamu ‘alayka ayyuhan Nabiyu ﷺ, wa rahmatullahi wa barakatuhu. Assalamu ‘alayna wa ‘alaa ‘Ibadulllahis saliheen…”

“All the best compliments and the prayers/praising and the pure/good things are for Allah. Peace and Blessings be upon you, O’ Prophet (Muhammad (pbuh)), and His Mercy and His Blessings too! Peace be on us and upon the righteous servants of Allah…”

The Hidden Reality of Salaam in Salah

So you say what about the madad (support)? It is in the salah – the madad. You’re merely asking for them. Allah (AJ) is saying you should be seeing them. The fact that you are blind, then better to call upon them so maybe that support can reach you. Because there are many people that say what madad? But why Allah (AJ) have you got giving salaams to Prophet ﷺ and ‘Ibadulllahis saliheen? Who are the saliheen? Allah (AJ) is with Nabiyeen (Prophets (as)), Siddiqeen (Truthful), Shuhada (Witnesses) wa Saliheen. These four categories of rijal, of the people of Allah (AJ). Allah (AJ) says, ‘I’m with them. If you want Me, you be with the Nabiyeen, Siddiqeen, Shuhada wa Saliheen.’

وَمَن يُطِعِ اللّهَ وَالرَّسُولَ فَأُوْلَـئِكَ مَعَ الَّذِينَ أَنْعَمَ اللّهُ عَلَيْهِم مِّنَ النَّبِيِّينَ وَالصِّدِّيقِينَ وَالشُّهَدَاء وَالصَّالِحِينَ وَحَسُنَ أُولَـئِكَ رَفِيقًا ﴿٦٩﴾

4:69 – “Wa man yuti’ Allaha war Rasola faolayeka ma’al ladheena an’ama Allahu ‘alayhim minan Nabiyeena, was Siddiqeena, wash Shuhadayi, was Saliheena wa hasuna olayeka rafeeqan.” (Surat An-Nisa)

“And whoever obeys Allah and the Messenger (pbuh) are in the company of those on whom Allah has bestowed His Favours/Blessings – of the Prophets, the sincere Truthful, the Martyrs/Witnesses to the truth (who testify), and the Righteous, and excellent are those as companions.” (The Women, 4:69)

So, when you are giving salaams to Prophet ﷺ, must be able to witness Sayyidina Muhammad ﷺ. You must be able to witness saliheen who are all around Prophet ﷺ. That’s what Nabi Musa (as) has asked for, ‘Let me see You Ya Rabbi.’ So ‘I give you the state of the salah of the believers, that you’ll see Sayyidina Muhammad’s ﷺ lights and 124,000 companions.’ At that time khashiya (reverent awe), he was dust from that reality.

وَلَمَّا جَاءَ مُوسَىٰ لِمِيقَاتِنَا وَكَلَّمَهُ رَبُّهُ قَالَ رَبِّ أَرِنِي أَنظُرْ إِلَيْكَ ۚ قَالَ لَن تَرَانِي وَلَـٰكِنِ انظُرْ إِلَى الْجَبَلِ فَإِنِ اسْتَقَرَّ مَكَانَهُ فَسَوْفَ تَرَانِي ۚ فَلَمَّا تَجَلَّىٰ رَبُّهُ لِلْجَبَلِ جَعَلَهُ دَكًّا وَخَرَّ مُوسَىٰ صَعِقًا ۚ فَلَمَّا أَفَاقَ قَالَ سُبْحَانَكَ تُبْتُ إِلَيْكَ وَأَنَا أَوَّلُ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ ﴿١٤٣﴾

7:143 – “Wa lamma jaa Musa limeeqatina wa kallamahu Rabbuhu, qala rabbi arinee anzhur ilayka, Qala lan taranee wa lakini onzhur ilal jabali fa inistaqarramakanahu, fasawfa taranee, falamma tajalla Rabbuhu lil jabali ja`alahu, dakkan wa kharra Musa sa`iqan, falamma afaqa qala subhanaka tubtu ilayka wa ana awwalulMumineen.” (Surat Al-A’raf)

“And when Moses arrived at Our appointed time and his Lord spoke to him, he said, “My Lord, show me [Yourself] that I may look at You.” [Allah] said, “you will not see Me, but look at the mountain; if it should remain in its place, then you will see Me.” But when his Lord manifested His glory on the mountain, He made it as dust, and Moses fell unconscious. And when he awoke/recovered his senses, he said, “Glory be to You! to You I turn in repentance, and I am the first of the believers.” (The Heights. 7:143) 

Light of Your Faith Illuminates Your Soul and Makes Your Worship Real

It means that they begin to teach that with that salah being real, that is nurul iman. Because nurul iman has to be in the heart and the power of soul, must be overtaking the pillars. Nurul iman is a station of faith which you love Prophet ﷺ more than you love yourself. Anything that you love more than yourself will be fully taking over yourself, that’s the reality of faith.

عَنْ أَنَسِ بْن مَالِكٍ رَضِيَ اللهُ عَنْهُ قَالَ، قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ: ” لاَ يُؤْمِنُ أَحَدُكُمْ حَتَّى أَكُونَ أَحَبَّ إِلَيْهِ مِنْ وَالِدِهِ وَوَلَدِهِ وَالنَّاسِ أَجْمَعِينَ ‏”‏‏.‏
[صَحِيِحْ مُسْلِمْ، حديث ٤٤، واَلْبُخَارِي، كِتَابُ الْإيْمَانْ، حديث ١٥]

‘An Anas ibn Malik (ra) qala, qala Rasulullahi ﷺ “La yuminu ahadukum hatta akona ahabba ilayhi min walidihi wa waladihi wan nasi ajma’yeen.” [Sahih Muslim, Hadith 44, wa Al Bukhari, Kitabul Iman, Hadith 15]

Narrated by Anas son of Malik (ra) that Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) said: “None of you will have faith till he loves me more than his father, his children, and all mankind.” [Authentic by Muslim, Hadith 44 & by Al Bukhari, Book of Faith, Hadith 15]

That when you love Prophet ﷺ more than you love yourself, that Nurul Muhammadi ﷺ (Light of Prophet Muhammad ﷺ) is a victorious light. That light fills our soul and our being, and grants us the victory of Allah (AJ), the support of Allah (AJ). That everything through your soul will become real.

- Your shahadah, they take you, will be real. You’ll witness. Your salah will be real.
- Your zakah will be from the stations of perfection. That it reaches to their hand and that everything about you is zaki and being purified. They purify your money, “Qul inna salati wa nusuki wa mahyaya wa mamati lillahi Rabbil ‘Aalamin.” That everything about you will be purified and brought to the Lord Most High.

(١٦٢) قُلْ إِنَّ صَلَاتِي وَنُسُكِي وَمَحْيَايَ وَمَمَاتِي لِلَّـهِ رَبِّ الْعَالَمِينَ

6:162 – “Qul inna salati wa nusuki wa mahyaya wa mamati lillahi Rabbil ‘Aalamin.” (Surat Al-An’am)

Say, “Indeed, my prayer, my services of sacrifice, my living and my dying are for Allah, Lord of the worlds. ” (The Cattle, 6:162)

- Then the siyam and the fasting will be real, with all the senses the body is in a constant state of fast. It is not heedless. That every time it makes a mistake, it makes its tawbah (repentance) and forgiveness. Enters back into its state of fasting and abstaining from what’s forbidden and what Allah (AJ) doesn’t like. Because if they don’t live a life of abstinence, their eyes will become tainted and they no longer can see. Their ears will become tainted, and they can no longer hear. Their heart will become tainted, and they’ll be as if they are dead again in this world.
- With that reality of the soul, then the people of iman now enter the real hijrah. Where they are moving into the Divinely Presence, and they understand the reality of the Holy Ka’bah. The Holy Ka’bah is a symbol for all the believers, “Qalb al mu’min baytullah.”

قَال رَسُولَ اللَّه ﷺ، قَالْ اللَّه عَزَ وَجَلْ: “‏ قَلْبَ الْمُؤْمِنْ بَيْتُ الرَّب.” [حَدِيثْ اَلْقُدْسِي]

Qala Rasulallahi ﷺ, Qala Allah (AJ): “Qalb al mu’min baytur rabb.” [Hadith al Qudsi]

The Messenger of Allah (pbuh) said, that Allah (AJ) said: “The heart of the believer is the House of the Lord.” (Holy Hadith)

All the believers, their state is Makkah, “Qalb al mu’min.” All the mu’min (believers) are symbolised by the Holy Ka’bah, what condition do you see the Ka’bah in today!

Subhana rabbika rabbal ‘izzati ‘amma yasifoon, wa salaamun ‘alal mursaleen, walhamdulillahi rabbil ‘aalameen. Bi hurmati Muhammad al-Mustafa ﷺ wa bi siri Surat al-Fatiha.

Special thanks to our transcribers for their help with transcribing this suhbah.

Original Date of Suhbah: January 11, 2015

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