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 "Key" to Paradise

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PostSubject: "Key" to Paradise    "Key" to Paradise  EmptySun Jul 10, 2011 2:08 am

"Key" to Paradise




What Every Muslim Needs to Know - The 9 Conditions of "Shahadah"


Based on an Article entitled (The Conditions of "La illah illa-allah") taken from
AL-BASHEER magazine


The complete statement of the creed of the Muslim is: "Ash-shadu anna
Laa elaha illa lah. Ash-shadu anna Muhammadar Rasoolulah." (I bear
witness that there is none worthy of worship except Allah and I bear
witness that Muhammad is His servant and messenger).
Every Muslim has been taught that the key to "Jennah" (Paradise) is the
statement in Arabic: "Laa illaha illa allah." (There is none worthy of
worship except Allah.) Yet too many Muslims simply rely upon this
statement and believe that as long as they have made this statement,
nothing will harm them. They think they will be granted Paradise because
of this mere verbal statement of the Shahadah.

There is no question that the mere saying of the shahadah: "I bear
witness that there is none worthy of worship except Allah and I bear
witness that Muhammad is His servant and messenger" is not sufficient
for salvation. In fact, the munafiqeen (hypocrites) used to make this
statement quite often yet Allah describes them as liars and says that
they shall abide in the lowest abyss of the Hell-fire.

True scholars of Islam are quick to tell us that this testimony of faith
is our "Muftah ul Jennah" (Key to Paradise). The famous follower Wahb
ibn Munabbih was once asked;
"Isn't the statement of "La ilaha illa-allah" the key to Paradise?"
He answered;
"Yes! But every key has ridges. If you come with the key that has the
right ridges, the door will open for you. Yet if you do not have the
right ridges the door will not open for you."

Think about it. If you try to drive your car with the key to your house
will it work?, Of course not. So, we see that the statement like a key,
must meet certain conditions in order to work. In fact these conditions
are what will determine who will benefit from the statement and who will
not benefit from saying it, no matter how many times per day they say
it. We must work hard to learn, understand and practice these conditions
before we run out time and then it would be too late for our shahadah
to help us at all. This article has value only if we use it to look at
ourselves and make sure we are really meeting these conditions.

Then by Allah's Mercy, the doors to Jennah will open for us with our "muftah of Laa elaha illa allah".

"Nine Conditions of the Shahadah":

The Qur'an and the "Hadeeth" (teachings of Muhammad, peace be upon him)
are the ultimate sources for knowledge in Islam. We find contained in
them the reality of the conditions necessary for the "shahadah" to work
as a "muftah" to the "Jennah" for us. The number might be understood as
seven, eight or even nine depending on how you would categorize them or
combine them together. Regardless of how we would list them or divide
them up, it still remains that we must understand and most important,
apply these conditions of our shahadah if we are to enter the Jennah. We
listed them here as "nine" in order to give more attention and detail
to each and every aspect. However, the scholars who have listed them as
seven or eight have not left anything out. They have merely combined
several for easier comprehension and memorization.

The nine conditions of the shahadah are known as:
1- Knowledge
2- Certainty
3- Adherence
4 - Submission
5- Truth
6- Sincerity
7 - Love
8 - Denial
9 - Acceptance

1 - KNOWLEDGE: ('ilm)

That is, one must have the basic and general knowledge of what is meant
by the shahadah. One must understand what the shahadah is affirming and
what the shahadah is denying. Allah says in the Qur'an,
"So know that there is no God save Allah, and ask forgiveness for your
sin." [Surah [Muhammad: 19, {فَاعْلَمْ أَنَّهُ لَا إِلَٰهَ إِلَّا
اللَّهُ وَاسْتَغْفِرْ لِذَنبِكَ}, Transliteration: Faa'lam 'Annahu Lā 'Ilaaha 'Illaa Allaahu Wa Astaghfir Lidhanbika

Similarly, the Prophet (peace be upon him) said,
«Whoever dies knowing that there is no one worthy of worship except Allah shall enter Paradise» [Recorded in Sahih Muslim].

In fact, the shahadah itself is a testimony. When one testifies to
something, one must know what it is that he is testifying concerns.
Obviously, a testimony about something that one does not have any
knowledge about is absolutely unacceptable. Allah says in the Qur'an,

"Except him who bears witness unto the truth knowingly" [Surah Al-Zukhruf: 86], Transliteration: 'Illaa Man Shahida Bil-Ĥaqqi Wa Hum Ya`lamūna, {إلَّا مَن شَهِدَ بِالْحَقِّ وَهُمْ يَعْلَمُونَ}.

Now this condition probably sounds obvious; if someone said to you,
"There is no God except Allah," and then said that what he meant by
Allah was Jesus, you would immediately tell him that this shahadah is
nonsense. Yet can you imagine that there is a Muslim country in the
world that until recently used to have a yearly weeklong celebration to
"the Gods of the Sea"! All along they call themselves Muslims and they
make the shahadah numerous times a day.

This clearly shows that they have no idea what the meaning of their
shahadah is. Do you think that this kind of shahadah will open the doors
to Paradise for them? Today, there are many Muslims who wonder why we
should not accept secularism. They think that there is nothing wrong
with secularism! Many of these Muslims pray five times a day and utter
the shahadah repeatedly. Yet they see nothing wrong with accepting a
Lawgiver other than Allah? What kind of shahadah are these people
making?

All of us do our best to learn at least the basics of Islamic beliefs,
the basics of what shahadah means. In this way, Allah willing, we will
be making the correct shahadah. We will be witnessing to the truth as we
are supposed to be witnesses to it.

2 - CERTAINTY (yaqeen):

This is the opposite of doubt and uncertainty. In Islam, in fact, any
kind of doubt is equivalent to Kufr or disbelief. We must, in our
hearts, be absolutely certain of the truth of the shahadah. Our hearts
must not be wavering in any way when we testify to the truth of, "There
is none worthy of worship except Allah." Allah describes the believers
in the Qur'an as those who have belief in Allah and then their hearts
waver not. Allah says,
"the (true) believers are those only who believe in Allah and His
messenger and afterward doubt not, but strive with their wealth and
their lives for the cause of Allah. Such are the sincere." [al-Hujjarat :
15], {إِنَّمَا الْمُؤْمِنُونَ الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا
بِاللَّهِ وَرَسُولِهِ ثُمَّ لَمْ يَرْتَابُوا وَجَاهَدُوا بِأَمْوَالِهِمْ
وَأَنفُسِهِمْ فِي سَبِيلِ اللَّهِ ۚ أُولَٰئِكَ هُمُ الصَّادِقُونَ}
,
Transliteration: 'Innamā Al-Mu'uminūna Al-Ladhīna 'Āmanū Billāhi Wa
Rasūlihi Thumma Lam Yartābū Wa Jāhadū Bi'amwālihim Wa 'Anfusihim Fī
Sabīli Allāhi 'Ūlā'ika Humu Aş-Şādiqūna.

Similarly, the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) said, «No
one meets Allah with the testimony that there is none worthy of worship
but Allah and I am the Messenger of Allah, and he has no doubt about
hat statement, except that he will enter Paradise»
[Recorded by Muslim].

Indeed, Allah describes the hypocrites as those people whose hearts are wavering. For example, Allah says,
"They alone seek leave of thee (not to participate in jihad) who believe
not in Allah and the Last Day and whose hearts feel doubt, so in their
doubt they waver." [al-Tauba: 45], {إِنَّمَا
يَسْتَأْذِنُكَ الَّذِينَ لَا يُؤْمِنُونَ بِاللَّهِ وَالْيَوْمِ الْآخِرِ
وَارْتَابَتْ قُلُوبُهُمْ فَهُمْ فِي رَيْبِهِمْ يَتَرَدَّدُونَ}
,
Transliteration: 'Innamā Yasta'dhinuka Al-Ladhīna Lā Yu'uminūna Billāhi
Wa Al-Yawmi Al-'Ākhiri Wa Artābat Qulūbuhum Fahum Fī Raybihim
Yataraddadūna.

Many scholars have stated that the diseases of the heart, or the doubt
and suspicions that one allows into one's heart, are more dangerous for a
person's faith than lusts and desires. This is because lusts and
desires may be satisfied at some time yet the person still knows them to
be wrong and he may control himself and repent and give up that evil
deed. On the other hand, the doubts and suspicions may linger in the
heart, with no cure, until the person finally leaves Islam entirely or
continues to practice Islam while, in fact, in his heart he does not
have the true faith. The greatest cure for these doubts is seeking
knowledge. It is through sound knowledge of the Qur'an and the Sunnah
that most of these doubts will be removed.

3 - ACCEPTANCE (qabool):

If a person has knowledge of and certainty in the shahadah, this must be
followed by acceptance, with the tongue and heart, of whatever that
shahadah implies. Whoever refuses to accept the shahadah and its
implications, even if he knows that it is true and certain about its
truth, then he is a disbeliever. This refusal to accept is sometimes due
to pride, envy or other reasons.

In any case, the shahadah is not a true shahadah without its
unconditional acceptance. The scholars all talk about this condition as a
general condition in the way that I have just stated. However, there is
also a more detailed aspect that we must all be aware of. The believer
accepts whatever the implications of the shahadah are. This also means
that he believes in whatever is stated in the Qur'an or stated by the
Prophet (peace be upon him), without any right to choose what he wants
to believe and what he wants to reject. Allah says in the Qur'an,
"Do you believe in part of the book and reject part of it? And what is
the reward of those who do so, except humiliation in the life of this
world, and on the Day of Resurrection they will be sent to the most
dreadful doom." [al-Baqarah: 85], {أفَتُؤْمِنُونَ
بِبَعْضِ الْكِتَابِ وَتَكْفُرُونَ بِبَعْضٍ ۚ فَمَا جَزَاءُ مَن يَفْعَلُ
ذَٰلِكَ مِنكُمْ إِلَّا خِزْيٌ فِي الْحَيَاةِ الدُّنْيَا ۖ وَيَوْمَ
الْقِيَامَةِ يُرَدُّونَ إِلَىٰ أَشَدِّ الْعَذَابِ}
,
Transliteration: 'A Fatu'uminūna Biba`đi Al-Kitābi Wa Takfurūna Biba`đin
Famā Jazā'u Man Yaf`alu Dhālika Minkum 'Illā Khizyun Fī Al-Ĥayāati
Ad-Dunyā Wa Yawma Al-Qiyāmati Yuraddūna 'Ilá 'Ashaddi Al-`Adhābi.

This is one aspect that the Muslims must be aware of. Although it is not
the same as the complete refusal to accept the truth, by rejecting part
of the truth that has come from Allah, one also negates his testimony
of faith. Unfortunately, many Muslims are doing this nowadays in various
ways. Although not all of these forms may necessarily be considered
apostasy, they are still very dangerous. For example, if they do not
like what is stated in a verse in the Qur'an, they simply reinterpret
the verse according to their liking. If they do not like what is stated
in a hadeeth, they simply state that the hadeeth must not be authentic
although they are not scholars in that area. This kind of behavior is
the antithesis of the behavior of the true Muslims. Whatever comes from
Allah and His Messenger (peace be upon him), the true Muslim believes in
as the truth. This goes hand in hand with their testimony of faith.

4 - SUBMISSION and COMPLIANCE (Inqiyad):

This implies the actual physical enactment with our deeds of our
shahadah. In fact, this is one of the main meanings of the word Islam
itself, "the submission to the will and commands of Allah." This is what
Allah commands in the Qur'an,
"Turn unto Him repentant, and surrender unto Him" [al-Zumar: 54], .

Allah has praised those who submit to His command by their actions. Allah says,

"Who is better in religion than he who surrenders his purpose to Allah while doing good" [color=#8b0000]{وَمَنْ أَحْسَنُ دِينًا مِّمَّنْ أَسْلَمَ وَجْهَهُ لِلَّهِ وَهُوَ مُحْسِنٌ}, Transliteration: Wa Man 'Aĥsanu Dīnāan Mimman 'Aslama Wajhahu Lillāhi Wa Huwa Muĥsinun .

Actually, Allah has clearly made it a condition of faith that one submits to the command of Allah and His messenger. Allah says,

"But nay, by your Lord, they will not truly believe until they make you
[the Messenger of Allah] judge of what is in dispute between them and
find within themselves no dislike of which you decide, and submit with
full submission" [al-Nisa: 65], {فَلَا وَرَبِّكَ
لَا يُؤْمِنُونَ حَتَّىٰ يُحَكِّمُوكَ فِيمَا شَجَرَ بَيْنَهُمْ ثُمَّ لَا
يَجِدُوا فِي أَنفُسِهِمْ حَرَجًا مِّمَّا قَضَيْتَ وَيُسَلِّمُوا
تَسْلِيمًا}
, Transliteration: Falā Wa Rabbika Lā Yu'uminūna Ĥattá
Yuĥakkimūka Fīmā Shajara Baynahum Thumma Lā Yajidū Fī 'Anfusihim
Ĥarajāan Mimmā Qađayta Wa Yusallimū Taslīmāan

Unfortunately, there are many that claim that there is no relationship
between faith and deeds. You can even hear one Muslim saying about
another, "That is the best Muslim I have ever met," yet the other person
performs scarcely any of the deeds of Islam whatsoever. This incorrect
understanding of faith has spread throughout the Muslim world. Indeed,
our shahadah or testimony of faith must be implemented or realized in
our hearts, tongues and actions. In our hearts, we must have love for
Allah, fear Allah and hope in Him. With our tongues we must testify to
the shahadah. And with our actions, we must implement what the testimony
of faith requires from us.

Anyone who claims to be a Muslim and yet does no deeds, either does not
understand Islam whatsoever or is bearing testimony against himself that
his testimony of faith is not a true and correct testimony of faith.
This does not mean that the true believer never commits a sin. Indeed,
true believers do commit sins, but as long as they recognize that what
they did is not correct and it is inconsistent with their obligation of
submitting to Allah, then they have not violated the soundness of their
testimony or shahadah. But do not forget they are still sinners. And
what is the minimum of submission that is required from a person beyond
whom there can be no claim to faith? For those scholars who say that the
abandonment of prayers is infidelity, it is the five daily prayers.
Whoever does not perform, at least, the five daily prayers have gone
beyond the limit that is acceptable for lack of deeds. Allah knows best.

5 - TRUTHFULNESS (as-sidq),
as opposed to hypocrisy and dishonesty

This means that when we say the shahadah, we are saying it honestly. We
actually mean it. We are not lying when it comes to our testimony of
faith. The Prophet (peace be upon his) said, «No
one bears testimony to there being no one worth of worship save Allah,
sincerely from his heart, except that Allah makes the Hell-fire
forbidden for him»
[Recorded by al-Bukhari and Muslim.]

We are all familiar with those who say the testimony of faith yet they
are not saying it honestly. They do not believe in it but they are
simply saying it in order to protect themselves or to get some gain from
doing so; these are the hypocrites. Allah has described them in the
opening of the Qur'an with the following words,

"And of mankind are some who say, 'We believe in Allah and the Last
Day,' when they believe not. They think to beguile Allah and those who
believe, and they beguile none save themselves, but they perceive not.
In their hearts is a disease, and Allah increases their disease. A
painful doom is theirs because they lie" [al-Baqarah: 8-10], {يُخَادِعُونَ
اللَّهَ وَالَّذِينَ آمَنُوا وَمَا يَخْدَعُونَ إِلَّا أَنفُسَهُمْ وَمَا
يَشْعُرُونَ ﴿9﴾ فِي قُلُوبِهِم مَّرَضٌ فَزَادَهُمُ اللَّهُ مَرَضًا ۖ
وَلَهُمْ عَذَابٌ أَلِيمٌ بِمَا كَانُوا يَكْذِبُونَ}
,
Transliteration: Wa Mina An-Nāsi Man Yaqūlu 'Āmannā Billāhi Wa Bil-Yawmi
Al-'Ākhiri Wa Mā Hum Bimu'uminīna, Yukhādi`ūna Allāha Wa Al-Ladhīna
'Āmanū Wa Mā Yakhda`ūna 'Illā 'Anfusahum Wa Mā Yash`urūna, Fī Qulūbihim
Marađun Fazādahumu Allāhu Marađāan Wa Lahum `Adhābun 'Alīmun Bimā Kānū
Yakdhibūna.

Obviously, the shahadah of those who become Muslims simply to benefit
from being Muslim and not because they believe in Islam will be rejected
by Allah in the Hereafter. They will face a painful punishment due to
their lying.

6 - SINCERITY (or al-ikhlass):

That is, when we make the shahadah, we must do so solely for the sake of
Allah. We must not do it for any other reason. And we must not do it
for anyone else's sake. In this manner, the meaning of sincerity is
opposite of Shirk or ascribing partners with Allah. We became and remain
Muslims solely for Allah's sake. Allah says in the Qur'an,
"Worship Allah, making religion pure for him" [al-Zumar: 2], {فَاعْبُدِ اللَّهَ مُخْلِصًا لَّهُ الدِّينَ}, Transliteration: Fā`budi Allāha Mukhlişāan Lahu Ad-Dīna.

And Allah also says,
"And they are ordained not else than to serve Allah, keeping religion
pure for Him, as men by nature upright and to establish worship and to
pay the poor-due. That is true religion" [al-Bayinah: 5], {وَمَا
أُمِرُوا إِلَّا لِيَعْبُدُوا اللَّهَ مُخْلِصِينَ لَهُ الدِّينَ
حُنَفَاءَ وَيُقِيمُوا الصَّلَاةَ وَيُؤْتُوا الزَّكَاةَ ۚ وَذَٰلِكَ دِينُ
الْقَيِّمَةِ}
, Transliteration: Wa Mā 'Umirū 'Illā Liya`budū
Allāha Mukhlişīna Lahu Ad-Dīna Ĥunafā'a Wa Yuqīmū Aş-Şalāata Wa Yu'utū
Az-Zakāata Wa Dhalika Dīnu Al-Qayyimahi.

And the Prophet (peace be upon him) added, «Allah
has forbidden for the Hell-fire anyone who says, 'There is no one worthy
of worship except Allah,' and say so desiring the face [and pleasure]
of Allah»
[Recorded by Muslim].

This is something that we should all think about, especially those of us
who grew up in Muslim families and were born Muslim. We should make it
very clear to ourselves that we are Muslims only for the sake of Allah.
We are not Muslims for the sake of our parents, friends, family or
community. It must be clear in our minds that we are Muslims for the
sake of Allah first, last and only. One of the signs that we are Muslims
for the sake of Allah is that we do whatever Allah asks of us,
regardless of what anybody else desires or wants from us. That is, in
the same way that we are Muslims solely for the sake of Allah, all of
our actions are done for the sake of Allah.

However, sometimes one begins to wonder whether some people meet this
condition. Some people from the Muslim world practice Islam to the
extent that it is pleasing to their families. If there is anything in
Islam that their families do not like- although their families are
Muslim and therefore they actually should like all of Islam- then they
do not practice that aspect of Islam. One common example of that nature
is mixing between men and women. Sometimes a brother, here in the U.S.,
will not mix with women and his wife will remain separate from the men.
Yet, when they return to their homes, because this is not pleasing to
their families who want to mix between men and women, they easily,
simply and happily compromise their religion for the sake of their
parents. These people must sincerely ask themselves why they are
Muslims. Are they Muslims for the sake of their parents and therefore
whatever their parents like they will do and whatever their parents do
not like they won't do? Or are they Muslims for the sake of Allah and
therefore whatever Allah dislikes they will not do and whatever Allah is
pleased with they do?

7 - LOVE (mahabbah):

That is, the believer loves this shahadah, he loves in accordance with
the shahadah, he loves the implications and requirements of the shahadah
and he loves those who act and strive for the sake of this shahadah.
This is a necessary condition of the shahadah. If a person makes the
shahadah but does not love the shahadah and what it stands for, then, in
fact, his faith is not complete. It is not the faith of a true
believer. And if he loves something more that this shahadah or if he
loves something more than Allah, then he has negated his shahadah. The
true believer, the one meeting the conditions of the shahadah puts no
one whatsoever as an equal to Allah in his love. Allah says in the
Qur'an,
"Yet of mankind are some who take unto themselves (objects of worship
which they set as) rivals to Allah, loving them with a love like (that
which is due to) Allah only. However, those who believe are stauncher in
their love of Allah" [al-Baqarah: 165], {وَمِنَ
النَّاسِ مَن يَتَّخِذُ مِن دُونِ اللَّهِ أَندَادًا يُحِبُّونَهُمْ
كَحُبِّ اللَّهِ ۖ وَالَّذِينَ آمَنُوا أَشَدُّ حُبًّا لِّلَّهِ}
,
Transliteration: Wa Mina An-Nāsi Man Yattakhidhu Min Dūni Allāhi
'Andādāan Yuĥibbūnahum Kaĥubbi Allāhi Wa Al-Ladhīna 'Āmanū 'Ashaddu
Ĥubbāan Lillāhi.

And elsewhere Allah says:

"Say: If your fathers, or your sons, or your brethren, or your wives, or
your tribe, or the wealth you have acquired, or merchandise for which
you fear that there will be no sale, or dwellings you desire are dearer
to you than Allah and His Messenger and striving in His way: then wait
till Allah brings His command to pass. Allah guides not wrongdoing folk"
[al-Tauba: 24], {قُلْ إِن كَانَ آبَاؤُكُمْ
وَأَبْنَاؤُكُمْ وَإِخْوَانُكُمْ وَأَزْوَاجُكُمْ وَعَشِيرَتُكُمْ
وَأَمْوَالٌ اقْتَرَفْتُمُوهَا وَتِجَارَةٌ تَخْشَوْنَ كَسَادَهَا
وَمَسَاكِنُ تَرْضَوْنَهَا أَحَبَّ إِلَيْكُم مِّنَ اللَّهِ وَرَسُولِهِ
وَجِهَادٍ فِي سَبِيلِهِ فَتَرَبَّصُوا حَتَّىٰ يَأْتِيَ اللَّهُ
بِأَمْرِهِ ۗ وَاللَّهُ لَا يَهْدِي الْقَوْمَ الْفَاسِقِينَ}
,
Transliteration: Qul 'In Kāna 'Ābā'uukum Wa 'Abnā'uukum Wa 'Ikhwānukum
Wa 'Azwājukum Wa `Ashīratukum Wa 'Amwālun Aqtaraftumūhā Wa Tijāratun
Takhshawna Kasādahā Wa Masākinu Tarđawnahā 'Aĥabba 'Ilaykum Mina Allāhi
Wa Rasūlihi Wa Jihādin Fī Sabīlihi Fatarabbaşū Ĥattá Ya'tiya Allāhu
Bi'amrihi Wa Allāhu Lā Yahdī Al-Qawma Al-Fāsiqīna.

The Prophet (peace be upon him) said, "Whoever has three characteristics
has tasted the sweetness of faith. [The first of these] is that he
loves Allah and His Messenger more than he loves anyone
else..."(Recorded by al-Bukhari and Muslim.).

This is one of the most important aspects of Islam yet, for some reason,
it is missing from the lives of many Muslims. They act in Islam as if
Islam were a chore instead of doing things out of the love of Allah.
When Allah orders us to do something, like bear witness to the faith, we
should realize that that thing is pleasing to Allah and, therefore, out
of our love for Allah, we should be very pleased to do the acts that
are pleasing to Allah. But, as I said, this feeling is missing from
many, many Muslims today.


8 - DENIAL OF FALSE WORSHIP

Although that is clear in the words of the testimony of faith, it does
not seem clear to everyone who makes that testimony. Therefore, I am
mentioning it explicitly here. In Surah al-Baqarah, Allah clearly
reminds us of this important aspect of the shahadah, the shahadah is not
merely an affirmation but it is both an affirmation and a negation.
Allah states,
"And he who rejects false deities and believes in Allah has grasped a firm handhold which will never break" (al-Baqarah: 256).

Perhaps the Prophet (peace be upon him) made this point even clearer when he said, «Whoever
says there is no one worthy of worship except Allah and denies whatever
is worshipped besides Allah, then his wealth and blood are protected
and his accounting will be with Allah»
[Recorded by Muslim].

Although this condition should be obvious to everyone who says the words
of shahadah, you can still find Muslims who say the shahadah and then
make acts of worship for beings or things other than Allah. You will
find them going to the graveyards and worshipping those in the graves.
They will perform acts of worship, not for the sake of Allah, but for
the sake of the dead "saints" in the grave. What kind of shahadah have
these people made? Do you really think that their shahadah will mean
anything on the Day of Judgment as long as they believe that acts of
worship may be done for other than Allah?

9 - ADHERENCE (astaqeem) until death:

This is must if the shahadah is to mean anything for you in the
Hereafter. You cannot rest on your laurels of what you may have done in
the past. No, indeed, the shahadah must be your banner until your death.
The Prophet (peace be upon him) said, «A man
spends a long time doing the deeds of the people of Paradise and then he
ends his deeds with the deeds of the people of the Hell-fire. And a man
spends a long time doing the deeds of the people of the Hell-fire and
then he ends his deeds with the deeds of the people of Paradise»
[Recorded by Muslim].

In another hadeeth, the Prophet (peace be upon him) said,
«By the One beside whom there is no other God, one
of you does the actions of Paradise until there is just a hand span
between him and Paradise and then the book [preordainment] overtakes him
and he does the actions of the people of Hell and he enters into it»
[Recorded by al-Bukhari and Muslim.]

And Allah says in the Qur'an,

"O believers, observe your duty to Allah with right observance, and die
not except as Muslims "O believers, observe your duty to Allah with
right observance, and die not except as Muslims [in complete state of
surrender, submission, obedience to Allah]" [in complete state of
surrender, submission, obedience to Allah]" [al-Imran: 102], {يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا اتَّقُوا اللَّهَ حَقَّ تُقَاتِهِ وَلَا تَمُوتُنَّ إِلَّا وَأَنتُم مُّسْلِمُونَ}, Transliteration: Yā 'Ayyuhā Al-Ladhīna 'Āmanū Attaqū Allāha Ĥaqqa Tuqātihi Wa Lā Tamūtunna 'Illā Wa 'Antum Muslimūna.

Dear brothers and sisters, these are the conditions of the shahadah.
These are the aspects of the shahadah that each and every one of us
should look deep down into our own hearts and ask ourselves:

"Is my shahadah meeting those requirements?"

"Am I saying it sincerely, honestly and out of love for Allah?"

"Am I saying it based on what it really means?"

"Am I denying all other false objects of worship?"

"Is there any part of my shahadah that is weak or missing?"

It is not enough to simply memorize these conditions and the answers to
the questions as though we were on our way to class to take a "pop
quiz." We might meet Muslims or even the teachers themselves, who have
totally memorized these conditions and their meanings so much so that
they can recite every detail. But if we look to the way they act and the
way they treat others, we know that the conditions are not having the
right effect on them. This is proof that no matter how much a person
knows, it only matters how much they live up to it. In the Next Life
their knowledge of these conditions of shahadah will not benefit them in
the least if they have not put them into practice. Actually, their
knowledge will be proof against them because they clearly knew the
conditions, yet they were not willing to live up to them in this life.

As Muslims we need to ask ourselves right now, before we die and go in
front of Allah for His Judgment. We need to consider our answers
carefully to these questions. If we are weak in certain areas of these
important questions, then we should work hard to remove that weakness.
So that in the Next Life our shahadah will be our "Key to Paradise" and
the gates of the Paradise will open wide for us and we will be able to
live forever in Allah's Jennah with Him being please with us.

"O Allah, make us of those who learn, understand and apply the true
meanings of the shahadah, ameen. Forgive us were we fall short or make
mistakes, ameen. Bring us closer to You by Your Mercy and enter us into
Your Jennah, ameen."

Al Hamdulilah Rabbil Alameen was salat was salam ala Rasool al kareem.
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