Pronounce the Shahādah Correctly

A‘ūdhu biLlāhi mina sh-shayṭāni r-rajīm. Bismi Llāhi r-Raḥmāni r-Raḥīm:

‘لَّقَدْ كَانَ لَكُمْ فِي رَسُولِ اللَّهِ أُسْوَةٌ حَسَنَةٌ’

(Qur’ān 33:21)

“Laqad Kāna Lakum Fī Rasūli Llāhi ‘Uswatun Hasana”

‘There has certainly been for you in the Messenger of Allah an excellent example.’ Ṣadaqa Llāhu l-‘Aẓīm.

Allāh Azza wa Jalla says in Qur’ān Azīmu sh-Sha’n, the best example for you is Prophet ṣallá Llāhu ‘alayhi wa-sallam. You must follow him ﷺ, and try to do what he ﷺ says and orders us to do as much as we can.

So, all the ṣaḥābah, radiya Allāhu ‘anhum, the mashāyikh, awliyā’u Llāh, ulamā – may Allāh ﷻ bless them, may Allāh ﷻ make their darajāt ʿāliyah, in shā’a Llāh. They show us, since Prophet ṣallá Llāhu ‘alayhi wa-sallam until now, how we must read Qur’ān, how we must pray, how we must fast.

Of course, sometimes new Muslims or non-Arab Muslims cannot pronounce the letters exactly. Most of them, al-ḥamdu liLlāh, they try and they do it. But some of them also still, from their nature, cannot say this. Also, there are some people who cannot say one letter. There are some letters they cannot say. So, they also have an excuse.

But what you see from Mawlānā Shaykh Nāẓim, Qaddas Allāhu s-sirruh, and you even see in his Dhikr, his Khatm ul-Khwajagan. There is one letter – Those who enter ṭarīqah with Mawlānā Shaykh Muḥammad Nāẓim al-Ḥaqqānī maybe thought they must do this: to change it, to say it like this. No, Mawlānā Shaykh never said this.

Some new Muslims cannot pronounce, so they say this. But in all places, we see many in places, especially those outside of Cyprus, or Turkey, or any Arab country. Most of them thought that when you are in ṭarīqah, following Mawlānā Shaykh Nāẓim, you must change this. Never. I have said this before, but maybe people didn’t understand well.

What is it? The most important thing. What is the first thing in Islām? Shahādah. “Ash’hadu an la ilaha illa Allah,” and the second verse, “Wa ash’hadu anna Muhammadan abduhu wa rasuluhu.” Not “annā” Muhammadan abduhu wa rasuluhu.” [Prolonging the last a in “annā” is wrong] This cannot be. You change the meaning. And the imāms, the wakīls all around are doing this. They thought this is from Mawlānā. And they were with Mawlānā. How are they doing this? I don’t understand. And we said this many times.

This is changing the meaning. And we are not seeing people objecting us. No, we are objecting ourselves. It is not true. You must not say so. When you say it like that you change too many things. The meaning is completely different. As if you are saying that we give this for Prophet ṣallá Llāhu ‘alayhi wa-sallam. This is not good.

Everywhere, where there’s a dergah, or outside [our countries] such as Europe or other places, even in Malaysia, Indonesia, in all these places, they are also saying the same. No, you must say, “Ash-shadu anna Muhammadan abduhu..” Not “annā” Muhammadan [not with prolongation]. There is mad-qasr, (Extending and shortening).

This is important. And this is not from the any letters you cannot pronounce. You just make it clear, anna, not annā. This is the most important thing. In shā’a Llāh, for this Jum’ah, many people are asking for nasīḥah, you must correct this.

Even Arabs, son of an Arab, all kinds of Arabs, still, when they come to London or come to such, they think this is from Mawlānā Shaykh Nāẓim and they try to do the same. No, Mawlānā Shaykh hadn’t done so. Al-ḥamdu liLlāh, he has videos, he has everything. And many people were with Mawlānā. Mawlānā says exactly what Prophet ṣallá Llāhu ʿalayhi wa sallam orders. May Allāh ﷻ make us to follow, to know the good, the right and to follow in shā’a Llāh. Wa min Allah at-Tawfiq.

Al-Fatiha.

• Mawlana Sheikh Muhammad Adil ar-Rabbani 

21 February 2025/ 22 Sha’ban 1446

Fajr Prayer – Sheikh Nazim Dergah; London, UK