Al-Sharḥ al-Mumtiʿ - Ibn al-'Uthaymin - (3/157)

Al-Sharḥ al-MumtiʿIbn al-'Uthaymin

and we have explained it in this way because ilāh (god) is a morphological form with a passive meaning: the maʾlūh is that which is worshipped out of love and veneration. The predicate of lā is omitted; the intended wording is, “There is no true god except Allah,” and “Allah” stands in apposition to the omitted predicate. The meaning of this magnificent statement is that no one is rightfully worshipped besides Allah, Exalted is He. As for that which is worshipped without right, it is not a true god, even if it is called a god. Hence Allah, Exalted is He, says: “That is because Allah is the Truth, and whatever they invoke besides Him is falsehood.” [Luqman: 30] In another verse, He says: “And whatever they invoke besides Him is falsehood.” [al-Hajj: 62] There is no falsehood greater than its falsehood. Allah, Exalted is He, also says, addressing those who worship others besides Him: “They are but names which you and your fathers have named, for which Allah has sent down no authority.” [al-Najm: 23] They are not realities, but merely names.

“I testify that Muhammad is His servant and His Messenger.”

His statement, “I testify that Muhammad is His servant and His Messenger”: the meaning of “I testify” has already been explained.

As for Muhammad, he is Muhammad ibn Abd Allah ibn Abd al-Muttalib, the Qurashi Hashimite. Allah, Exalted is He, sent him in Mecca, the Mother of Cities and the land most beloved to Allah. He then emigrated to Medina, where he died, peace and blessings be upon him.

His statement, “His servant,” means: the one who worships Him. The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, has no share whatsoever in Allah’s dominion. He was a human being like us, distinguished from us by revelation and by the worship and noble character with which Allah endowed him. Allah, Exalted is He, says: “Say, ‘I am only a human being like you, to whom it has been revealed that your god is but one God.’” [al-Kahf: 110] Allah, Exalted is He, also says: “And indeed, you are of a great moral character.” [al-Qalam: 4]

The Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, said: “I am only a human being like you; I forget as you forget.” (1)

(1) Narrated by al-Bukhari, Book of Prayer, chapter: Facing the qiblah wherever one may be (401); and Muslim, Book of Mosques, chapter: Forgetfulness in prayer (572) (89).

وفَسَّرْناها بهذا التفسير؛ لأن «إله» فِعَال بمعنى مفعول، والمألوه: هو المعبود حُبًّا وتعظيماً وخبر «لا» محذوف والتقدير: لا إله حَقٌّ إلا الله، و «الله» بدل مِن الخبر المحذوف، ومعنى هذه الجملة العظيمة: أنه لا معبود حقٌّ سوى الله ﷿، أما المعبود بغير حقٍّ فليس بإله حقاً وإنْ سُمِّيَ إلهاً، ولهذا قال الله ﷿: ﴿ذَلِكَ بِأَنَّ اللَّهَ هُوَ الْحَقُّ وَأَنَّ مَا يَدْعُونَ مِنْ دُونِهِ الْبَاطِلُ﴾ [لقمان: ٣٠]، وفي الآية الأخرى: ﴿وَأَنَّ مَا يَدْعُونَ مِنْ دُونِهِ هُوَ الْبَاطِلُ﴾ [الحج: ٦٢]، ولا بطلان أعظم مِن بطلانه، وقال الله تعالى يخاطب الذين يعبدون مِن دون الله: ﴿إِنْ هِيَ إِلاَّ أَسْمَاءٌ سَمَّيْتُمُوهَا أَنْتُمْ وَآبَاؤُكُمْ مَا أَنْزَلَ اللَّهُ بِهَا مِنْ سُلْطَانٍ﴾ [النجم: ٢٣]، وليست حقائق بل هي مجرَّد أسماء. وَأَشْهَدُ أَنَّ مُحمَّداً عَبْدُهُ وَرَسُولُهُ». قوله: «وأشهد أن محمداً عبده ورسوله»، سبق معنى «أشهد». وأما «محمد» فهو محمَّد بن عبد الله بن عبد المطلب القرشي الهاشمي، بَعَثَهُ اللَّهُ ﷿ بمكَّة أمِّ القرى، وأحبِّ البلاد إلى الله، وهاجر إلى المدينة، وتُوفِّي فيها ﷺ. قوله: «عبده» أي: العابد له، وليس لرسول الله ﷺ شَرِكَةٌ في مِلْكِ الله أبداً، وهو بَشَرٌ مثلُنا تميَّز عنا بالوحي، وبما جَبَلَه الله عليه مِن العبادة والأخلاق العظيمة. قال الله تعالى: ﴿قُلْ إِنَّمَا أَنَا بَشَرٌ مِثْلُكُمْ يُوحَى إِلَيَّ أَنَّمَا إِلَهُكُمْ إِلَهٌ وَاحِدٌ﴾ [الكهف: ١١٠]، وقال اللَّهُ تعالى: ﴿﴾ [القلم: ٤]. قال النَّبيُّ ﷺ: «إنَّما أنا بَشَرٌ مثلُكم، أنسَى كما تَنْسَون» (١)

(١) أخرجه البخاري، كتاب الصلاة، باب التوجه نحو القبلة حيث كان (٤٠١)؛ ومسلم، كتاب المساجد، باب السهو في الصلاة (٥٧٢) (٨٩).