and the prophets are true, and Muhammad is true. O Allah, to You I have submitted; in You I have believed; upon You I have relied; to You I have turned; with Your help I have argued my case; and to You I have referred judgment. So forgive my past and future sins, what I have concealed and what I have made public. You are my God; there is no god but You.”

This remembrance comprises all three categories. It begins with statements about Allah, the Last Day, and His Messenger, then proceeds to statements about the servant’s devotion to Allah alone and his faith, and concludes with supplication. This is because a person’s statement about himself is part of his spiritual journey, in which he remains conscious of himself, and an actualization of his worship of Allah, Mighty and Majestic. In pure praise, however, he contemplates only Allah, Mighty and Majestic, through His names and attributes. What is devoted exclusively to the remembrance of Allah Most High is also superior to what is devoted exclusively to created beings. This is why the surah beginning “Say, ‘He is Allah, One’” was given precedence and made equivalent to one-third of the Quran: it describes the Most Merciful and is devoted purely to His remembrance, unmixed with mention of anyone else.

At the beginning of the spiritual journey, however, remembrance must include a declaration. Thus, entry into Islam begins with:

“I bear witness that there is no deity worthy of worship except Allah, and I bear witness that Muhammad is His servant and Messenger.”

This differs from the state of pure worship, in which one says:

“Glory be to Allah; praise be to Allah; there is no deity worthy of worship except Allah; Allah is greatest.”

It is through the testimony of faith that a person becomes Muslim, and this is the root and foundation. Hence it has been made an essential component of addresses: the addresses within prayer, namely the tashahhud, conclude with the words:

“I bear witness that there is no deity worthy of worship except Allah, and I bear witness that Muhammad is His servant and Messenger.”

It is also included in addresses outside prayer, such as the sermon for