Combating Islam

The Quranic Witness Only Affirms Tawhid (Allah Alone)

This is a deep and layered argument against the Islamic shahada (testimony of faith) from a biblical and logical standpoint. Let's break it down into key issues, contradictions, and theological implications based on the Quran, Hadith, and Islamic exegesis:

1. The Quranic Witness Only Affirms Tawhid (Allah Alone)

The Quran itself never states that a person must testify to Muhammad being the Messenger of Allah in order to be a Muslim. The true declaration of faith in Islam, according to the Quran, is the belief that there is no god but Allah—without including Muhammad's name:

“Allah bears witness that there is no god but Him, as do the angels and those who have knowledge—upholding justice. There is no god but Him, the Almighty, the Wise.” (Surah 3:18)

This verse shows that Allah, the angels, and believers only testify that Allah is one, without mentioning Muhammad. Likewise:

"Say, ‘What is the greatest testimony?’ Say, ‘Allah is witness between me and you. And this Qur’an was revealed to me so that I may warn you and whomever it reaches. Do you truly testify that there are other gods besides Allah?’ Say, ‘I do not testify to that. He is One God, and I am free of what you associate with Him.’” (Surah 6:19)

Again, no mention of Muhammad in the actual testimony.

Yet, Islamic tradition demands that a person must declare Muhammad’s name alongside Allah’s to become a Muslim. This elevates Muhammad’s status to a requirement for salvation, something not found in the Quran itself.

2. The Shahada Introduces Shirk (Association with Allah)

Shirk (associating partners with Allah) is considered the greatest sin in Islam:

"Indeed, Allah does not forgive that a partner be ascribed to Him, but He forgives anything else for whom He wills. Whoever commits shirk has fabricated a great sin." (Surah 4:48, 116)

However, by adding Muhammad’s name into the testimony alongside Allah, Islam unintentionally commits shirk because:

Allah alone should be acknowledged in matters of worship and belief.
The Quran never makes testifying to Muhammad’s messengership a condition for faith.
By requiring belief in Muhammad for salvation, Islam equates him with Allah, violating its own monotheism.

This is explicitly a form of shirk because it associates Muhammad’s name with Allah in a religious declaration where only Allah should be mentioned.

3. Muhammad is Made a Partner with Allah

In Islamic theology, Muslims are told never to use the conjunction "wa" (and) when referring to Allah alongside anyone else—except for Muhammad:

Qadi Iyad, a well-respected scholar in Islam, confirms this:

"Allah joins them together using the conjunction wa which is the conjunction of partnership. It is not permitted to use this conjunction in connection with Allah in the case of anyone except the Prophet." (Kitab Ash-Shifa, pp. 7-8)

This means that Muhammad is the only being allowed to be mentioned in direct association with Allah! This is a clear contradiction of Islamic monotheism, since it elevates Muhammad to a necessary component of faith, which mirrors the polytheism Islam claims to reject.

4. Islam Requires Testifying to a Dead Man

Islam insists that Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah in the present tense (Muhammadan Rasulu-llah) despite the fact that he died in 632 AD. Yet, the Quran acknowledges that Muhammad is nothing more than a mortal who would die:

"Muhammad is no more than a messenger; many messengers have passed before him. If he dies or is killed, will you turn back on your heels?" (Surah 3:144)

"Indeed, you (O Muhammad) will die, and indeed, they will die." (Surah 39:30)

How can Muhammad still be a messenger when he is dead? The shahada does not say "Muhammad was the messenger of Allah" (Muhammad kana rasulu-llah). Instead, it permanently keeps him in the present tense, making him eternally relevant for faith.

This is in contrast to all other prophets, who are referred to in the past tense after their deaths. This shows that Muhammad is uniquely elevated above all others, essentially making him a permanent mediator, which contradicts Quranic teachings.

5. The Shahada is Nowhere in the Quran

Despite its central role in Islamic belief, the shahada does not exist as a complete statement anywhere in the Quran.

The Quran consistently commands belief in Allah alone.
Muhammad is referred to as a messenger but is never required in a testimony of faith.
The closest verse to a shahada-like statement is:

"Know that there is no god but Allah." (Surah 47:19)

Yet, Muhammad is completely missing! This proves that Islamic tradition added Muhammad’s name later, turning Islam into a personality cult centered on Muhammad rather than a pure monotheistic faith.

6. The Shahada Contradicts Quranic Warnings Against Calling on the Dead

Islam requires Muslims to mention Muhammad in their daily prayers (Tashahhud). However, the Quran forbids invoking the dead:

"Nor are the living and the dead alike. Indeed, Allah makes whom He wills hear, but you cannot make those in graves hear." (Surah 35:22)

"And put your trust in the Ever-Living One who does not die, and exalt His praise." (Surah 25:58)

Yet, Muslims invoke blessings on Muhammad in their daily prayer as if he were still alive and able to respond. This makes Muhammad an eternal intercessor, which is dangerously close to idolatry.

Conclusion: Islam’s Testimony of Faith is Self-Contradictory

Nowhere in the Quran is there a requirement to testify that Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah.
The true testimony according to the Quran is to believe in Allah alone. The shahada modifies this by adding Muhammad’s name, making him an object of faith.
The shahada commits shirk by associating Muhammad’s name with Allah in the exact same testimony of faith.
The shahada makes a dead man (Muhammad) a requirement for salvation, even though the Quran says only Allah alone should be mentioned in worship.
Islam denounces calling upon the dead, yet it commands Muslims to mention Muhammad in their daily prayers.
The requirement to testify to Muhammad’s messengership violates Quranic commands that no distinction should be made among prophets (2:136, 2:285, 3:84).

Final Verdict: Islam’s Shahada is a Clear Contradiction

If Islam claims to be pure monotheism, then the addition of Muhammad’s name in the shahada is unnecessary and idolatrous.

This presents a major theological dilemma for any Muslim who sincerely follows the Quran. Either:

Islam must return to a purely Quranic testimony (La ilaha illa Allah) and reject Muhammad’s inclusion in the shahada.
Or admit that Islam is centered around Muhammad, making him a partner with Allah, which is exactly what the Quran condemns as the greatest sin (shirk).

Either way, the contradiction remains unresolved, exposing the unbiblical and internally inconsistent nature of Islam's most fundamental creed.