We then move on to the شهادة - the testimony of faith - as we say أشهد أن لا إله إلا الله usually translated as, “I testify that there is no god [worthy of worhip] except Allah.” While this meaning is already complete, if we delve a little more into the precise meaning of the words we use, we can depeen our understanding and appreciation of the exact meaning conveyed.
The word أشهد comes from the verb شَهِدَ which bears the meaning of having knowledge of something through being present and witnessing it, either by means of one’s eye, or one’s insight, and thereafter giving testimony about that thing.
In addition, the phrase لا إله employs a grammatical structure that indicates a categorical negation of anything in that genus of noun. And what is being negated is the word إله - anything that is taken as an object of worship or adoration. Scholars have commented that many people take things as objects of worship or adoration, so what this correctly means is there is no object of worship that deserves to be taken as such.
And when we say إلا الله we affirm, after the preceding absolute negation, that there is an exception to it, and that exception is Allah. In other words, He is the absolute only deity that deserves to be worshipped, to the exclusion of all others.
So when we say أشهد أن لا إله إلا الله we are essentially saying, “I have firmly concluded through my insight and observation of the signs around me, and can therefore testify, that there is absolutely and categorically not a single person or object that is deservedly worshipped, with the exception of one - that being Allah.