Prophet Muhammad, sallalahu allayhe wa salam, deserves special rights, which are due only to the final Prophet and Messenger. These rights have been enjoined upon us by Allah and are part of safeguarding the perfect religion of Islam. Unfortunately many Muslims today have become confused with regard to these rights and have innovated practices that have no basis in Islam.

by Jamaal ud-Deen az-Zarabozo: Every Muslim knows that the key to Paradise is the statement, "There is none worthy of worship except Allaah." Yet too many Muslims simply rely upon this statement and believe that as long as they have made this statement, nothing will harm them.

They think they will be granted Paradise because of this mere verbal statement of the Shahadah. There is no question that the mere saying of," I bear witness that there is none worthy of worship except Allaah and I bear witness that Muhammad is His servant and messenger," is not sufficient for salvation. In fact, the hypocrites used to make this statement quite often yet Allaah describes them as liars and says that they shall abide in the lowest abyss of the Hell-fire.

Indeed all praise is for Allah. We praise Him; seek His aid; seek his forgiveness; and seek refuge with Allah from the evil prompting of our souls and the bad consequences of our actions. Whomsoever Allah guides, there is none to set him astray; and whomsoever Allah sets astray, there is no guide for him. And I testify that none has the right to be worshipped but Allah alone, He has no partner; and I testify that Muhammad is His Slave and His Messenger.

From that which has been established in the Sharee'ah (prescribed law) is that mankind was - in the beginning - a single nation upn true Tawheed, then Shirk (directing any part or form of worship, or anything else that is solely the right of Allaah, to other than Allaah) gradually overcame them. The basis for this is the saying of Allaah - the Most Blessed, the Most High:

"Mankind was one Ummah, then Allaah sent prophets bringing good news and warnings." (Soorah Baqarah 2:213)