The declaration of faith is the first and the most important pillar of Islam. The declaration of faith has today been corrupted by those who insist on the addition of Mohamed’s name to the declaration. The Quran is very specific about who we should be declaring our faith to.

In the Quran, chapter 3 verse 18 states clearly that God bears witness that there is no god but He and that God’s angels and those who possess knowledge witness this. God says in that verse that there is no god but God and there is no mention that we should witness a prophet or a messenger alongside God. If God expected us to do this then surely we should add Abraham’s name to the declaration as he was the first human to declare us Muslims (22:78).

To mention God alone seems to be a problem for some Muslims even though the Quran states that God and Quran alone are the criteria for being a Muslim and following Islam.

Chapter 39, verse 45
And when God alone is mentioned, the hearts of those who do not believe in the hereafter shrink, and when those besides Him are mentioned, lo! they are joyful.

Chapter 17, verse 46
We place shields around their minds, to prevent them from understanding it, and deafness in their ears. And when you preach your Lord, using the Quran alone, they run away in aversion.

Chapter 47, verse 19
So know that there is no god but God and ask protection for your sins and for the believing men and the believing women; and God knows the place of your returning and the place of your abiding.

God states throughout the Quran that Islam is the religion of Abraham (2:130,135, 3:95, 4:125) and that Mohamed was a follower of the religion of Abraham (16:123). There is a general misunderstanding among Muslims today that Islam did not exist before Mohamed and the Quran, but this is a falsehood. Abraham was the first man to call us Muslims, the first man to be given the Islamic rites of the declaration of faith, prayer, charity, fasting and hajj and not Mohamed. Mohamed followed what had been given to Abraham.

Chapter 6, verse 161
Say: "Verily, my Lord hath guided me to a way that is straight, a religion of right, the path trod by Abraham the true in Faith, and he joined not gods with God."

Chapter 16, verse 123
Then we inspired you to follow the religion of Abraham, the monotheist; he never was an idol worshiper.

There is no god but God, He alone is God, and He has no partner.