The first pillar of Islam and the core of the Islamic faith is called the "Shahada," which is the Testimony of Faith.  The Shahada authorised by God in the Quran is stated clearly in verse 3:18:
 

God bears witness that there is no god except Him, and so do the angels and those who possess knowledge. 

~ Quran 3:18

 

The majority of Muslims today are not satisfied with the Shahada given in 3:18. They say: “I bear witness that there is no god but God, and I bear witness that Muhammad is the messenger of God." 

 

Those uttering Muhammad’s name in their Shahada believe it is harmless to do so, since they are just stating that he is a messenger, right?  In actual fact, they do not realise they are violating God’s Laws in the Quran. 

 

The utterance of the Shahada is indeed an act of worship and not just a statement of fact! The Shahada is a declaration to God. Since we pronounce the Shahada to God it is therefore an act of worship, since anytime you communicate to God it is considered worship:

 

Your Lord said, “Implore Me and I will respond to you. Surely, those who are too arrogant to worship Me will enter Hell humiliated.”

~ Quran 40:60

 

We are instructed to dedicate ALL our worship practices to God alone:

 

Say, "My Salat, my worship practices, my life and my death, are all devoted to God, the Lord of the worlds. He has no partner. 

~ Quran 6:162-163

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That means even our declaration of faith must be devoted to God only.

 

Say, "I am only a human like you, being inspired that your god is but One God. So whoever longs for the meeting with his Lord shall do good deeds and never associate in the worship of his Lord anyone." 

~ Quran 18:110

 

EVERYTHING regarding our religion must be devoted to God alone, if we truly worship Him alone. This must include the Shahada. 

 

Except those who repent, reform, hold fast to God, and devote their religion purely to God; those will be with the believers. God will grant the believers a great reward.

~ Quran 4:146

 

The ONLY Shahada (Testimony) authorised by God in the Quran is the one in verse 3:18. This Shahada is uttered by God Himself and also the angels and those who possess knowledge:

 

God bears witness that there is no god except Him, and so do the angels and those who possess knowledge.

~ Quran 3:18 

 

To add anything to a Testimony authorised by God is also implying that the Testimony given to us by God in the Quran is incomplete! We are told that the Quran is fully detailed (6:114) and that God has not left anything out of the Book (6:38). We are commanded clearly in the Quran to follow the Quran alone and nothing else.

 

Adding Muhammad’s name to the Shahada is totally un-Quranic and therefore a religion other than God’s religion.

 

Also in verses 39:2-3 we are told to dedicate all our religion (Shahada, Salat, Hajj, etc) to God alone:

 

We brought down to you the Book with truth, so worship God, devoting the religion purely to Him. Unquestionably, it is to God that the pure religion is due..

` Quran 39:2-3

We must not associate anything or anyone with the name of God:

 

Worship God and do not associate anything with Him. 

~ Quran 4:36

 

Say, “I am only a human like you, being inspired that your god is but One God. So whoever longs for the meeting with his Lord shall do good deeds and never associate in the worship of his Lord anyone.”

~ Quran 18:110

 

According to the Quranic definition of 2:285, the concept of Al-Iman (Belief/Faith) comprises belief in the following:

1- God

2- The Angels

3- The Scripture

4- The messengers

 

Belief in all four is required in order to qualify as a believer. However no shahada is required from us to testify that we believe in the angels, or the Scriptures or the messengers. 

 

We are also commanded in the Quran not to make any distinction between any of God's messengers:

 

The messenger has believed in what was brought down to him from his Lord, and so did the believers. They all believed in God, His Angels, His Scriptures and His Messengers: "We do not distinguish between any of His Messengers," and they said, "We hear and we obey. Forgive us, our Lord. To You is the ultimate destination."

~ Quran 2:285

 

Does it really make sense to single out Muhammad and include his name in the Shahada, when we must not make any distinction among the messengers? We must not make ANY special preferences for Muhammad, otherwise we violate 2:285. 

 

Also, Muhammad certainly wouldn’t have added his own name in his Shahada. And we all know we must follow the messenger. He followed the Quran alone and therefore the Quranic Shahada. 

 

Further evidence, the Quran speaks of another testimony. This other testimony is only spoken by the hypocrites:

 

When the hypocrites come to you, they say, "We bear witness that you are the messenger of God." God knows that you are His messenger and God bears witness that the hypocrites are liars. 

~ Quran 63:!

 

Surely if God had said “God bears witness that you are His messenger” then this would have constituted a lawful testimony which we too must utter.

 

God also states that we must not mention ANY other name in the mosques:

 

The Masjids are for God, so do not call upon anyone else besides God.

~ Quran 72:18

 

Those who pronounce their testimonies at the mosque and include Muhammad’s name are violating this Quranic law. 

 

We learn in 39:45 that the disbelievers will not be able to proclaim God's name on His own. They must include the name of their idol/s in order to be satisfied:

 

When God alone is mentioned, the hearts of those who do not believe in the Hereafter are filled with aversion, but when others are mentioned besides Him, they rejoice.

~ Quran 39:45

 

The Testimony is one such criteria where true believers are tested in the purity of their faith. The true believers will have no problem uttering the correct Testimony which is given in the Quran (3:18) and which has no name other than the name of God. 

 

Those who have set up idols besides God will never be satisfied with the Quranic Testimony on its own. They will not be able to utter the Quranic Shahada without adding a further testimony for Muhammad. In doing this, they have certainly violated numerous Quranic laws. They are indeed committing a serious offence in the sight of God. 

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Peace & God Bless