I have in the past wondered why we have to proclaim that there is no God but Allah and Muhammad is His messenger?
Initially I put it down to it ensuring that we never elevate the prophet into anything else but a human and that he was a messenger unlike how Jesus was elevated to being the son of god.
Over time I have come to realize other factors that now seem more logical than my initial thought.
There is no God but Allah alone is not enough because other faiths can also claim the same belief (especially the people of the Books) but do not accept Prophet Muhammad as the messenger.
By proclaiming that Muhammad is the messenger means that they accept his teachings hence the holy Quran as the final message.
Then the prophet (pbuh) becomes an example for the believers (through the sunnah)
Omission of any of the part means not fulfilling the requirement to be considered a believer.
Firstly, Shahada is the first pillar of Islam.. By saying that all people of the book believe in one God is wrong. Some Christians believe in the trinity etc and they've false beliefs.
Shahada is important of course because you testify that there is only ONE God and no one else beside him and that Prophet Muhammad is the the last messenger.By proclaiming that Muhammad is the last messenger is because to remind you/ourselves that he is only a messenger and nothing else. When we do call to prayer (Adhaan) we proclaim that Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) is only a messenger of Allah Azza Wa Jal. Ash-hadu anna Muḥammadan-Rasulullāh (I bear witness that Muhammad is the messenger of Allah.) 5 times a day!!
But what is the reason behind it? A Prophet is sent in every age and nation. Some people took their prophet(s) as gods. Like the Christians, they believe that Eesa (as) is god (Astaghfirullah) That is why we proclaim this and we hear it 5 times a day!! around the world!
Yup, It is correct that the Prophet becomes an example for the belivers through the sunna. When Allah Azza Wa Jal says in the Qur'an to obey me he also says to obey the messenger.
Thank you for this. It is, as you say the 1st of the pillars and it is important to know why you are saying it...... and to be reminded why you are affirming it, and to refresh and polish the faith.
I always thought that the saying that "Muhammad is his messenger" was simply to prevent what happened to Jesus(being worshipped) from happening to Muhammad.
That was what I thought initially, then I learnt the deeper reasons.... which made me think that there may be something else that I may have missed. Hence the post....
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Hence the post.... 
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