The concept of "Shahadah" in the Quran

This study deals with the concept of "shahadah" in the Qur'an with its various meanings. These meanings are firstly explained through accredited language books and dictionaries, and secondly through books of exegesis. The concept, with respect to its dictionary definitions it sometimes refers „to be ready", sometimes to „definite news",also to the meaning of „oath", the meaning of „to know", „to declare the truth", etc. But as for an Islamic term it has been used in the Qur'an to show a wide variety of things. Among these are; the Muslim's life in the world and its great importance, its reward and/or penalty in the Hereafter; to acknowledge something knowingly or by believing in its righteousness and existence. Among the meanings of the concept, the most important one is the testimony with respect to unity of Allah which includes the following parts: - The testimony of Allah to his unity - The testimony of the angels and those having knowledge to unity of Allah - The testimony of the believers and prophets to other people - The testimony of the Muslims to previous nations - As a testimony superior to the last one, the testimony of the Prophet (pbuh) to all Muslims and people - The testimony of the devil and its helpers. This research also examines the relationship between the consept of '(Allah`s) knowing the unseen and the seen' and the question of Allah's unity. It also discusses the perception of the consept for the protection of rights and honors among people and its importance in the lives of Islamic societies. Finally, it is also discussed in the study: the „shahadah" in the sense of jihad in the way of Allah, the importance of jihad in the way of Allah, the need of the Islamic Ummah to the Mujahideen, especially those who defend it in this critical period in the history of this ummah in which other nations have surrounded it from all sides, martyrs' kinds and what blessings and felicities Allah has prepared for them in the Hereafter. Key Words: shahadah (testimony/martyrdom), Quran, martyrs, tawheed (unity of Allah)