A: Firstly, it is obligatory to verbally pronounce the Two Shahadahs and anyone who is capable of pronouncing them but refrains from that, will not enter Islam until they do, according to the Ijma' (consensus) of Muslim scholars. Moreover, the pronunciation should be based on true belief and conviction in the meaning of the Two Shahadahs, attesting that there is no true deity except Allah. If a person pronounces the Two Shahadahs while disbelieving in them, like the hypocrites who say them while believing that there are other gods with Allah, the pronunciation will not avail them and they will not truly embrace Islam inwardly. Allah (Exalted be He) says: Verily, the hypocrites will be in the lowest depth (grade) of the Fire He (Glorified and Exalted be He) says: And of mankind, there are some (hypocrites) who say: "We believe in Allâh and the Last Day" while in fact they believe not. Therefore, it is obligatory to believe deep in the heart and have Yaqin (certainty) that there is no true deity except Allah. And if one disdains to submit to the Shar' (Law) of Allah, they have committed Kufr (disbelief) and their pronouncing the Two Shahadahs will not avail them. Allah (Exalted be He) says: That is because Allâh ­ He is the Truth (the only True God of all that exists, Who has no partners or rivals with Him), and what they (the polytheists) invoke besides Him, it is Bâtil (falsehood). And verily, Allâh ­ He is the Most High, the Most Great.

Allah (Glorified be He) also says: And your Lord said: "Invoke Me, [i.e. believe in My Oneness (Islâmic Monotheism) and ask Me for anything] I will respond to your (invocation). Verily! Those who scorn My worship [i.e. do not invoke Me, and do not believe in My Oneness, (Islâmic Monotheism)] they will surely enter Hell in humiliation!" Similarly, if one disdains to testify that Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah or pronounces it while disbelieving in it, they are a Kafir (disbeliever). They will continue to be so until they believe that Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah and they start to follow his Shari'ah (Islamic law). This is a matter of Ijma' among the Muslim scholars. It is Allah Alone Whose help can be sought.