The Virtues of Laa ilaha illallah is that there is none worthy to be worshipped in truth except for Allah
09-02-2008
Laa ilaha illallah
The meaning of Laa ilaha illallahâ is that there is none worthy to be worshipped
in truth except for Allah.
The two key words are:
1. illa (except)
2. ilah (god).
'Al ilah' does not mean creator, we cannot translate Laa ilaha illallahâ to be
there is no creator but Allah, even if the subject is correct, it is an
incorrect translation.
So we understand that Laa ilaha illallahâ means that there is no worship that
can be performed except to Allah (swt). The one who diverts the worship to other
than Allah, he is Mushrik (polytheist), because he has taken someone else as
Maboud (God to worship).
The one, who prays salah, pays zakat, fasts, arbitrates, slaughters etc for
other than the sake of Allah (swt) is a Mushrik.
The conditions of Laa ilaha illallahâ according to Ahlus Sunnah wal Jamaah are
seven and the pre-requisite of it is consent by the tongue 'Al Iqraar.'
Sheikh Hakami said: The conditions of Laa ilaha illallahâ are seven, Ilm, Yaqeen,
Quboul, Inqiyaad, Sidq, Ikhlas and Mahabbah.
Laa ilaha illallah has two sides to it:
1. The negation of all taghout: To make kufr (disbelief) on anything other than
Allah (swt),
2. The affirmation of belief in Allah: To submit and to worship Him with truth
and exclusivity.
The Seven Conditions of Shahadah
1. Ilm:
2. Yaqeen:
3. Quboul:
4. Inqiyaad:
5. Sidq:
6. Ikhlas:
7. Mahabbah:
To have
knowledge about Laa ilaha illallahâ about what is worship, who is Allah
To have certainty
To accept it
To submit to it
Believing it and accepting anything that comes with it
To have sincerity
To love Allah (swt)
Some ulema add other conditions such as; to reject and disbelieve in taghout and
to die on Islam.
Virtues (fadaa'il) of Laa ilaha illallah
1. It is the greatest favour (ni'mah) to mankind from Allah (swt)
Allah (swt) says,
الْيَوْمَ
أَكْمَلْتُ لَكُمْ دِينَكُمْ وَأَتْمَمْتُ عَلَيْكُمْ نِعْمَتِي وَرَضِيتُ لَكُمُ
الإِسْلاَمَ دِينًا
This day have I perfected your religion for you, completed My favour upon you,
and have chosen for you Islam as your religion. [Surah Al Maidah 5:3]
وَاعْتَصِمُواْ بِحَبْلِ اللّهِ جَمِيعًا وَلاَ تَفَرَّقُواْ وَاذْكُرُواْ نِعْمَةَ
اللّهِ عَلَيْكُمْ
And hold fast, all together, by the rope which Allah (stretches out for you),
and be not divided among yourselves; and remember with gratitude Allah's favour
on you; [Surah Al Imran 3:103]
وَهَـذَا
كِتَابٌ أَنزَلْنَاهُ مُبَارَكٌ فَاتَّبِعُوهُ وَاتَّقُواْ لَعَلَّكُمْ تُرْحَمُونَ
And this is a Book which We have revealed as a blessing: so follow it and be
righteous, that ye may receive mercy: [Surah Al An'am 6:155]
2. It is Al Urwatul Wuthqa (knot that does not break)
The strongest knot of Imaan is known as Al Urwatul Wuthqa, in Surah Baqarah.
Allah (swt) says,
لاَ
إِكْرَاهَ فِي الدِّينِ قَد تَّبَيَّنَ الرُّشْدُ مِنَ الْغَيِّ فَمَنْ يَكْفُرْ
بِالطَّاغُوتِ وَيُؤْمِن بِاللّهِ فَقَدِ اسْتَمْسَكَ بِالْعُرْوَةِ الْوُثْقَىَ لاَ
انفِصَامَ لَهَا وَاللّهُ سَمِيعٌ عَلِيمٌ
There is no compulsion in the deen but there is compulsion in the Shariâah, the
correct deen is clear and the deen of the kuffar is clear. Allah declared that
whoever rejects all taghout and then believes in Allah (swt) has grasped Al
Urwatul wuthqa [Surah Baqarah 2:256]
Ibn Abbas said, Al urwatul wuthqa is the kalimah of Laa ilaha illallahâ
Imam Ahmad
recorded that Qays bin `Abbad said,
"I was in the Masjid when a man whose face showed signs of humbleness came and
prayed two Rak`ahs that were modest in length. The people said, `This is a man
from among the people of Paradise.' When he left, I followed him until he
entered his house, and I entered it after him and spoke with him. When he felt
at ease, I said to him, `When you entered the Masjid, the people said such and
such things.'
He said, All praise is due to Allah! No one should say what he has no knowledge
of. I will tell you why they said that. I saw a vision during the time of the
Messenger of Allah, and I narrated it to him. I saw that I was in a green
garden, ' and he described the garden's plants and spaciousness, `and there was
an iron pole in the middle of the garden affixed in the earth and its tip
reached the sky. On its tip, there was a handle, and I was told to ascend the
pole. I said, `I cannot.' Then a helper came and raised my robe from behind and
said to me, `Ascend.' I ascended until I grasped the handle and he said to me,
`Hold on to the handle.' I awoke from that dream with the handle in my hand. I
went to the Messenger of Allah and told him about the vision and he said,
أَمَّا الرَّوْضَةُ فَرَوْضَةُ الْإِسْلَامِ، وَأَمَّا الْعَمُودُ فَعَمُودُ
الْإِسْلَامِ، وَأَمَّا الْعُرْوَةُ فَهِيَ الْعُرْوَةُ الْوُثْقَى، أَنْتَ عَلَى
الْإِسْلَامِ حَتَّى تَمُوت
As for the garden, it represents Islam; as for the pole, it represents the
pillar of Islam; and the handle represents the most trustworthy handhold. You
shall remain Muslim until you die. This Companion was `Abdullah bin Salam.'' [Tafsir
Ibn Kathir]
3. It is the covenant of Allah
Allah (swt) says,
وَإِذْ أَخَذَ رَبُّكَ مِن بَنِي آدَمَ مِن ظُهُورِهِمْ ذُرِّيَّتَهُمْ
وَأَشْهَدَهُمْ عَلَى أَنفُسِهِمْ أَلَسْتُ بِرَبِّكُمْ قَالُواْ بَلَى شَهِدْنَا
أَن تَقُولُواْ يَوْمَ الْقِيَامَةِ إِنَّا كُنَّا عَنْ هَذَا غَافِلِينَ
When thy Lord drew forth from the Children of Adam - from their loins - their
descendants, and made them testify concerning themselves, (saying): "Am I not
your Lord (who cherishes and sustains you)?"- They said: "Yea! We do testify!"
(This), lest ye should say on the Day of Judgment: "Of this we were never
mindful": [Surah Al A'raf 7:172]
Allah declared that for the one who says Laa ilaha illallahâ, he protects his
life and property, and anyone who does not say it has no sanctity for his life
or property. That protection is only for the one who says Laa ilaha illallahâ or
accepts to live under Laa ilaha illallahâ.
لَا يَمْلِكُونَ الشَّفَاعَةَ إِلَّا مَنِ اتَّخَذَ عِندَ الرَّحْمَنِ
عَهْدًا
None shall have the power of intercession, but such a one as has received
permission (or promise) from (Allah) Most Gracious. [Surah Maryam 19:87]
Ibn Abbas said: The covenant of Allah is the testification of Laa ilaha illallah,
and it to have no hawla and no quwwa. [Ibn Kathir Tafseer Al Azeem]
أُمِرْتُ أَنْ أُقَاتِلَ النَّاسَ حَتَّى يَشْهَدُوا أَنْ لاَ إِلَهَ إِلاَّ
اللَّهُ وَأَنَّ مُحَمَّدًا رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ، وَيُقِيمُوا الصَّلاَةَ ، وَيُؤْتُوا
الزَّكَاةَ ، فَإِذَا فَعَلُوا ذَلِكَ عَصَمُوا مِنِّى دِمَاءَهُمْ وَأَمْوَالَهُمْ
إِلاَّ بِحَقِّ الإِسْلاَمِ ، وَحِسَابُهُمْ عَلَى اللَّهِ
The Messenger (saw) said: I have been ordered to fight people until they testify
Laa ilaha illallahâ
Allah (swt) says,
مِنَ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ رِجَالٌ صَدَقُوا مَا عَاهَدُوا اللَّهَ عَلَيْهِ
فَمِنْهُم مَّن قَضَى نَحْبَهُ وَمِنْهُم مَّن يَنتَظِرُ وَمَا بَدَّلُوا
تَبْدِيلًا
Among the Believers are men who have been true to their covenant with Allah. of
them some have completed their vow (to the extreme), and some (still) wait: but
they have never changed (their determination) in the least: [Surah Al Ahzab
33:23]
This was reported only by Al-Bukhari, but there are corroborating reports with
other chains of narration. Imam Ahmad recorded that Anas said: "My paternal
uncle Anas bin Al-Nadr, may Allah be pleased with him, after whom I was named,
was not present with this Messenger of Allah at Badr, and this distressed him.
He said: `The first battle at which the Messenger of Allah was present, and I
was absent; if Allah shows me another battle with the Messenger of Allah , Allah
will see what I will do!' He did not want to say more than that. He was present
with the Messenger of Allah at Uhud, where he met Sa`d bin Mu`adh, may Allah be
pleased with him. Anas, May Allah be pleased with him, said to him, `O Abu `Amr!
Where are you going? He replied, `I long for the fragrance of Paradise and I
have found it near the mountain of Uhud.' He fought them until he was killed,
may Allah be pleased with him. Eighty-odd stab wounds and spear wounds were
found on his body, and his sister, my paternal aunt Ar-Rabayyi` bint Al-Nadr
said, `I only recognized my brother by his fingertips.'
4. It is Al Kalimatul Husna
Allah mentioned that Laa ilaha illallahâ is al husna, Allah (swt) says,
فَسَنُيَسِّرُهُ لِلْيُسْرَى - وَصَدَّقَ بِالْحُسْنَى - فَأَمَّا مَنْ
أَعْطَى وَاتَّقَى
So he who gives (in charity) and fears (Allah), and (in all sincerity) testifies
to the best,-We will indeed make smooth for him the path to Bliss. [Surah Al
Lail 92: 5-7]
Dahaq reported that Ibn Abbas said: He is going to get what Allah allocated for
people of Jannah because he believes in Laa ilaha illallahâ [Ibn Kathir v4 p119]
5. It is Kalimatul haq (truth) al ulya (highest)
الإِسْلاَمُ يَعْلُو وَلاَ يُعْلَى
The Messenger (saw) said: âIslam is superior nothing else will supersede it [Sahih
Bukhari] #79
مَنْ قَاتَلَ لِتَكُونَ
كَلِمَةُ اللَّهِ هِىَ الْعُلْيَا فَهُوَ فِى سَبِيلِ اللَّهِ ....
فَمَنْ فِى سَبِيلِ اللَّهِ قَال
A man came and asked the Messenger (saw) who is fee sabilillah He (saw) said
Whoever fights to make Allah word the highest then he is on the on path to Allah
fee sabilillah) [Sahih Bukhari] #2810
أَنَّ رَجُلاً سَأَلَ النَّبِىَّ -صلى الله عليه وسلم- وَقَدْ وَضَعَ رِجْلَهُ
فِى الْغَرْزِ أَىُّ الْجِهَادِ أَفْضَلُ قَالَ " كَلِمَةُ حَقٍّ عِنْدَ سُلْطَانٍ
جَائِرٍ
A man asked the Messenger (saw) which jihad is the best. He (saw) replied A word
of truth in front of a tyrant ruler [Sahih Bukhari] #4226
6. It is Kalimatu Taqwa
اتَّقِ اللَّهَ حَيْثُمَا كُنْتَ
The Messenger (saw) said âFear Allah wherever you are [Tirmidhi] #2115
Taqwa is to save yourself from what will make you a loser or lost or from facing
punishment. To follow the right path and avoiding all the muharammaat, Allah (swt)
says,
فَأَنزَلَ اللَّهُ سَكِينَتَهُ عَلَى رَسُولِهِ وَعَلَى الْمُؤْمِنِينَ
وَأَلْزَمَهُمْ كَلِمَةَ التَّقْوَى وَكَانُوا أَحَقَّ بِهَا وَأَهْلَهَا
Allah sent down His Tranquillity to his Messenger and to the Believers, and made
them stick close to the command of self-restraint; and well were they entitled
to it and worthy of it. [Surah Al Fath 48:26]
This ayah was about the Sahabah, they are the people bound to the kalimah and
the best to understand it, Ibn Abbas said, Kalimatu taqwa is the kalimah Laa
ilaha illallahâ
7. It is Al Qawol al Thaabit
عَنِ
الْبَرَاءِ بْنِ عَازِبٍ ( يُثَبِّتُ اللَّهُ الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا بِالْقَوْلِ
الثَّابِتِ فِى الْحَيَاةِ الدُّنْيَا وَفِى الآخِرَةِ) قَالَ نَزَلَتْ فِى عَذَابِ
الْقَبْر
Narrated by Baraa bin Aazib Allah will make firm those who believe by the firm
word in this world and the hereafter. He said it will also descend on them
whilst they faced with the severity of the grave. [Sahih Muslim] #7399
In the grave, we will be asked who is your Lord? and people will not be able to
say, entering the grave they will shout for the dunya, for his money and family,
but the mumin will shout Laa ilaha illallahâ.
8. It is Kalimatu Tayyibah
أَلَمْ تَرَ كَيْفَ ضَرَبَ اللّهُ مَثَلاً كَلِمَةً طَيِّبَةً كَشَجَرةٍ
طَيِّبَةٍ أَصْلُهَا ثَابِتٌ وَفَرْعُهَا فِي السَّمَاء
Seest thou not how Allah sets forth a parable? - A goodly word like a goodly
tree, whose root is firmly fixed, and its branches (reach) to the heavens,- of
its Lord. So Allah sets forth parables for men, in order that they may receive
admonition. [Surah Ibrahim 14:24]
Mujahid (ra) and several others stated that this parable describes the
believer's deeds, good statements and good actions. The believer is just like
the beneficial date tree, always having good actions ascending at all times, by
day and by night.
أَخْبِرُونِي عَنْ شَجَرَةٍ تُشْبِهُ أَوْ كَالرَّجُلِ الْمُسْلِمِ لَا يَتَحَاتُّ
وَرَقُهَا صَيْفًا وَلَا شِتَاءً، وَتُؤْتِي أُكُلَهَا كُلَّ حِينٍ بِإِذْنِ
رَبِّهَا
Al-Bukhari recorded that `Abdullah bin Umar (ra) said, "We were with the
Messenger of Allah when he asked, (Tell me about a tree that resembles the
Muslim, the leaves of which do not fall in summer or winter and gives its fruit
at all times by the leave of its Lord.)''
Ibn `Umar (ra) said, "I thought of the date palm tree, but felt shy to answer
when I saw that Abu Bakr and `Umar (rah) did not talk. When they did not give
an answer, the Messenger of Allah said,
هِيَ النَّخْلَة
It is the date palm tree.
When we departed, I said to Umar (ra), My father, by Allah! I thought that it
was the date tree.
He said, `Why did you not speak then' I said, `I saw you were silent and I felt
shy to say anything.' `Umar (ra) said, `Had you said it, it would have been
more precious to me than such things (i.e., would have been very precious to
me).'''
9. It is the way to Jannah
Allah (swt) says,
كُلُّ نَفْسٍ ذَآئِقَةُ الْمَوْتِ وَإِنَّمَا تُوَفَّوْنَ أُجُورَكُمْ يَوْمَ
الْقِيَامَةِ فَمَن زُحْزِحَ عَنِ النَّارِ وَأُدْخِلَ الْجَنَّةَ فَقَدْ فَازَ
وَما الْحَيَاةُ الدُّنْيَا إِلاَّ مَتَاعُ الْغُرُورِ
Every soul shall have a taste of death: And only on the Day of Judgment shall
you be paid your full recompense. Only he who is saved far from the Fire and
admitted to the Garden will have attained the object (of Life): For the life of
this world is but goods and chattels of deception. [Surah Al Imran 3:185]
مَنْ قَالَ أَشْهَدُ أَنْ لاَ إِلَهَ إِلاَّ اللَّهُ وَحْدَهُ لاَ شَرِيكَ
لَهُ وَأَنَّ مُحَمَّدًا عَبْدُهُ وَرَسُولُهُ وَأَنَّ عِيسَى عَبْدُ اللَّهِ
وَابْنُ أَمَتِهِ وَكَلِمَتُهُ أَلْقَاهَا إِلَى مَرْيَمَ وَرُوحٌ مِنْهُ وَأَنَّ
الْجَنَّةَ حَقٌّ وَأَنَّ النَّارَ حَقٌّ أَدْخَلَهُ اللَّهُ مِنْ أَىِّ أَبْوَابِ
الْجَنَّةِ الثَّمَانِيَةِ شَاءَ
The prophet (saw) said, The one who testifies that Laa ilaha illallahâ and
Muhammad is his servant and Messenger and Isa is the servant of Allah and his
messenger and he is the kalimah of Allah that he sent to Maryam, and he is the
ruh of Allah and he believes the Jannah is haq and the hellfire is haq, Allah
will let him enter into Jannah, through whichever of the eight gates of Jannah
he wishes [Sahih Muslim] #149
10. It is the cause to prevent permanent hellfire
Laa ilaha illallahâ will be the cause to save the Muwahhid from being punished
in hellfire forever, only the kuffar will stay in hellfire forever. Allah (swt)
says,
اللّهُ وَلِيُّ الَّذِينَ آمَنُواْ يُخْرِجُهُم مِّنَ الظُّلُمَاتِ إِلَى
النُّوُرِ وَالَّذِينَ كَفَرُواْ أَوْلِيَآؤُهُمُ الطَّاغُوتُ يُخْرِجُونَهُم مِّنَ
النُّورِ إِلَى الظُّلُمَاتِ أُوْلَـئِكَ أَصْحَابُ النَّارِ هُمْ فِيهَا خَالِدُونَ
Allah is the Protecting Friend of those who believe. He bringeth them out of
darkness into light. As for those who disbelieve, their patrons are false
deities. They bring them out of light into darkness. Such are rightful owners of
the Fire. They will abide therein. [Surah Baqarah 2:257]
إِنَّ الَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا مِنْ أَهْلِ الْكِتَابِ وَالْمُشْرِكِينَ فِي نَارِ
جَهَنَّمَ خَالِدِينَ فِيهَا
Those who reject (Truth), among the People of the Book and among the
Polytheists, will be in Hell-Fire, to dwell therein (for aye). [Surah Al
Abyyinah 98:6]
Those with iman however small will eventually be taken out of the hellfire by
the intercession of the Messenger (saw).
فَأَقُولُ يَا رَبِّ أُمَّتِى أُمَّتِى . فَيُقَالُ انْطَلِقْ فَأَخْرِجْ
مِنْهَا مَنْ كَانَ فِى قَلْبِهِ مِثْقَالُ ذَرَّةٍ أَوْ خَرْدَلَةٍ مِنْ إِيمَانٍ
The prophet (saw) said âI will say O My Lord. My Ummah, my Ummah. He will say
take out from it he who has an atom weight of iman [Sahih Bukhari] #7510
But the good Muslim will never want to be there, he will save himself from any
sin, and if he commits sin, he will repent; Allah (swt) loves the servant who
commits a sin and asks forgiveness.
11. Whoever says it sincerely for the sake of Allah seeking Jannah and to be
saved from hellfire, he will have it
مَا مِنْ أَحَدٍ يَشْهَدُ أَنْ لاَ إِلَهَ إِلاَّ اللَّهُ وَأَنَّ مُحَمَّدًا
رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صِدْقًا مِنْ قَلْبِهِ إِلاَّ حَرَّمَهُ اللَّهُ عَلَى النَّارِ
The Messenger (saw) said No one from amongst you testifies there is none worthy
of worship but Allah and Muhammad is His messenger with sincerity in his heart
except that Allah (swt) forbade the hellfire upon him. [Sahih Bukhari] #128
Submitted by a Mujahid