THE 7 CONDITIONS OF "LA ILAAHA ILLA ALLAH"

 

 

1          KNOWLEDGE: about whom we are worshipping is critical for understanding Islam.  Knowledge in Islam consists of recognizing Allah as the only true God to Whom worship must be dedicated, and denouncing all gods worshipped besides Allah as false, and that they can neither extend benefit nor cause harm.  It calls for complete disassociation from false deities and for the purification of intentions:

 

“So know (O Muhammad (saw)) that La ilaha illa Allah (none has the right to be worshiped except Allah) and ask forgiveness for your sin, and also for (the sin of) believing men and believing women.” [1]

 

The Prophet (saw) said:

 

“He who died knowing (full well) that there is no true God worthy of being worshipped except Allah, entered Al Jannah.” [2]

 

2          CERTAINTY:  that the belief in Allah must be unblemished with any doubt.

 

"Only those are the believers who have believed in Allah and His Messenger, and afterward doubt not but strive with their wealth and their lives for the Cause of Allah” [3]

 

The Prophet (saw) said:

 

"I bear witness that La illah illal’lah, (No one has the right to be worshipped except Allah) and I am his Messenger.  The slave of Allah who would meet Him (Allah) without harbouring any doubts about this (the testification) would enter Al Jannah." [4]

 

3          ACCEPTANCE:  that is, to accept all the conditions of the declaration.  Adherence to the meaning of the testification safeguards the believer from arrogance which Allah forbade:

 

“Truly, when it was said to them: La illaha illa Allah (none has the right to be worshipped but Allah), they puffed themselves up with pride (i.e. denied it).” [5]

 

4          SUBMISSION:  that is, to fulfill it's conditions submissively and willingly being content with Allah (swt) as the Rabb (only Lord) and Muhammad (saw) as His last Prophet and Messenger.

 

“And whoever submits his face (himself) to Allah, while he is a Muhsin (good-doer ie performs good deeds totally for Allah’s sake without any show off or to gain praise or fame and does them in accordance with the Sunnah of Allah’s Messenger Muhammad (saw)), then he has grasped the most trustworthy handhold [La ilaha illa Allah (none has the right to be worshipped but Allah)].” [6]

 

5          TRUTHFULNESS: that is, to fulfill it's requirements truthfully.  This paves the way for meaningful understanding of the Oneness of Allah (swt) and strengthens the drive towards achieving knowledge about Allah (swt).  The hypocrite utters the testification, but conceals rejection in his heart:

 

“They say with their tongues what is not in their hearts.” [7]

The Prophet (saw) said:

"There is none who testifies sincerely (from his heart) that there is no God worthy of being worshipped except Allah, and that Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah, except that Allah will save him from the hell-fire." [8]

 

6          SINCERITY: that is, to be sincere in worshipping Allah, dedicating all acts of worship to Him alone.  The intention behind the performance of any kind of worship must be purely devoted to Allah.

Say (O Muhammad (saw)): “Verily I am commanded to worship Allah (Alone) by obeying Him and doing religious deeds sincerely for His sake only.” [9]

7          LOVE OF ALLAH (SWT) AND LOVE OF HIS MESSENGER (SAW): and the love of Allah's devotees and the people of His obedience, which means love of all Muslims.  The testification requires that the person: loves Allah and His Messenger (saw) more than anything else, and loves what Allah and His messenger love, and hates or dislikes what Allah and His Messenger hate or dislike (what negatively affects the person’s attachment to Islam)

 

“And of mankind are some who take (for worship) others besides Allah as rivals (to Allah).  They love them as they love Allah.  But those who believe love Allah more (than all else).” [10]

The Prophet (saw) said:

“Whoever possesses (the following) of three qualities will relish the sweetness (delight) of Eemaan (Faith): The one to whom Allah and His messenger (saw) becomes dearer than anything else: that he loves a person for Allah Alone (i.e. purely seeking Allah (swt) and His pleasure); that he hates to revert to Kufr (disbelief) after Allah has rescued him from it as he hates to be thrown in hell." [11]

The love of Allah (swt) and His messenger (saw) must translate to a real following of the commands of Allah (swt) and that of the Prophet Muhammad (saw).  This negates the following of any innovator who introduces concepts/ways that are not in accordance with the Islamic teachings.