THE MEANING OF LA ILÁHA ILLALLAH AND ITS REQUIREMENTS
AII the praises and thanks be to Alláh, Who has not begotten a son (or offspring), and Who has no partner in His Dominion. He does not have a Wali (helper, protector or supporter) against lowliness. I magnify Him with all magnificence [Allahu-Akbar (Alláh is the Most Great)]. I bear witness that there ís no deity worthy of worship except Alláh Alone without partners, and Alláh is glorified and praised from what the unjust infidels say about Him. I bear witness that Muhammad is Alláhs slave and Messenger, whom Alláh has sent just before the Last Hour as the Brínger of glad tidings, a Warner, a Caller to Alláh by His permissíon and a light of guidance. May Alláh’s peace and blessings be on Muhammad, his progeny, his Companions and all those who follow and obey him until the Day of Resurrection.
O people, fear Alláh and obey Him. O slaves of Alláh! The first pillar in Islam is Ash-Shahadatain (the Two Testimonials): La iláha illalláh, Muhammadun Rasulullah (there is no deity worthy of worship except Alláh and Muhammad is the Messenger of Alláh), This is the first and most important pillar on which the rest of Islam’s pillars are established and from which all of the religion’s rulings derived. If this base is firm and well established, the rest of the actions will be set aright and accepted by Alláh, thus earning one benefit and rewards. If this base is not established on a firm ground, all good deeds will be ruined and become like scattered, floating particles of dust, or like a mirage in a desert that the thirsty thinks is water until he comes up to it, and he finds it to be nothing. Or it is like ashes scattered on a stormy day. In this case one’s good deeds will become a burden in this life and a cause for sorrow and grief on the Day of Resurrection.
O, slaves of Alláh! The Two Testimonials have meaning and implications; those who declare them are required to acquire knowledge in their meanings and implications and to adhere by them. Otherwise, merely pronouncing the Shahadatain will not avail the professed.
La iláha illalláh asserts that none has the right to be worshipped except Alláh and that all those besides Him that are being worshipped are false deities:
“That is because Alláh, He is the Truth, and that which they invoke besides Him is Al-Bátil (falsehood, Satan and all other false deities); and that Alláh, He is the Most High, the Most Great.” (31:30)
Testifying that there is no deity worthy of worship except Alláh requires associating none with Alláh in worship. Declaring this Testimonial dictates disowning all worshipped objects besides Alláh and dedicating all acts of worship to Him Alone, consequently, adhering by al! that He has ordained and abandoning all that He has forbidden. This is why when the Prophet ~ said to the pagans, “Say: Lá iláha illalláh,” they understood that this Testimonial required them to worship Alláh Alone and abandon worshipping the idols. They refused to declare the Shahadah and rejected it outright, saying:
Has he made the álihah (gods) (all) into One Ilah (God Alláh). Verily, this is a curious thing!” And the leaders among them went about (saying): “Go on, and remain constant to your álihah (gods)! Verily, this is a thing designed (against you)! We have not heard (the like) of this in the religion of these later days (i.e., Christianity). This is nothing but an invention!.”(38:5-7)
This is the meaning of Lá iláha illalláh. Muhammad made the gods only one God, with the implication being abandoning worshipping all deities except Alláh. The Mushriks (Arab pagans) understood this meaning, for they were eloquent Arabs. However, those who revere graves in the present time do not understand the true essence of Lá iláha illalláh, and this is why they worship the dead. Hence, the Mushrikun of old were more knowledgeable than they in the true meaning of Lá iláha illalláh and its indications. These Quburiyyun (Muslims who worship graves) say Dhikr Lá iláha illalláh, yet invoke Ali, Husain or Abdul Qadir AI-Jilani when distressed. They call on the dead and supplicate to them to send them aid and relief from disasters. They circumambulate around their graves and sacrifice in their names. What does Lá iláha illalláh mean to these people and what benefit does pronouncing it bring them? Verily, they are a people who understand not.
“They have forgotten Alláh, so He has forgotten them.” (9:67)
And:
“The evil of their deeds is made fair-seeming to them. And Alláh guides not the people who disbelieve.” (9:37)
O, slaves of Alláh! Lá ildha illalláh requires establishing the prayer perfectly and on time, for it is the second pillar of Islam after the Two Testimonials. Alláh the Exalted said:
“But if they repent [by rejecting Shirk (polytheism) and accept Islamic Monotheism), perform As-Salat (lqámat-as-Salát) and give Zakát, then they are your brethren in religion. “(9: 11)
Also, among the implications of Lá iláha illallah is that Muslims are required to pay Zakat, fast (the lunar month of) Ramadhán, perform Hajj to the House (the Ka’bah at Makkah) for those who can afford the journey, fulfill the obligations and refrain from the prohibitions. For instance, Abu Bakr As-Siddiq and the Companions fought those who refused to pay the Zakát, even though these rebels used to say Lá iláha illalláh. The Companions declared that paying the Zakát is among the requirements of Lá iláha illallah. It was once said to AI Hasan Al-Basri, “Some people say that those who proclaim La ilaha illalláh shall enter Paradise.” He said, “Y es, those who proclaim it and fulfill its implications and requirements, then saying La ilaha illalláh shall enter them into Paradise.”
AIso, Wahb bin Munbih was asked:
Is not La iláha illalláh the key to Paradise?” He said, “Yes.
However, every key has teeth, and if you use a key that has teeth it will open for you, otherwise it will not open.”
O Alláh’s slaves! Just as Shirk contradicts and annuls La iláha illalláh, also all other sins less than Shirk decrease from its essence and rewards according to the sin committed by the slave. Therefore, the Muslim is required to declare that there is no deity worthy of worship except Alláh, acquire knowledge in this Testimonial’s implications and abide by it inwardly and outwardly. Alláh said:
And those whom they invoke instead of Him have no power of intercession – except for those who bear witness to the truth knowingly, and they know.”(43:86)
Bear witness to the truth knowingly, mean s, “They declared that none has the right to be worshipped except Alláh.” To continue, ” … and they know” means, “Their hearts know the truth of the Testimonial that their tongues have uttered.” Therefore, fear Alláh, O Alláh ‘s slaves. Know the true meaning of this Testimonial and abide by it. It is not sufficient to merely declare the Shahadah without knowing its meaning and abiding by its implications:
And We did not send any Messenger before you (O Muhammad ~) but We revealed to him (saying): La iláha illa Ana [none has the right to be worshipped but I(Alláh)], so worship Me (Alone and none else).”(21 :25)
May Alláh direct us and you to the blessings of the Glorious Qurán and benefit us and you in whatever is in it of the Áyat and Wise Dhikr. I say this and ask Alláh the Great, and the Most Honored for forgiveness for me, you and all Muslims for every sin, so invoke Him for forgiveness, for He is the Most Forgiving, Most Merciful.
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