لا إلـه إلا الله“Laa Ilaaha Illa Allah ” or kalimah syahadah La ilaha illa'Llah

لا إلـه إلا الله


لا إلـه إلا الله


source : http://islaamiccreed.wordpress.com/2010/01/15/conditions-of-la%E2%80%99ilaha-illa-allah/

Verbally conveying La’ilaha illa-Allah isn’t enough. Hasan al-Basri (D: 110 H), a student of Aboo Hurairah [May Allaah be pleased with both] was asked “Didn’t prophet say whoever says La’ilaha illa-Allah will enter paradise?” Hasan al-Basri replied “whoever says La’ilaha illa-Allah and fulfils the rights and conditions of La’ilaha illa-Allah, he will enter paradise”

What is required for La’ilaha illa-Allah to be accepted?

A: Seven conditions

1. Knowledge of La’ilaha illa-Allah – to know what it means. Parroting doesn’t help. Proof :

(Quran Chapter Az-Zukhruf verse 86)

…Except for those who bear witness to the truth knowingly…

(Quran Surah 47. Muhammad ayat 19)

So know (O Muhammad) that Lâ ilâha ill-Allâh (none has the Right to be worshipped but Allâh)…

Whoever dies while he knows La’ilaha illa-Allah, he will enter paradise (Muslim)

2. Certainty / yaqeen: If there’s an iota of doubt, the testimony isn’t acceptable

(Quran Surah 49. Al Hujuraat ayat 15)

Only those are the believers who have believed In Allâh and his Messenger, and afterward doubt not but strive with their wealth and their lives for the cause of Allâh. Those! They are the truthful.

3. He must accept this kalima. Shaytan satisfied conditions #1 and #2, but not #3

(Quran Surah 37. Ash Shaaffat ayat 35)

Truly, when it was said to them: Lâ ilâha ill-Allâh “(none has the Right to be worshipped but Allâh),” they puffed themselves up with pride (i.e. denied it).

4. Submit your heart and soul to this kalmia. It’s not something you just know. Your heart, body and soul should act upon it. Your desires should conform to this

(Quran Surah 39. Az Zumar ayat 54)

And turn in repentance and in obedience with true faith (Islâmic Monotheism) to your Lord and submit to Him, (in Islâm), before the torment comes upon you, then you will not be helped.

5. You must be truthful and honest to this kalmia. No deceit, as practiced by hypocrites

(Quran Surah 2. Al Baqarah verses 8 & 9)

And of mankind, there are some (hypocrites) who say: “We believe In Allâh and the Last Day” while in fact they believe not.

They (think to) deceive Allâh and those who believe, while they only deceive themselves, and perceive (it) not!

O Mu’ad! There is not a single person who testifies “La’ilaha illa-Allah Muhammadur Rasoolullah” sincerely from his heart, except that Allah has made hellfire prohibited for him (Saheeh Bukhari)

6. Ikhlaas – you do it for the sake of Allah only

(Quran Surah 98. Al Bayyinah ayat 5)

Yet they were commanded nothing but to worship Allah, with their sincere devotion to Him, being True in their faith; to establish Salah (prayers); and to pay Zakah (poor due); and that is the infallible true Religion (F. Malik Translation)

7. To have passion for it and for its adherents and to take friends and enemies only according to its very criteria.

You do it having a love for this kalmia, and you hate the shirk. You won’t be friends with those who oppose Tawheed. Note that this is not a call to severe/cut the friendships with everybody – this is about those who hate Islam and want to hurt Muslims

(Quran Surah 58. Al Mujaadilah ayat 22)

You (O Muhammad) will not find any people who believe In Allâh and the Last day, making friendship with those who oppose Allâh and his Messenger, even though they were their fathers, or their sons, or their brothers, or their kindred (people)…

Also see At-Taubah verse 23

[Contents from a Yasir Qadhi lecture]