Laa Ilaha Illallah Part – 2 : Conditions of ‘Laa Ilaha Illallah’

[Raiyan]

Laa Ilaha Illallah Part – 2: The Condition of Tawheed: Conditions of ‘Laa Ilaha Illallah’

A Condition is a necessary requirement for something to be or happen. The conditions of Tawheed are of great importance, it is compulsory on every Muslim to know and implement them in their daily lives. This is because if a person breaks one of these condition, his Islam is nullified. Look at prayer for example, if one of its’ condition like facing the Qibla (direction towards which Muslims pray) or covering the awra is violated, then the whole Prayer is invalid.
From the conditions of Tawheed below are seven:-

1. The first condition is Al-i’lm (Knowledge):

It is mandatory upon every individual who pronounces the Shahaada to know what it means. Allah (SWT) says: “Therefore, you should know that there is no god but Allah…” [Surah Muhammad (47) V.19]

Therefore if anyone ignores that Allah (SWT) is the Only One Worthy of worship, then his Islam is nullified, and due to this reason knowledge is considered as a basic condition in the acceptance of one’s Islam.

Uthman Ibn Affan (RadiAllahu anhu) narrated that the Messenger of Allah (SAWS) said: “He who dies knowing ‘La Ilaha Illallah’ that there is no ilah (worthy of worship) except Allah, shall enter Al-Jannah (Paradise).” [Reported by Muslim]

* Abdur Rahman Bin Hasan Aal AsSheikh (may Allah have mercy upon him) said: “The Scholars of Ahl Sunnah Wal Jama’ah have stated while discussing the meaning of ‘Laa Ilaha Illallah’ and what makes it and breaks it, the knowledge with absolute belief has been made compulsory by Allah upon everyone and that it is one of the condition that can make or break the Shahaada.

Al-Wazir (Abul Mutahar) stated in his book Al ifsah: That to testify that there is no ilah but Allah requires that the witness should know fully the meaning of it. As Almighty Says: “So know indeed none is worthy of worship except Allah…”[Surah Muhammad (47) V.19]

Abul Muthafar also stated that this declaration of faith (Laa ilaha illallah) consists of the rejection of Taghut and the belief in Allah, therefore when one rejects all ilah’s (gods, deities) other than Allah (SWT) and then affirms that worship should be directed to no one but Allah (SWT), he has disbelieved in Taghut and believed in Allah (SWT) Alone.”
*(Above Copied & Translated from Adurur Assaniyya 2/216)

* Abdullah Bin Abdur-Rahman Aba Batten (may Allah have mercy on him) said: Allah (SWT) says: “ This is an announcement to mankind and that they may be warned thereby and that they must know He is One and that this be an advise (must) for intellectual people.” [Surah Ibrahim (14) V.52]

It is very important to note that Allah (SWT) didn’t say: “… and that they may say that He is One” – He (SWT) said “…and that they may know that He is One.”

Allah (SWT) also says:
“And those whom they invoke besides Him have no power of intercession; except those who bear witness with the truth (i.e. believed in the oneness of Allah, and obeyed His orders), and they know (the facts about the oneness of Allah).” [Surah Az -Zukhruf (43) V. 86]
That is to say they should know in their hearts what they gave witness to their tongues. The prophet of Allah (SAWS) said: “Whoever dies with the knowledge that there is nothing worthy of worship except Allah shall enter jannah.”[Muslim]
The scholars referred to the previous Ayah and others like it as evidence to prove that the first obligation on a person is to know Allah (SWT).This Ayah proves that the largest of obligations is the knowledge of the meaning of La ilaha illallah and the greatest form of ignorance is to be ignorant of the meaning of La ilaha illallah. Yet surprisingly, we still find that there are people who if they hear someone talking about the meaning of la ilaha illlallah as rejection and affirmation, they disagree because they think it is not their duty to judge to judge people.
We answer them by saying that everyone is entrusted to learn Tawheed, for which Allah created both the jinn and the Ince (mankind), and sent all His Prophets and Messengers to call to. You are required to know the opposite of Tawheed, which is shirk, that Allah (SWT) does not forgive nor excuse out of ignorance, and it is also forbidden to blindly follow on this matter because it is the corner-stone and root of one’s Islam. Therefore anyone who does not enjoin the good and forbid evil is surely led far astray especially because the greatest good is Tawheed and the worst evil is shirk.”
* (Above quote is copied and Translated from Addurar Assoniyya 58\12)
*Abdul Latif Bin Abdur-Rahmaan Bin Hasan Aal Ashaikh (may Allah have mercy on him) said: Muhammad Bin Abdul Wahab (may Allah have mercy on him) said: “Anyone who says the Shahaada without knowing its meaning and without living or acting according to it is not a Muslim. In fact it would be used against him unlike Al karamiya who claim that Imaan is fulfilled by mere acknowledgement or Al Jahriyya who claim that imaan is achieved simply by belief,”
* (Copied and Translated from Addurur Assaniyya 535\12)
Allah (SWT) called the Munafiqeen liars after they came with false testimony claiming to be Muslims. They had verbally accepted Islam but Allah (SWT) exposed them as liars when He (SWT) said: “When the hypocrites come unto you and said:”we bear witness that you are a Messenger of Allah”: and Allah knows that you are His messenger and Allah bears witness that the hypocrites are definitely liars.” [Surah Al-Munafiqoon (63) V.01]

And from this we conclude that imaan is achieved through belief in theory and practice. As for the one who says ‘La ilaha illallah’ and then goes and worship others besides Allah, his Shahadah is invalid even if he prays, gives Zakat (alms), fasts and implements all the other Islamic rituals. Allah azawajal addresses him in the Quran and says: “ Then do you believe in a part of the Scripture and reject the rest?” [Surah Al-Baqarah (02) V.85]

2. The second condition of Tawheed is Al-Yaqeen (certainty):
After a person learns Tawheed and understands the meaning of ‘La ilaha illallah’, he must have absolute certainty about the fact that all forms of worship should be directed to Allah (SWT) Alone and entertain no doubt or hesitation about it. Allah (SWT) says: “Indeed those are the believers who have believed in Allah and his Messenger, and afterward doubted not and strive with their wealth and their self in the way of Allah, Those! The people who are truthful,” [Surah Al- Hujraat (49) V.15]
In a hadith of the Prophet (SAWS), He is reported to have said: “I bear witness that there is nothing worthy of worship other than Allah and that I am the Messenger of Allah. Any worshipper who meets Allah and has no doubt about the truth of those two statements shall be placed in Jannnah.”[Bukhari and Muslim]
3. The third condition of ‘La ilaha illallah’ is Al-Qubool (Acceptance):
Once a person has learnt Tawheed and the meaning of ‘La ilaha illallah’ and has Al-Yaqeen, he must next verbally acknowledge that he has accepted the shahaada and never deny it for any reason other than Ikra (Compulsion).Allah Taala said “ Truly when La ilaha illallah is said to them, they puffed themselves up with pride. And say “Are we going abandon our alihah (to whom we worship) just because of this poet who is insane!” [Surah As-Safaat (37) V. 35-36]
4. The fourth condition of Tawheed is Ala-Inqiyaad (Compliance):
After a person has learnt Tawheed and the meaning of ‘La ilaha illallah’ and has Al-Yaqeen and has passed Al-qubool, he next has to strive towards ‘La ilaha illallah’ with his actions and comply with what it requires. They should reject all false deities and direct all forms of worship to Allah (SWT) Alone. Allah Taala says “ But no by your lord they can have no belief, until they make you (o Muhammad) judge in all disputes between them, and then find in them selves no resistance against your decisions and accept them with full submission.” [Surah An-Nisaa (04) V. 65]
Not that the difference between Al-Qubool and Al-Inqiyaad is that Al-Qubool is accepting the Shahaada verbally but Al-Inqiyaad is acting according to what the requires.
Abdur-Rahman Bin Hasan Al Ashaikh (may Allah’s mercy be upon him) said: “It is not enough to claim to be a Muslim or to verbally declare ‘La ilaha illallah’. What Islam really means is to assert Allah (SWT)’s Oneness and submit fully to Him in terms of Lordship and worship both theoretically and practically. Allah Talla Says: “Thus whoever rejects the Taghut and believes in Allah has grasped the most trustworthy handhold that will never be taken away… ” [Surah Al-Baqarah (02) V.256] and He (SWT) also Says: “You do not worship besides Him but only names which you have named (forged), you and your fathers, for which Allah has sent down no authority. The command (or the judgment) is for none but Allah. He has commanded that you worship none but Him (i.e. His Monotheism), that is the (true) straight religion, but most men know not.” [Surah Al-Yusuf (12) V.40]
*(Taken from Addurur Assaniyya-The Book of Tawheed 264\2)
5. The fifth condition of Tawheed is As-Sidq (Truthfulness):
Once a person has understood Tawheed and the meaning of ‘La ilaha illallah’ and accepts it with full certainty and absolute compliance to its requirements, he should be truthful in what he has done. The Prophet (SAWS) said: “Allah shall forbid the fire from anyone that bears witness truthfully from his heart that there is nothing worthy of worship except for Allah and that Muhammad is His slave and Messenger.” [Bukhari and Muslim].
The Prophet (SAWS) also said: “Whoever says ‘La ilaha illallah’ truthfully shall enter Jannah (heaven)” [Reported by Ahmad] As for someone who declares Tawheed with his Tongue and then rejects what it means in his heart then his Tawheed will not be accepted and it will not save him as Allah (SWT) states about the Munafiqeen when they said: “We bear witness that you are indeed the Messenger of Allah.” Allah taala answered them saying: “When the hypocrites come to you (O Muhammad SAW), they say: "We bear witness that you are indeed the Messenger of Allah." Allah knows that you are indeed His Messenger and Allah bears witness that the hypocrites are liars indeed.” [Surah Al- Munafiqeen (63) V.01]

Allah (SWT) has also called them liars by saying: “And of mankind, there are some (hypocrites) who say: "We believe in Allah and the Last Day" while in fact they believe not.” [Surah Al-Baqarah (02) V.8]

6. The sixth condition of Tawheed is Al-Ikhlas (Sincerity):
After a person has learnt Tawheed and the meaning of ‘La ilaha illallah’ and has Al-Yaqeen, Al-Qubool, Al-inqiyaad and has done it with As-Sidq he next has to have Al-ikhlaas. Al ikhlaas is to make all forms of worship for Allah Alone, not for anyone or anyone else. Allah Ta’ala says: “And they were commanded not, but that they should worship Allah, and worship none but Him Alone (abstaining from ascribing partners to Him), and perform As-Salat (Iqamat-as-Salat) and give Zakat: and that is the right religion.” [Surah Al-Al-Bayyina (02) V.5]

Also in the meaning of Al-ikhlaas is that the person should not pronounce their Islam with the willingness to please anyone or anything other than Allah (SWT).The Messenger of Allah (SAWS) said: “Allah has forbidden to the fire the one who says ‘La ilaha illallah’ in the cause of Allah.” [Reported by Bukhari & Muslim].

He (SAWS) also said: “The happiest people with my intercession on the day of judgment are those who say ‘La ilaha illallah’ sincerely from their hearts (toAllah).” [Bukhari]

7. The seventh condition of Tawheed is Al-Mahabba (Love):

After a person has learnt Tawheed and the meaning of ‘La ilaha illallah’ and has Al-Yaqeen, Al-Qubool, Al-inqiyaad and has done it with As-Sidq and Al-ikhlaas, he should love the fact that the only one worthy of worship is Allah (SWT) and show his love for Allah (SWT) with his tongue. Allah ta’ala says: “And of mankind are some who take besides Allah as Andaadan (rivals). They love them as they must love Allah. But those who believe love Allah more (to the highest level). If only, those who do wrong could see, when they will see the torment, that all power (collectively) is for Allah, and that Allah is severe in punishment.” [Surah Al-Baqarah (02) V.165]

Abdur-Rahman Bin Hasan Al Ashaikh (may Allah’s mercy be upon him) said: “Most people ignore the meaning of ‘La ilaha illallah’ and even if they declare it with tongue, they have denied its meaning. One should pay attention to these six or seven conditions without which one cannot be safe from kufr (disbelief) or Nifaaq (hypocracy). A person can only become a Muslim if these conditions are met and implemented because the heart should confirm with the tongue in terms of theory, knowledge, action, practice, belief, acceptance, love and compliance.

So knowledge is essential as opposed to ignorance, sincerely as opposed to Shirk and truthfulness as opposed to lies unlike the Mushrikeen and the hypocrites. Certainly is also essential as opposed to doubt, because one can say La ilaha illallah…and be doubtful of its meaning and requirements. Love as oppose to hatred, and acceptance as opposed to rejection, because one can understand its meaning but rejects it-as was the case with the Pagan (Mushrikeen) Arabs.

Compliance with ‘La ilaha illallah’ as opposed to shirk in the sense that the one who does not act according to it and complies with its requirements will certainly be a Mushrik [a person who associates partners with Allah (SWT)]. So anyone who fulfils all these conditions has gained the light with which he worships Allah (SWT) and he has ultimately followed the right and straight path.”
*(Copied and Translated from Addurur Assaniyya-The Book of Tawheed 255\2)