Someone asked Wahb ibn Munnabih (d. 110), ’Is not laa ilaaha illa Allah the key to Jannah?’ He replied, ‘Yes, but every key has ridges, so if y ou come with the key that has the right ridges, the door will be opened for you, otherwise not.’
Hasan al-Basree said whoever says the kalimah and fulfills its conditions will enter Jannah.
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1. Knowledge (‘ilm, not jahl)[/B]
“So know that there is no god worthy of worship but Allah.” (Muhammad, 47:19)
“Whoever dies knowing that there is no one worthy of worship except Allah shall enter Paradise.” (Muslim)
So if someone repeats the kalimah without knowledge of it, it does not bring any benefit. One must have knowledge of it.
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2. Certainty (yaqeen, not shaqq)[/B]
“The (true) believers are those only who believe in Allah and His messenger and afterward doubt not (in their Eemaan)” (Al-Hujuraat, 49:15)
“No one meets Allah with the testimony that there is none worthy of worship but Allah, and I am the Messenger of Allah, and he has no doubt about that statement, except that he will enter Paradise.” (Muslim)
[B]3. Acceptance (qabool, not rejection or arrogance).[/B]
“For when it was said to them, ‘There is no god save Allah’, they rejected.” (As-Saaffaat, 37:35)
“Do you believe in part of the book and reject part of it?” (Al-Baqarah, 2:85)
Some people like Iblees know the shahadah is true, but have not accepted it.
[B]4. Submission (inqiyaad, not leaving it and not acting upon it).[/B]
The acceptance is in the heart, and submission is with the body.
“Turn to Him repentant, and surrender to Him.” (Az-Zumar, 39:54)
[B]5. Truthfulness (sidq, not lying).[/B]
“And there are some people who say: We believe in Allah and the Last Day when they believe not. They desire to deceive Allah and those who believe, and they deceive none but themselves; only they perceive it not.” (Al-Baqarah, 2:8-9)
“No one bears testimony to there being no one worthy of worship but Allah, truthfully from his heart, except that Allah makes the Hellfire forbidden for him.”
[B]6. Sincerity – ikhlaas and without nifaaq or shirk.[/B]
“Worship Allah, making religion pure for him.” (Az-Zumar, 39:2)
Abu Hurairah (ra) narrated, “I asked the Messenger of Allah, peace be upon him: Messenger of Allah! Who will be most fortunate to enjoy your shafaa’ah (intercession) on the Day of Resurrection? The Messenger of Allah, peace be upon him, said: I was certain that no one else would ask me about this other than you, because I have noticed your keenness for hadeeth. The most fortunate of men who will enjoy my shafaa’ah on the Day of Resurrection is the one who says: (La Ilaaha Illa Allah) ‘None has the right to be worshipped except Allah’, sincerely from his heart.” (Related by Al-Bukhari)
You should be truthful to yourself, and then have sincerity to Allah.
[B]7. Loving it and its people, and hating those who oppose it (vs. hating its people).
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“You wilt not find any people who believe in Allah and the Last Day and yet they love those who oppose Allah and His Messenger, even though they be their fathers, or their sons, or their brethren, or their kindred. These are they in whose hearts Allah has inscribed true faith and whom He has strengthened with inspiration from Himself. And He will admit them into Gardens through which streams flow. Therein they will abide; Allah is well-pleased with them and they are well-pleased with Him. They are Allah’s party. Surely, it is Allah’s party who are the successful.” (Al-Mujaadilah, 58:22)
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