Sunday, January 19, 2014

Conditions of saying "La ilaha illa-Allah"

 Fatwas of Ibn Baz
Content > Volume 3 > Conditions of saying "La ilaha illa-Allah"
(Part No. 3Page No. 49)

Conditions of saying "La ilaha illa-Allah" 
Q: What are the conditions of saying "La ilaha illa-Allah (there is no god but Allah)"? Is it sufficient to say it without understanding its meaning and its consequences?
A: It is necessary to understand and realize the word "La ilaha illa-Allah", which is the best of words and the basis of the religion of Islam. With it the prophets (peace be upon them) started their mission of guiding their people and it was the first thing that the Messenger (peace be upon him) called his people to say, so that they may succeed and prosper. Allah (Exalted be He) says: And We did not send any Messenger before you (O Muhammad صلى الله عليه وسلم) but We revealed to him (saying): Lâ ilâha illa Ana [none has the right to be worshipped but I (Allâh)], so worship Me (Alone and none else)." Every messenger said to his people: Worship Allâh! You have no other Ilâh (God) but Him. It is the essence of the religion; therefore, the one saying it must understand its meaning. It means that there is no true god to be worshipped except Allah. It has certain conditions, which are: knowledge of its meaning, certainty without doubt about its truth, sincerity to Allah Alone in this regard, faithfulness in the heart and on the tongue, love for what it indicates of sincerity to Allah, acceptance of this principle and submission to Him, belief in His Oneness, renunciation of Shirk (associating others with Allah in His Divinity or worship) and disavowal of the worship of any other than Allah, and belief in the falsity of such worship. All these are among the conditions of saying "La ilaha illa-Allah" and its validity. When the believing men and women say it, they renounce with it the worship of any other than Allah, declaring their submission to Al-Haqq (the Truth), acceptance of it, love for Allah, belief in His Oneness and sincerity to Him, while having no doubt about its meaning. Some people say it without believing in it, such as the hypocrites, who say it although doubting or denying it.
(Part No. 3Page No. 50)
It is necessary to have knowledge, certitude, truthfulness, sincerity, love, submission, acceptance, and repudiation. These conditions are included in the lines of the following verse:

Knowledge, certainty, sincerity, and trustfulness with
love, submission, and acceptance of it
And an eighth is your denial of anything
other than Allah being deified

May Allah grant us success. May peace and blessings be upon our Prophet Muhammad, his family, and Companions.

No comments:

Post a Comment