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1^st Edition: March 2014 |

E-book Edition: September 2014

ISBN: 978-1-927012-36-9 | Printed in Hong Kong

Table of Contents

Introduction

The Meaning of Laa Ilaaha Ill-Allaah

The Pillars of Laa Ilaaha Ill-Allaah

The Indications of Laa Ilaaha ill-Allaah

That Which Is Expressed and Understood of (the Statement) “Laa Ilaaha ill-Allaah”

The Conditions of Laa Ilaaha ill-Allaah

The Nullifiers of Laa ilaaha ill-Allaah

The Verses That Come Containing Mention of Laa Ilaaha ill-Allaah

Ahaadeeth Concerning Laa Ilaaha ill-Allaah

Introduction

All praise belongs to Allaah, Who is pleased with Islam as a religion for us. I bear witness that none has the right to be worshipped except Allaah, attesting to it truthfully and with certainty. And I bear witness that Muhammad is His slave and Messenger, the one inviting to His Tawheed among the ‘Aalameen. May Allaah send prayers upon him, his family, his companions and those who followed (them in righteousness).

There is no doubt that (the statement) “Laa ilaaha ill-Allaah”—“None has the right to be worshipped except Allaah”—is the statement of taqwaa (piety), the most trustworthy handhold, the foundation of Islam, and the key to the home of peace and security (Paradise).

The earth and the heavens were established because of it (this statement), and the creation was created for its purpose. Because of it, Allaah sent His Messengers and revealed His Books upon them. Because of it, the creation has been divided into Believers and Disbelievers, and (because of it) the markets¹ of Paradise and the Fire have been established. Thus, there will be questions and answers regarding it, and on the basis of it, the punishment and the reward will occur. Then because of it, the Scales will be set up and the Books of Accounting (the deeds of the creation) will be placed (upon them), and the Bridge will be laid out. Then the one who is safe and secure will be in the Gardens (of Paradise), and the one who is fettered and bound will be in the pit of the Fires (of Hell).

So it is obligatory upon every Muslim, male and female, to know the meaning of ‘Laa ilaaha ill-Allaah,’ to know its two pillars: negation and affirmation, and similarly, its conditions. And it is upon him to beware of its nullifiers; refuge is sought with Allaah.

The people are neglectful regarding Islam in accordance with their neglect of (the statement) “Laa ilaaha ill-Allaah”: knowing and acting by what it indicates (of that which it) agrees with, what it includes, what it necessitates and what it requires. For there is the person who says it today, while his condition corresponds with the saying of Him, the Most High:

We found our fathers following a certain way and religion, and we guide ourselves by their footsteps.

[Sooratuz-Zukhruf, 43:22]

…while eemaan has not penetrated his heart, and Allaah’s aid is sought.

There is no doubt regarding the belief of Ahlus-Sunnah wal-Jamaa’ah, that tawheed is with the heart, the tongue and the limbs. It increases with obedience and knowledge, and it decreases with disobedience and ignorance, contrary to what the people of bid’ah and desires believe, such as the Murji’ah, who believe that sins do not harm eemaan, so they defer actions from the meaning of eemaan. Similarly, the Khawaarij, who believe that the one who commits a major sin has disbelieved, and that he will be in the Fire for eternity, even if he was a Muwahhid originally.

Both of these sects are extreme, while Ahlus-Sunnah is in the middle of the two, neither going beyond the bounds nor being negligent.

We ask Allaah, the Most Great, Lord of the Great Throne, that He makes us of those who say “Laa ilaaha ill-Allaah” sincerely in our hearts and perform the acts that it directs to in this life—so we may guard against bid’ah and cling to the Sunnah and are saved from the Fire, and achieve Paradise. Just as I ask Him, the Most High, to make this humble work—which carries in its pages some of the meanings of the Statement of Tawheed (“Laa ilaaha ill-Allaah”)—sincere for His Noble Face, that He benefits me through it as well as my Muslim brothers (and sisters), and that He places it in my scale of good deeds on the Day of Judgement.

And May Allaah send prayers and peace upon our Prophet Muhammad and upon his family and his companions.

Compiled 12/2/1427AH (1/1/2007)

Abu Ibraaheem Muhammad bin ‘Abdil-Wahhaab al-Wassaabee al-’Abdalee Masjid as-Sunnah, Hudaydah, Yemen

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¹ Translator’s note: It has been established in the authentic Sunnah that there is a market in Paradise awaiting the Believers as a reward. Imaam Muslim recorded it in his Saheeh, on the authority of Anas bin Maalik (radiyallaahu ‘anhu) that Allaah’s Messenger (sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) said:

“Verily, in Paradise there is a market to which the people will go every Friday. A northerly wind will blow and scatter fragrance on their faces and on their clothes and will add to their beauty and handsome appearance. Then they will go back to their families more handsome and beautiful than before. Then their families will say to them: ‘By Allaah, you have been increased in beauty and handsomeness after leaving us,’ and they would reply: ‘By Allaah, you as well have increased in beauty and handsomeness like us.” Muslim, #2833.

The Meaning of Laa Ilaaha Ill-Allaah

It means: There is no object of worship, in truth, except Allaah, and that which is other than Allaah, if it is worshipped, it is done so falsely.

Allaah, Glorified and Exalted is He, said:

That is because Allaah—He is the Truth, and what they invoke besides Him, it is baatil [falsehood]. And verily, Allaah, He is the Most High, the Most Great.

[Sooratul-Hajj, 22:62]

And He, Glorified and Exalted is He, said:

So know! That none has the right to be worshipped but Allaah.

[Soorah Muhammad, 47:19]

The Pillars of Laa Ilaaha Ill-Allaah

(The Testimony) “Laa ilaaha ill-Allaah” —

It has two pillars, and they are:

1. Negation (an-Nafee)
2. Affirmation (al-Ithbaat)

So, “Laa ilaaha” () negates (the right to) worship for everything other than Allaah, and “ill-Allaah” () affirms that all acts of worship are for Allaah alone.

(The Testimony) “Laa ilaaha ill-Allaah” negates four things:

1. False gods (al-Aalihah)
2. False deities (at-Tawaagheet)
3. Lords (al-Arbaab)
4. Rivals (al-Andaad)

(The Testimony) “Laa ilaaha ill-Allaah” affirms four things:

1. Intention or Purpose i.e., Sincerity (al-Qasd)
2. Exaltation and Love (at-Ta’theem wal-Mahabbah)
3. Fear (al-Khawf)
4. Hope (ar-Rajaa’)

The Indications of Laa Ilaaha ill-Allaah

“Laa ilaaha ill-Allaah” () indicates:

• The Oneness of Allaah’s Divinity and sole right to be worshipped (Tawheedul-Uloohiyyah)

And it indicates:

• The Oneness of Allaah’s Lordship (Tawheedur-Ruboobiyyah)
• The Oneness of Allaah regarding His Beautiful Names and Perfect Attributes (Tawheedul-Asmaa’ was-Sifaat)
• Ruling by what Allaah revealed
• Disbelief in false deities (at-Tawaagheet)
• That Allaah has no partner in His Lordship (Ruboobiyyah)
• Nor in His Divinity and sole right to be worshipped (Uloohiyyah)
• Nor in His Beautiful Names and Perfect Attributes (Asmaa’ was-Sifaat)
• Nor in His governing

And it indicates:

• That Allaah is the Creator of everything
• That He is knowledgeable about everything
• That He is self-sufficient
• That He is capable of all things

And it indicates:

• The worship of Allaah alone
• The abandonment of the worship of other than Him
• The abandonment of seeking the judgement of the tawaagheet
• That one does not love (any deity) except Allaah
• That one does not love except for Allaah’s Sake, that one does not place his trust except in Allaah, and that one makes all of his deen pure and sincere for Allaah
• That one does not seek judgement except through Allaah’s Law (shar’illaah)
• That one frees himself from shirk (polytheism) and its people.

That Which Is Expressed and Understood of (the Statement) “Laa Ilaaha ill-Allaah”

Ash-Shaykh, al-‘Allaamah, al-Faqeeh, al-Mufassir, al-Usoolee, Muhammad al-Ameen ash-Shinqeetee (rahimahullaah) said in Mudhakkiratun fee Usoolil-Fiqh, page 265, under the title “That Which Is Understood of Restriction (al-hasr)”: “The strongest forms of restriction [in the language] is: the negation and affirmation [an-nafiyu wal-ithbaat] . For instance, [the saying] “Laa ilaaha ill-Allaah” ( ).

The Usooliyoon¹ say: “That which is expressed from it (the statement, “Laa Ilaaha ill-Allaah”) is the negation of Uloohiyyah for other than Him, the Magnificent and Exalted, and that which is understood from it is the affirmation of Uloohiyyah for Him, the Mighty and Magnificent, alone.”

While the Bayaaniyyoon² say the exact opposite.

I say: The truth of the matter, wherein there is no doubt, is that both negation and affirmation are clearly expressed. The wording of ‘Laa’ () is clear regarding the negation, and the wording ‘illaa’ () is clear regarding affirmation.

So from what is apparent to me is that it is a mistake to consider the likes of this (affirmation/negation) to be from that which is understood (as opposed to expressed), and the author of Nashrul-Bunood pointed it out, and it is only for the restriction to be understood through the other tools, such as (the word) ‘innamaa’, the ma’mool (thing which the action falls upon) coming first, knowing the two parts, etc.

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¹ Usooliyoon are those scholars who specialize in the fundamental principles of the religion.

² Bayaaniyoonbalaaghah