The Testimony of Faith: Its Merits, Meanings, and Effects

THE TESTIMONY OF FAITH
There is no god but God
And Muhammad > is the Messenger of God
Its Merits, Meanings, Requirements, and Effects
Imam ‘Abdallah Sirajuddin al-Husayni -fe

Sunni Publications C 2010
First Edition May 2010
First Print May 2010
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ISBN 978-90-79294-13-8
The Testimony of Faith
And Muhammad is the Messenger of God
Its Merits, Meanings, Requirements, and Effects
Imam ‘Abdallah Sirajuddin al-Husayni
Translated by: Hussain Caraballo & Suraqah Abdul Aziz
Design by: Abu Nibras
Printed by: HooibergHaasbeek, The Netherlands
Published by Sunni Publications
Rotterdam, The Netherlands
www.sunnipubs.com
info@sunnipubs.com
renowned spiritual master, an expert in jurisprudence, a Hafiz
T
he Syrian city of Aleppo—also
known as ‘the city of scholars’
-is considered by many to be
the cradle of Islamic scholarship. One
of the greatest scholars it has ever
produced was the Friend of Allah Jfe,
Imam 'Abdallah b. Muhammad Najib
Sirajuddin al-Husayni al-Halabi an
extraordinary saint who dedicated his
entire life to the service of Islam. His
qualities were many and his skills
outstanding. Imam ‘Abdallah was a
and scholar of Hadith as well as a brilliant exegete of the Qur’an.
He was most famous, however, for his immense and intense love
for our Master Muhammad 3S, the Messenger of Allah.
A descendant of the Prophet’s 3s grandson, our Master Husayn
b. ‘Ali b. Abi Talib on his father’s side, Imam ‘Abdallah was
born into an honourable and pious family on the verge of the
collapse of the Ottoman Sultanate in 1923 CE. During his
childhood, Imam ‘Abdallah was surrounded by the love and care
of his father, the esteemed Shaykh Muhammad Najib Sirajuddin
al-Husayni & who was himself a spiritual master and a leading
jurist, exegete of the Qur’an and scholar of Hadith. Imam
‘Abdallah began his pursuit of knowledge at an early age and
memorized the Qur’an when only thirteen years old under the
guidance of his father. At that time, he was studying Hadith at
the Islamic school of al-Khasrawiyya. There he studied under
leading scholars of the time such as the great jurist Imam
Muhammad Ibrahim al-Salqini the Saintly Sufi Shaykh ‘Isa
al-Bayanuni Shaykh ‘Umar Mas‘ud al-Harlrl ■&>, Shaykh
Faydallah al-Ayyubi al-Kurdi Shaykh Ahmad al-Shamma‘ «&>
and several other prominent scholars. Imam ‘Abdallah also
frequented other scholars who did not teach at his school, such
111

as the jurist Shaykh Ahmad al-Kurdi 4-- and Shaykh Muhammad
SaTd al-Idlibi As he remained in their proximity, the great
scholar of Hadith and leading historian of Aleppo Shaykh
Muhammad Raghib al-Tabbakh noticed his intelligence and
intense devotion to the pursuit of knowledge and he decided to
become his mentor.
He continued his studies under the supervision of his father,
Shaykh Muhammad Najib Sirajuddin who always attracted large
crowds to his lessons. In this environment Imam ‘Abdallah was
given the opportunity to further develop his skills and increase
his knowledge and his fame as a scholar soon spread throughout
Aleppo. He began teaching Islam in various mosques, such as the
Hamawi Mosque where he tutored one hour in the morning, four
times a week. Soon he was asked to teach at various colleges
including the Sha'baniyya school. He also taught many courses
and lessons in various mosques including his own where he
continued to impart knowledge upon the masses even when the
funds that provided his payment were stopped. Then came one
year in which his father’s age prevented him from continuing his
classes. Imam ‘Abdallah, still only twenty-two years old, carried
the heavy load of succeeding his father as a scholar. The demands
of the public and the high level of his father’s classes made this a
great test for him, but by the Grace of Allah he succeeded in it,
and honouring this responsibility caused the admiration of the
public for him. Following the vacuum caused by the closing of the
Sha'baniyya Islamic school, Imam ‘Abdallah felt the need to
found a large Islamic school in Aleppo that would take charge of
training future scholars and preachers.
He decided to revive religious teaching by founding the School
of Islamic Teachings in 1958 CE. Its program combined legal
courses, Islamic spirituality, the life and qualities of the
Messenger of Allah 5S as well as the sciences of Hadith. In
addition, he founded a Qur’anic school whose mission it was to
teach its students the Majestic Qur’an. Generous scholarships
were granted to the pupils in order to encourage the
preservation of this knowledge.
Imam ‘Abdallah was known to be generous and helpful
towards the poor, lenient towards the pupils of his school, and
famed for his humility and devotion. As Imam ‘Abdallah became
the leading scholar of Aleppo, he conveyed in his classes the
quintessence of Islamic legislation and spirituality. In a moving
voice, he often spoke of love towards the Messenger of Allah
and the duty to follow his excellent manners. He promoted love
for the Sunna and revived it in his behaviour and exhortations.
Shaykh Dr. Nur al-Din ‘Itr mentions that he was ‘extremely
scrupulous and avoided any doubtful thing.’
Imam ‘Abdallah was truly in love with the Messenger of Allah
& He did not cease pointing out his qualities, his ethics and the
nobility of his status in nearness of Allah Jfe, and did not accept
anyone to be given the importance of our Master Muhammad
In light of this incredible love Shaykh ‘Abd al-Rahman
al-Shaghuri 4> called him ‘the Pole ofProphetic love ofour times.’
Imam ‘Abdallah wrote nearly thirty books dealing with Islamic
spirituality, creed, ethics, and the noble manners of the
Messenger of Allah S, the sciences of Hadith and Tafsir of the
Quran. One of his famous works is the book of which we have the
translation before us today, The Testimony ofFaith.
Imam ‘Abdallah’s students were numerous, many of them
becoming prominent scholars themselves, such as his son Shaykh
Dr. Ahmad Sirajuddin, his nephew and son-in-law Shaykh Dr. Nur
al-Din ‘Itr, Shaykh Dr. Samir al-Nass, Shaykh Muhammad
‘Awwama and Shaykh Muhammad al-Ninowy, may Allah
preserve them.
Following a surgical operation carried out toward the end of
his life, the health of Imam ‘Abdallah deteriorated. On the 4th of
March 2002 CE [1422 H] he returned to his Lord. The news of his
passing was announced throughout the Muslim world and
covered it with a veil of sorrow. Imam ‘Abdallah b. Muhammad
Najib Sirajuddin al-Husayni al-Halabi 4* was buried in the
Sha'baniyya complex, next to the graves of its Ottoman founders.
May Allah sanctify the noble Imam’s secret.

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9.
’°'ofAllah and His Punishment
11. La ilaha ilia Allah is not surpassed by deeds
12. La ilaha ilia Allah is a noble word in the Sight of Allah
13. La ilaha ilia Allah is a magnificent word
14. La ilaha ilia Allah is a magnificent word that cannot
be held by the seven heavens and the seven earths
15. For whomever these are his last words, he will
enter Paradise
16. Through La ilaha ilia Allah there is protection
from the Fire
17. M iIMU is the best form ofremembrance
• U HailaAU removes worries and sorrows
B>. Whoever says la ilia AU one hund2
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and earth “"êd by the heaven
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outoftheFire the êr is brought
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VII

22. Whoever says Ld ildha ilia Allah sincerely from
his heart will be from the happiest of people due
to the intercession of the Prophet %
23. Ld ildha ilia Allah Muhammad Rasul Allah is written
on al-Lawh al-Mahfuz [the Preserved Tablet] and
on the hearts of the believers
on the Throne and in the heavens
on the supporting pillars ofParadise and on every
leafofthe trees of Paradise
26. In every Tahiti [saying Ld ildha ilia Allah] there is
charity
27. Ld ildha ilia Allah is among the best ofthe enduring
good deeds that forever remain with the one who
performs them
28. Ld ildha ilia Allah, subhan Allah and al-hamdulillah
mention those who say them and intercede for
them with Allah
29. Nothing matches Ld ildha ilia Allah, and it is greater
and stronger than the heavens and earth
30. Ld ildha ilia Allah weighs heavy on the balance
in the Sight of the Most Merciful
31. Allah will take out ofthe Hellfire whoever has said
Ld ildha ilia Allah
32. Ld ildha ilia Allah is the greatest and most
comprehensive favour upon the slaves
33. Ld ildha ilia Allah has a light that bursts the
Heavens until it reaches the pillar of light
in front ofthe Throne
34. Ld ildha ilia Allah does not have a veil
before Allah
The Merits of the Two Testimonies of Faith
The Virtue of calling others
TO BEAR WITNESS TO THE TESTIMONY OF FAITH
The Testimony of La ilaha illa Allah
Muhammad Rasul Allah is the Firm Word
The Voices of the Muezzins tower overthe World
Resonating with the Testimony La ilaha illa Allah
Muhammad Rasul Allah
The voice of Bilal resonates with the Testimony
La ilaha illa AllahMuhammad Rasul Allah
IN THE GATHERING PLACE ON THE DAY OF RESURRECTION AND
all the Prophets and their nations from the beginning
UNTIL THE END WILL DECLARE THE TESTIMONY OF
La ilaha illa Allah Muhammad Rasul Allah 38
The Recommendation to make frequent mention
of the Testimony 39
The Recommendation to make mention of the Testimony
in the Following Situations and what has been reported
about their Respective Virtues 40
1. At the morning and evening times 40
2. Following ablutions 40
3. At the time ofcall to prayer 41
4. After the prayers 43
5. In the opening ofthe religiousoratory 43
6. When standing up from [concluding]a gathering 44
The recommendation to constantly say La ilaha illa Allah
WAHDAHU LA SHARMA LAHU AND WHAT HAS BEEN REPORTED
WITH RESPECT TO ITS BENEFITS 45
Allah’s confirmation of the servant when he says
La ilaha illa Allah 46
The recommendation to persevere in saying La ilaha illa
Allah wahdahu la shari'ka lahu Ten Times after the Fajr,
Maghrib, and-in one narration—the 'Asr prayers 47
The virtue of the one who says La ilaha illa Allah
WAHDAHU LA SHARIKA LAHU ONE HUNDRED TIMES AFTER THE
Morning Prayer 50
The RECOMMENDATION TO SAY LA ILAHA ILLA ALLAH WAHDAHU LA
SHARIKA LAHU GENERALLY AFTER ALL THE PRESCRIBED PRAYERS 5q
The recommendation to say La ilaha illa Allah
WAHDAHU LA SHARIKA LAHU IN THE MORNING AND EVENING $ j
The recommendation to say La ilaha illa Allah
WAHDAHULA SHARIKA LAHU ON THE DAY OF ARAFAT
52
The RECOMMENDATION TO SAY LA ILAHA ILLA ALLAH
WAHDAHULA SHARIKA LAHU IN VARIOUS SITUATIONS
1. When entering a marketplace 52
52
IX

>
2. When turning on one’s side during the night
3. When returning from Hajj, ‘Umra, or a trip
The Names of the Phrase LA Ilaha illa Allah
1. It is the wording of the testimony
2. It is the firm word
3. It is the good word
4. It is the lasting word
5. It is the word of Divine Unity
6. It is the word of piety
7. It is the word of sincerity
8. It is the highest example
9. Is it the true invitation
10. It is the covenant with the Most Merciful
11. It is the uppermost word
12. It is the word ofjustice
LA ilAha illa Allah entails that Muhammad is
is the Messenger of Allah
Allah announces His Testimony in His Verses Dealing with
Religion and in His Verses Dealing with the Universe
On the joining of Muhammad Rasul Allah
with LA ilAha illA Allah
Concerning the proofs that He is One
AND THAT THERE IS NO GOD BUT HIM
LA IlAha illA Allah
COMPRISES THE FOUNDATIONS OF BELIEF IN ALLAH
The Detailed Proof of Each Foundation from among
the Five Foundations
The Proof that He is characterized by the Complete
Perfections and is far removed from Deficiencies
The Proof that He does not resemble His Creation
The Proof that He is the Effecter of what He wills
AND WANTS, AS HE SAID (EFFECTER OF WHAT He WILLS*
Part II: Muhammad Rasul Allah %
[Muhammad is the Messenger of God]
The Testimony that Our Master Muhammad
is the Messenger of Allah entails a Number of Matters
The Universality of his Messengership 111
113
He is the Seal of the Prophets
So know, 0 Nation of Muhammad &
The Favours of Allah’s Most Beloved 116
The Proof that he is the Best
of the Prophets and Messengers 117
The Rank of the NightJourney and the Ascent 120
The Saying with Certainty about his % seeing His Lord
with his Eyes on the Night of theJourney and Ascent
is Ascertained from many of the Companions &
AND THOSE WHO FOLLOWED THEM AFTERWARDS 132
ThePosition of Universal Mastership [Siyada] 138
The Status of Carrying the Banner of Praise 139
The Praiseworthy Status 139
The Status of his JS Standing to the Right of the Throne 142
The Status of Nearness 143
The Possessor of the Rank of the Greatest Vicegerencyy 144
On Allah Distinguishing His Prophet,
Our Master Muhammad & by means of Lofty Precedence 149
1. He g will be the first one to be resurrected from
the earth 149
2. He ® will be the first one to behold his Lord 149
3. He J* will be the first one to be given permission
to utter words of praise to Allah 149
4. He S is the first one to be permitted to make
prostration 159
5. And he £ will be the first to intercede and have
his intercession accepted j 5 j
6. He 1 is the first to have his nation’s accounts
be settled, before the rest ofthe creation j 5
7. He £ is the first to be allowed to cross the
traverse with his nation , _ „
X
XI

8. He t- is the first to hold the knocker of the door
of Paradise
9. He <5 is the first one for whom the door of
Paradise will be opened
10. He is the first one who will enter Paradise
11. He is is the first Prophet to have been made a
Prophet in the spiritual world
12. He £ is the first one who said yes when the
covenant was being taken in the world
of Primordiality
13. He 3? is the first Prophet to have been created in
the spiritual world
5s
3*
-ft
Formulaic Expressions
Mighty and Glorious is He
Exalted and Sublime is He
Allah bless him and give him peace
May peace be upon him
May Allah be pleased with him
May Allah be pleased with them
152
152
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153
153
154
Dear reader,
When you read any of my books, please recite Surat al-Fatiha, and donate
the reward ofyour recitation to the renowned scholar and great Gnostic,
carrier ofthe banner ofthe authority ofthe Quran and Sunna, the Quranic
exegete and scholar of Hadith—with sound chains of transmission from
many great scholars ofHadith in Aleppo, Damascus, Morocco and elsewhere
in the Islamic world, complete with written authorisations which I have kept
with me-my Shaykh and noble father, Shaykh Muhammad Najib
Sirajuddin al-Husayni, may Allah the Exalted have mercy on him, and
reward him well on behalf of the Muslims; Indeed, He is All-Hearing,
All-Knowing.
Amin
- 'Abdallah b. Muhammad Najib Sirajuddin al-Husayni
Transliteration Table
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t t gh
th f
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c h k
t kh J 1
J d e m
j dh n
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j z J w/u
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XII

alii 1)1 all I) odLsuCij
Introduction
Jh alll d_cuXo
In the Name ofAllah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful.
Praise be to Allah, the Lord of the Worlds, and peace and
blessings be upon our Master Muhammad, the Seal of the
Prophets and Messengers, and upon his Family and Companions
and their followers until the Day of Judgment, and upon us all
alongside them.
This is a short summary concerning the testimony of La ilaha
illa Allah Muhammad Rasul Allah, which is the means through
which Islam is entered, and the ladder by which faith is ascended,
and the means of the heart’s and soul’s spiritual journey unto the
Lord of the Universe, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful; He
Who created man and taught him speech; that which is
proclaimed by the tongue, written by the pen, and held firmly
within the heart, in both knowledge and humility.
I have mentioned in this brief treatise some of the merits of
the two testimonies of faith, and some of their meanings, proofs,
and implications, as well as some of their requirements; all of this
in a short and condensed form, lest it become long winded and
tiring to the reader.
The intention behind this is to instruct the ignorant, warn the
heedless, and remind the mindful. Many of the people have been
overwhelmed by ignorance, and have been blinded by
heedlessness, so much so that they ignore from the matters of
their faith that which is not allowed for them to ignore; nay, they
are doubtful in those matters that are beyond doubt, and
uncertain about the definitive articles of faith.
I am condensing my words here as much as I can, and I hope
from Allah that I can extend the words in detail with their proofs
and elucidations in another volume which will be more
expansive and more beneficial, wherein minds will be satisfied
with definitive evidence, and hearts will be filled with brilliant
lights. Surely my Lord is the Hearer of prayers, and the Answerer
ofcalls, and He is far removed from rejecting those who ask Him,
or disappointing those who place their hope in Him.
15

Allah has indeed honoured and privileged me in the compilation
of this treatise while I am in the company of the Beloved and
Honourable One, the Greatest Messenger, the Leader of the
Prophets and Messengers, and the Mercy of Allah Most High to
the Worlds; and the neighbour of the noble ones is safe from
harm, so what about me while I am in the presence of the
Honourable Master, upon him be the best of peace and blessings,
and upon his family and Companions forever, and may we be
with them all [in the Hereafter],
Parti
La ilaha illa Allah
The Merits of La ilaha illa Allah
and its Good Effects
1. It is the means by which Islam is entered
It is related in the two Sahih collections [of al-Bukhari and
Muslim] from Abu Hurayra that the Prophet S said: ‘I have
been ordered to fight the people1 until they say La ilaha ilia Allah;
so whoever says La ilaha ilia Allah, his wealth and his life are
forbidden to me except in ajust manner, and his account is with
Allah.’ In the narration of Muslim it states: ‘...until he bears
witness that there is no god but Allah and believes in me and in
that which I have brought.’
1 The word ‘people’ (nds) used in the Hadith is a general term used for an
exclusive group. The Hadith commentators mention that it refers to the
hostile pagans ofArabia in the closing days ofthe Prophet [Tr.]
Muslim reported from Abu Malik al-Ashja‘i, from his father,
who said: ‘I heard the Prophet of Allah £ say: “Whoever says
La ilaha ilia Allah, and disbelieves in that which is worshipped
besides Allah, Allah has rendered his wealth and his self
inviolable, and his account is with Allah.’”
2. It is the first branch of faith, and its best
It is reported in the two Sahih collections from Abu Hurayra 4=
that the Prophet $ said: ‘Iman consists of seventy odd branches:
the best of which is La ilaha ilia Allah.’ And in the version of
Muslim: ‘The highest of which is La ilaha ilia Allah, and the lowest
of which is the removal of obstructions from the pathway, and
shyness is a branch offaith.’
17

The Testimony Of Faith
Part I: There is no god but God
3. Through La ilaha ilia Allah faith is renewed
Abu Hurayra 4- reported that the Prophet sfe said: ‘Renew your
faith.’ It was said to him: ‘how are we to renew our faith?’
‘He -fe said: ‘frequently mention the phrase La ilaha ilia Allah.’2
2 Reported by Imam Ahmad and Tabarani with a good chain through Ahmad
as mentioned in al-Targhib of Mundhiri.
3 Ahmad reported it and all of its men are trustworthy, except Shimr b.
‘Atiyya who reported it on the authority of his Shaykhs of Hadith, without
naming them, on the authority of Abu Dharr 4b, as [reported] in Majma
al-Zawaid, and it was ascribed to Ahmad in al-Targhib.
4 Reported by Abu Ya'la as mentioned in al-Targhib of Mundhiri.
4. La ilaha illa Allah is one of the greatest good deeds
that expiate bad deeds
It is reported from Abu Dharr who said: ‘O Messenger of Allah,
advise me.’ He said: ‘Whenever you commit a bad action, follow
it with a good one that will wash it away.’ I [Abu Dharr] said: ‘O
Messenger of Allah, is [the saying of] La ilaha illa Allah a good
deed?’ He » said: “It is the best of good deeds.’”3
It is reported from Anas -fe that the Messenger of Allah said:
‘There is not a servant who says La ilaha. ilia Allah at any time of
the night or the day except that whatever bad deeds are in his
record are blotted out until they are replaced with a similar
[amount] ofgood deeds.’4
It is reported from Abu Bakr al-Siddiq that the Prophet
said: ‘See to it that you say La ilaha ilia Allah and invoke
forgiveness, and perform it in abundance, for verily Iblis has said:
“I have ruined mankind with sins, and they have ruined me with
La ilaha ilia Allah and invoking forgiveness; when I saw that I
ruined them by means of their desires while they think that they
are guided.’” This was reported by Abu Ya‘la.
Muslim and Tirmidhi reported that Ibn ‘Umar said: ‘The
Messenger ofAllah said: “There is no one on earth who says
La ilaha ilia Allah, Allahu Akbar [There is no god but Allah, Allah is
the Greatest], and La hawla wa-la quwwata ilia Billah [There is no
power or strength save by Allah] except that Allah forgives his
sins even ifthey are like [as many as] the foam of the sea.’”
It is reported that the Prophet said: ‘Whoever says La ilaha ilia
Allah, subhan Allah wa-bi-hamdihi [There is no god but Allah, Glory
and praise be to Allah] every day one hundred times, his sins will
be removed even ifthey were as many as the foam of the sea.’
5. In La ilaha ilia Allah there is security
It is reported from Ibn ‘Umar who said: ‘The Messenger of
Allah £ said: “There is no loneliness for the people of La ilaha ilia
Allah—neither in their graves nor when they are resurrected, and
it is as if I am looking at the people of La ilaha ilia Allah removing
the dust from their foreheads while saying: (Praise be to Allah
who has removed from us [all] sorrow.)”’
And in one report: ‘There is no loneliness for the people of
La ilaha ilia Allah—neither at the time of their deaths nor in their
graves.'5
6. La ilaha ilia Allah takes the hand of its companion
[the one who bore witness to it] and takes him into
Paradise
It is mentioned in the lengthy Hadith by Sam ura b. Jundub that
he [the Prophet] % said: *... And I saw a man of my nation who
reached the entrance of Paradise but the gates were locked upon
him. Then came the testimony of La ilaha ilia Allah which took
him by the hand and admitted him into Paradise.’6
7. La ilaha ilia Allah is the key to Paradise
It is reported from Mu‘adh b. Jabal & that the Messenger of Allah
® said: ‘The key to Paradise is the testimony of La ilaha ilia Allah.’7
8. La ilaha ilia Allah allows the one who sincerely utters
it to enter Paradise
5 Reported by Tabarani and Bayhaqi as mentioned in al-Targhib of Mundhiri.
6 This Hadith has been reported in al-Jami' al-Saghir, and attributed to Hakim,
Tirmidhi and Tabarani.
’ Reported by Ahmad and Bazzar as mentioned in al-Targhib of Mundhiri,
and he [Haythami] said in Majma‘ al-Zawaid: The men [in the chain] of
Ahmad are trustworthy except that Shahra did not receive Hadith from
Mu'adh.’
19

It is reported from Zayd b. Arqam that the Messenger of Allah
-»? said: ‘Whoever sincerely says La ilaha ilia Allah will enter
Paradise.’ He £ was asked: ‘What is its sincerity?’ He said: ‘That
it restrains one from that which Allah has forbidden.’8*
8 From your sincerity in La ilaha ilia Allah is that it prevents you from that
which Allah has forbidden. It [the Hadith] was reported by Tabarani in
al-Awsat and al-Kabir.
’ Mundhiri said: ‘Ahmad has reported this through an acceptable chain, and
so has Asbahanl.’
10 See the Tafsir of Ibn Kathir.
11 In Majma' al-Zawa’id it is written: ‘And in it [the chain] is Aghlab from
Tamlm, and he is weak.’
And it is reported that Hudhayfa <&> said: ‘I pulled the Prophet
■ft to my chest, and he said: “Whosoever says La ilaha ilia Allah and
dies upon it shall enter Paradise, and whosoever fasts a day
seeking Allah’s Pleasure and dies upon it shall enter Paradise, and
whoever spends in charity seeking Allah’s Pleasure and dies upon
it shall enter Paradise.””
Ibn ‘Abbas said concerning Allah’s Statement: Os there any
Reward for Good other than Good?|: ‘Is there any reward for one
who says La ilaha ilia Allah, except that it causes him to enter
Paradise?’
The evidence for this was reported by Imam al-Baghawi
through his chain to Anas b. Malik who said: ‘The Messenger of
Allah ft recited: {Is there any Reward for Good other than Good?*
and then asked: “Do you know what your Lord has said?” They
[the Companions] said: “Allah and His Messenger know best.” He
3S said: “Is there any reward for the one whom I have favoured
with belief in My Oneness other than Paradise?”’10
9. La ilaha ilia Allah is the key to the heavens
Tabarani reported from Ma'qal b. al-Yasar that the Messenger
of Allah ft said: ‘For everything there is a key, and the key to the
heavens is La ilaha ilia Allah.’11
It is the key to the heavens for invocations and good words, as
reported by Nasa’i who said: ‘[it has been reported] from Ya'qub
b. ‘Asim from two men from the Companions of the Prophet ft
who heard the Prophet ft say: “There is no slave who ever says
La ilaha ilia Allah wahdahu la sharika lahu. Lahti al-mulk wa-lahu
al-hamd wa-Huwa ‘ala kulli shay’in Qadir [There is no god but Allah,
Who is alone and without partners, His is the dominion, and for
Him are all praises, and He is able to do all things], sincerely from
his soul, truthfully from his heart, and uttering it with his
tongue, save that Allah sfe cleaves the heavens until He sees the
person who said it on earth. And it is the right of the slave whom
Allah, the Exalted, is observing that he should be given what he
asks for.’”12
Tirmidhi reported from Abu Hurayra •£> that the Messenger of
Allah ■g said: ‘There is no slave who ever says La ilaha ilia Allah
sincerely, save that the doors of the heavens are opened for it so
that he reaches the Throne [of Allah], so long as he avoids the
enormities.’
For this reason, the testimony of faith appears in many of the
Prophetic invocations either in the beginning or at the ending,
including the invocations of morning and evening.
10. La ilaha ilia Allah protects the slave from the Wrath of
Allah and His Punishment
Ibn Abi al-Dunya reported from Anas13 4>> that the Prophet ft said:
‘La ilaha ilia Allah will continue to protect the slaves from the
Wrath of Allah the Exalted as long as they do not prefer worldly
gains over their religion, for when they prefer their worldly gains
over their religion and then say La ilaha ilia Allah, Allah will throw
it back at them and say: “You have lied.’”14
Ibn ‘Asakir reported from ‘All15 [that the Prophet ft said]:
‘Jibril has informed me that Allah, the Exalted, said: “La ilaha ilia
Allah is My Fortress; whoever enters My Fortress is saved from
My Punishment.’”16
Whoever says it and is a disbeliever shall enter Islam and be
protected by it, and whoever says it as his last words shall enter
the fortress, and whoever says it sincerely from his heart shall
12 See al-Targhib ofMundhiri.
11 In a marfu [elevated, directly traced to the Prophet form.
” See Ibn Rajab al-Hanbali’s commentary on al-Arba‘fn.
15 Inamarjii'form.
16 SeeKanzal-'Ummal.
21

become of the happiest of people due to the intercession of the
Prophet fe, and thus become protected from the punishment.
In the version of Ibn al-Najjar: ‘Allah Jfe says: “Ld ilaha ilia Allah
is My Speech, and I am such; whosoever says it enters My
Fortress, and whosoever enters My Fortress is safe from My
reckoning.’” In the version of al-Shirazi: ‘Allah sltfe says: “Verily I
am Allah; there is no god but Me. Whoever acknowledges me [by]
My Oneness shall enter My Fortress, and whoever enters My
Fortress is protected from My Punishment.”’17
17 As mentioned in al-Itihafat al-Saniyya [of al-Munawi]
18 Reported by Ibn Majah in hius Sunan as mentioned in al-Fath al-Kabir.
19 See the commentary of Ibn Rajab al-Hanbali. Suyuti attributed it to Abu
Nu'aym from ‘Iyad al-Ash‘ari in his al-Jami' al-Kabir.
11. La ilaha ilia Allah is not surpassed by deeds
Imam Ahmad reported in his Musnad from Umm Hani—may Allah
be pleased with her—that the Prophet said: ‘La ildha ilia Allah
leaves behind no sin and is not surpassed by any other deed.’18
It is also reported from ‘Ubada b. al-Samit who said: ‘The
Prophet 3s said to his Companions: “Raise your hands and say:
Ld ildha ilia Allah,” so we [the Companions] raised our hands at
once, then the Messenger of Allah 3s raised his hand and said:
“Praise be to Allah. O Allah, You have chosen me with these
words and have ordered me by them, and You have promised me
Paradise through them, and certainly You never break Your
Promise.” Then he [the Prophet 3s] said: “Rejoice, for Allah has
forgiven you.’”
12. Ld ildha ilia Allah is a noble word in the Sight of Allah
Bazzar reported in his Musrtad from ‘Iyad al-Ansari that the
Prophet 3s said: ‘Verily Ld ildha ilia Allah is a word that is noble in
the sight of Allah. It has a position with Allah. Whoever says it
truthfully, Allah will enter him by means of it into Paradise; and
whoever says it deceitfully will be spared his wealth and his life,
and tomorrow he will meet Allah, Who will call him to account.’19
13. Ld ildha ilia Allah is a magnificent word
It is reported from Anas that the Prophet 3S said: ‘La ildha ilia
Allah is a magnificent and noble word in the sight of Allah
‘Whoever says it sincerely is entitled to Paradise and whoever
says it deceitfully, it preserves his wealth and his life, but his
destination is the Fire.’20
14. La ilaha ilia Allah is a magnificent word that cannot
be held by the seven heavens and the seven earths
It is reported by Nasa’i and Ibn Hibban in his Sahih from Abu Sa‘id
that the Prophet said: ‘Musa said: “O Lord, teach me
something by means of which 1 can remember You and invoke
You." He [Allah] said: “Say: Ld ildha ilia Allah.” He [Musa] said,
“0 Lord, every one of Your slaves says this.” He [Allah] said: “Say:
Ld ildha ilia Allah.” He [Musa] said: “I want something that
distinguishes me [by saying it].” He [Allah] said, “O Musa, if the
seven heavens and seven earths were in one scale and Ld ildha ilia
Allah was in another scale, they would be tilted by Ld ildha ilia
Allah.’”
15. For whomever these are his last words, he will enter
Paradise
Mu‘adh b. Jabal reported that the Prophet 3S said: ‘Whoever
has as his last words Ld ildha ilia Allah shall enter Paradise.’21
16. Through Ld ildha ilia Allah there is protection from
the Fire
Imam Ahmad reported from ‘Utban b. Malik 4® that the Prophet
® said: ‘No slave [of Allah] will come on the Day of Judgment
having said Ld ildha ilia Allah, seeking by it the pleasure of Allah,
except that Allah forbids him from the Fire.’
17. Ld ildha ilia Allah is the best form of remembrance
It is reported from Jabir 4» that the Messenger of Allah 3® said:
‘The best form of remembrance is Ld ildha ilia Allah, and the best
invocation is al-hamdulillah [praise be to Allah].’22
“ Reported by Ibn al-Najjar as mentioned in al-Jami‘ al-Kabir and elsewhere.
21 Reported by Abu Dawud and Imam Ahmad.
22 Reported by Ibn Majah, Nasa’i, Ibn Hibban in his Sahih, and Hakim, as
mentioned in al-Targhib of Mundhiri.
22 23

The Testimony Of Faith Part I: There is no god but God
And from ‘Abdullah b. 'Ami' [it has been reported that] the
Prophet 3s said: ‘The best form of remembrance is La ildha ilia
Allah, and the best invocation is istighfar [seeking Allah’s
Forgiveness],’ then he recited: <[So know La ildha ilia Allah, and ask
forgiveness for your sin, and also for the believing men and
believing women.)23
25 It is written in al-Durr al-Manthur: ‘It is reported by Tabarani, Ibn
Mardawayh and Daylami.’
24 See al-Targhib of Mundhiri.
25 ibid.
18. La ildha ilia Allah removes worries and sorrows
Tabarani reported from Ibn ‘Abbas & that the Prophet said:
‘Whoever says La ildha ilia Allah qabla kulli shay’ wa-la ildha ilia Allah
ba'da kulli shay’ wa-la ildha ilia Allah yabqa rabbuna wa-yafrta kullu
shay’ [There is no god but Allah; He is before everything. There is
no god but Allah; and He is beyond everything. There is no god
but Allah; and our Lord will remain and everything will perish],
will be cured from worry and grief.’24
19. Whoever says La ildha ilia Allah one hundred times,
Allah will resurrect him with a face like the full
moon
It is reported by Tabarani on the authority of Abu al-Darda’
that the Prophet said: ‘There is no slave who says La ildha ilia
Allah one hundred times, save that Allah resurrects him on the
Day of Judgment while his face is like the full moon, and no one
will have any deeds raised on that day better than his, save the
one who said like his saying [i.e. said the same number] or
more.’25
20. Saying La ildha ilia Allah one hundred times a day is
better than what is encompassed by the heaven and
earth
[it is has been reported] from Umm Hani—may Allah be pleased
with her—that who said: ‘The Messenger of Allah passed by me
one day, whereupon I said: “O Messenger of Allah, I have become
old and weak, so instruct me in actions that I may perform while
I am seated." So he dk said: “Glorify Allah [say subhan Allah] one
hundred times, for it is equal for you to the freeing of one
hundred slaves from the sons of Isma‘11, and praise Allah [say
al-hamdulillah] one hundred times, for it is equal for you to one
hundred bridled, loaded horses brought forth in the way ofAllah,
and magnify Allah [say Allahu Akbar] one hundred times, for it is
equal for you to one hundred beasts accepted [for Allah’s sake],
and say La ildha ilia Allah one hundred times.’”Abu Khalaf—one of
the transmitters—said: ‘It will fill up all that is between heaven
and earth, and no one’s deeds will be raised higher than they are
raised for you, except that he brings the like of what you
brought.’
Mundhiri said: ‘Ahmad reported it with a good chain,’ then he
said: ‘Tabarani reported it with a good chain and said therein:
“[The Prophet 1 said:] ‘Say La ildha ilia Allah one hundred times—
for it is better for you than all that is encompassed by the heaven
and earth...””
21. Through La ildha ilia Allah the sinner is brought out
of the Fire
Bukhari and others reported from Anas 4* that the Prophet ®
said: ‘Whoever says La ildha ilia Allah and has the weight of a hair
of goodness [and in another version it reads: ‘of faith’] in his
heart, will be taken out of the Fire; and whoever says La ildha ilia
Allah and has the weight of a caryopsis [small fruit’s seed] of
goodness in his heart, will be taken out of the Fire; and whoever
says La ildha ilia Allah and has the weight of a small ant of
goodness in his heart, will be taken out of the Fire.’
It is written in al-Fath: ‘If it is said that the [complete] call is
not mentioned—in other words, the testimony that Muhammad
% is the Messenger of Allah—the answer is that the intended
meaning is the complete [testimony], and the first part signifies
it, in the same way that saying; “1 have read:«Say: ‘He is Allah,
the One...')” signifies the entire chapter [Surat al-Ikhlas].’
And what is intended is that he has said it: that is, he has said
La ildha ilia Allah, affirming the Messenger of Allah with faith
and acceptance of his call, and this applies to all the portions in
this chapter.
25
24

22. Whoever says Ld ildha ilia Allah sincerely from his
heart will be from the happiest of people due to the
intercession of the Prophet
It is reported in the two Sahih collections, on the authority of Abu
Hurayra who said: ‘It was said: “O Messenger of Allah,
[and in the version of Bukhari, Abu Hurayra said:]
‘I said: “O Messenger of Allah...”] who will be happiest of people
due to your intercession on the Day of Judgment?” The
Messenger of Allah SS said: “O Abu Hurayra, I thought that no one
would ask me about this matter before you did, once I saw your
devotion to the Hadith reports. The happiest of people due to my
intercession on the Day of Judgment is he who says Ld ildha ilia
Allah, sincerely from his heart or from his soul.”’
Al-Hafiz [ibn Hajar] said in al-Fath: ‘This is meant along with
Muhammad Rasul Allah, or that he says Ld ildha ilia Allah Muhammad
Rasul Allah however, it is possible to suffice with saying the
first portion of the words of the testimony, because it signifies
the entire testimony, as we mentioned in the Book ofFaith.'
23. Ld ildha ilia Allah Muhammad Rasul Allah is written on
al-Lawh al-Mahfuz [the Preserved Tablet] and on the
hearts of the believers
It is reported by Hafiz Baghawi by means of Ishaq b. Bishr who
was informed by Muqatil and Ibn Jurayh from Mujahid from Ibn
‘Abbas who said: ‘Verily on the Tablet it is [written that] there
is no god but Allah the One, His Religion is Islam, and Muhammad
is His slave and Messenger, so whoever believes in Allah and
fulfils His Promise and follows His Messenger, Allah will cause
him to enter Paradise.’ And he said: ‘The Tablet: The Tablet is
made of white pearl, its length [equal to] that which is between
the heaven and earth, its width is that which is between the East
and the West; its borders are made of pearls and sapphires, its
covers made of red rubies, and its pen made of light, and its
words arejoined to the Throne.’26
26 See the Tafsir of Ibn Kathir.
It is reported by Tabarani through his chain to Ibn ‘Abbas Ae
that the Messenger of Allah said: ‘Truly, Allah created a
preserved tablet of white pearl, its pages are made of rubies, and
its pen is [made of] light and its writing is light. To Allah belong
three hundred and sixty notices every day: He creates and He
provides [sustenance], He gives life and causes death, and He
honours and humiliates, and does what He wishes.’27
He, the Glorified, has written in the Preserved Tablet with
Him: La ildha ilia Allah Muhammad Rasul Allah, and has preserved it
in the Tablet, and He, the Glorified, has written it in the hearts of
whomever he wishes from among his slaves. The Glorified says:
(For such He has written Faith in their hearts, and strengthened
them with a spirit from Himself.} And He preserves it for
whomever He wishes from among His slaves, and He will not
erase them from the Tablet. The Exalted says: (And We made
them keep the word of guarding [against evil], and they were
entitled to it and worthy ofit.)
0 Allah! Make us from among them by Your Favour and Mercy,
0 Most Merciful of all those who give mercy, and Owner of Great
Favours, for You have said so and your saying is true: (And ask
Allah of His Bounty.) You are more Sublime and Generous than
that You should order us to ask but grant us not [the response],
and blessings and perfect peace be upon our Master Muhammad
and upon his Family and Companions.
24. Ld ildha ilia Allah Muhammad Rasul Allah is written on
the Throne and in the heavens
It is reported by Hakim who has authenticated from Ibn ‘Abbas
who said: ‘Allah, the Exalted, inspired ‘Isa: “Believe in
Muhammad and enjoin your people to believe in him, for were it
not for Muhammad I would not have created Adam or Paradise or
the Fire. I created the Throne over the water and it was shaking,
so I wrote on it Ld ildha ilia Allah Muhammad Rasul Allah and it
became calm.’28
It is reported by Tabarani, Ibn Qani* and Ibn Mardawayh on
the authority of Abu al-Hamra’ that the Prophet 34 said:
"Ibid.
11 Hafiz al-Zurqani said: 'Abu al-Shaykh reported it in Tabaqat al-Isfahaniyin,
and it has been authenticated by Hakim and attested to by Subki in Shifa
al-Siqam and by al-Bulqini in his FatawL The likes of this narration can not be
said from mere opinion, therefore it takes the ruling of being a marfu
narration.
27
26

"When I was taken in the Night Journey to the seven heavens, I
saw [that it was written] on the right leg of the Throne: La ilaha
ilia Allah Muhammad Rasul Allah’29
Ibn Abl ‘Asim reported in his book al-Sunrta, as did Abu
Nu'aym, from Anas [that the Prophet said]: ‘Verily Allah, the
Exalted, said: “O Musa, whosoever meets Me while he is ignorant
of Muhammad, I will cause him to enter Hellfire.” Musa said:
“Who is Muhammad?” [Allah] said: “O Musa, by My Might and
Majesty, I have not created a creation nobler to Me than him. I
wrote his name along with My Name on the Throne before I
created the heavens, the earth, the sun, and the moon by one
million years.’”30
It is reported from ‘Umar b. al-Khattab that the Messenger
of Allah 3s said: ‘When Adam committed his error he said: “O
Lord, I ask You by the right of Muhammad 38 that You forgive
me.” So Allah, the Exalted, said: “O Adam, how did you know
Muhammad while I have not created him [i.e. I have not created
his body]?” He [Adam] said: “O Lord, verily when You created me
with Your Hands, and breathed into me of Your Spirit, I lifted my
head up and I saw written on the foundation of the Throne:
La ilaha ilia Allah Muhammad Rasul Allah, and I realised that You
would not add to Your name save the creation which You love
the most.” Allah said: “You have spoken the truth, O Adam.
Verily he is the most beloved creation to Me, and if you ask Me
by his right I will forgive you, and had it not been for
Muhammad, I would not have created you.’”31
Abu Ya’la and Tabarani reported from Abu Hurayra, as did
al-Bazzar from the narration of Ibn ‘Umar that the Prophet 3S
said: ‘When I was taken up to the heavens, I did not pass by a sky
save [that] I found my name written: La ilaha ilia Allah Muhammad
Rasul Allah.’32
29 See al-Hisn al-Hasin.
30 See Sharh al-Mawahib.
31 Bayhaqi reported it in his Dala’il al-Nubuwwa about which Dhahabf said:
‘You are to take it, for it is all guidance and light.’ And Hakim reported it and
authenticated it, and Tabarani reported it, as mentioned in al-Mawahib by
Hafiz al-Qastalani.
32 See Sharh al-Mawahib, and Suyutl is quoted as saying: ‘This is a good Hadith
based on its numerous routes [of transmission].’
25. La ilaha illa Allah Muhammad Rasul Allah is written on
the supporting pillars of Paradise and on every leaf
of the trees of Paradise
Ibn al-Najjar and al-Rafi'i have reported on the authority of Anas
that the Prophet S' said: ‘1 entered Paradise and I saw on the
supporting pillars of Paradise three lines written in gold: on the
first line: La ilaha ilia Allah Muhammad Rasul Allah [There is no god
but Allah, Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah]; on the second
line: “What we sent forth [in the Way of Allah] we found, and
what we consumed we profited, and what we left we lost”; and on
the third line: “A sinning nation, and a forgiving Lord.’”33
Abu Nu'aym reported in al-Hilya34 on the authority of Ibn
‘Abbas that the Prophet S said: ‘There is not in heaven any
tree with leaves save that it is written on them: La ilaha ilia Allah
Muhammad Rasul Allah.’
26. In every Tahiti [saying La ilaha ilia Allah] there is
charity
It has been reported in the narration from Muslim and others on
the authority of Abu Dharr that the Prophet S said: ‘In every
glorification of Allah there is a charity, every Takbfr is a charity,
every praise of Him is a charity, every declaration that He is One
[La ilaha illa Allah] is charity, enjoining of good is a charity,
forbidding of evil is a charity, and in a man’s intimate relations
[with his wife] there is a charity...’
27. La ilaha illa Allah is among the best of the enduring
good deeds that forever remain with the one who
performs them
[it has been reported] from Abu Sa'Id al-Khudri that
the Messenger of Allah S said: ‘Constantly indulge in enduring
good deeds.’ It was said; ‘And what are they, 0 Messenger
of Allah?’ He said: ‘Takbfr [saying Allahu Akbar], Tahiti [saying
La ilaha ilia Allah] and Tasbih [saying subhan Allah] and [saying]
” See Fath al-Bari.
” In a marfii‘ [elevated, directly traced to the Prophet s] form.
28 29

al-hamdulillah, and [saying] La hawla wa-la quwwata illa billah
[There is neither might nor power save by Allah].’35
57 See al-Hifya ofAbu Nu'aym.
11 Like this it has been written in Jala' al-Afham and Silat wal-Bishar and he
[ibn al-Qayyim] said: ‘It has been reported by Hasan b. Ahmad al-Banna with
a good chain.'
28. La ildha ilia Allah, subhan Allah and al-hamdulillah
mention those who say them and intercede for them
with Allah
[it has been reported] from Nu'man b. Bashir that the
Messenger of Allah said: ‘Indeed, that which you mention of
Allah’s magnification—the Tasbih, Tahlil and Tahmid [saying
al-hamdulillah]—are attached to the Throne. They have a sound
like the sound of bees mentioning their companion; wouldn’t any
ofyou love someone who does not cease remembering you?’36
29. Nothing matches La ildha ilia Allah, and it is greater
and stronger than the heavens and earth
[it has been reported] from Abu Sa‘id al-Khudri that the
Prophet S said: ‘Musa said: “O Lord teach me something that I
may mention and supplicate you with.” [Allah] said: “Say La ildha
ilia Allah.’’ Musa said: “All of your slaves say this” [Allah] said:
“Say La ildha ilia Allah.” Musa said: “I want something that is
special for me.” [Allah] said: “O Musa, if the seven heavens and
the seven earths were on one side of the balance, and La ildha ilia
Allah on the other, it would tilt towards La ildha ilia Allah.’”
Mundhiri said: ‘It has been reported by Nasa’I and Ibn Hibban in
his [Sahih] and Hakim, and he has authenticated its chain.’
[it has been reported] from Ibn ‘Umar that the Messenger of
Allah 3= said [to the Companions]: ‘Shall I not inform you of the
bequest of Nuh to his son?’ They said: ‘Yes.’ He said: ‘Nuh
instructed his son saying: “O Son! I entrust two things to you and
forbid you from two things: I direct you to say: La ildha ilia Allah,
for if it were placed on a balance and the heavens and earth were
placed on another balance, it [La ildha ilia Allah] would outweigh
35 Mundhiri said: ‘It was reported by Ahmad and Abu Ya’la and Nasa’i and
the wording is from him, as well as Ibn Hibban in his [Sahih] and Hakim, and
he said: “Its chain is sahih.'”
36 It is mentioned in al-Targhib: ‘It is reported by Ibn Abi al-Dunya and Ibn
Majah and the wording is from him and Hakim and he said: “It is sahih based
on the conditions of Muslim.’”
them, and if it were a chain it would partition them until they
were to sincerely come to Allah, the Exalted...’”
Mundhiri said: ‘It has been reported by Bazzar and its
narrators are used as evidence in the Sahih collections, except for
Ibn Ishaq, and it is also in Nasa’L’
It was also reported by Hakim who said it was rigorously
authentic, and it reads: ‘He [Nuh] said to his son: “And I enjoin
you likewise to say La ildha ilia Allah, for if the heavens and earth
and all they contain were placed on one scale, and La ildha ilia
Allah was placed on another scale it would outweigh them, and if
the heavens and earth and all that they contain were a chain and
La ildha ilia Allah was placed on it, it would break it. And I also
enjoin you [to say] subhan Allah wa-bi-hamdihi [Glory and praises
be to Allah], for it is a prayer for everything, and through it every
provision is given.’”
The power of La ildha ilia Allah and its reward is greater and
stronger than the heavens and earth and weightier.
30. La ildha ilia Allah weighs heavy on the balance in the
Sight ofthe Most Merciful
It is reported from Anas that the Messenger of Allah ® said:
'A slave will come with his deeds on the Day of Judgment and
they will be placed on the scales of the balance and they will not
outweigh [the bad deeds] until a sealed parchment is brought by
the Hand of the Most Merciful dfe and it is placed in the scales of
the balance causing it to tilt, and this [parchment] is: La ildha ilia
Allah.”7
Ibn Abi Dawud reported from Abu Bakr al-Siddiq who said: I
heard the Messenger of Allah ® on the Farewell Pilgrimage say:
“Verily Allah dfe has forgiven you your sins when you seek
forgiveness, so whoever seeks forgiveness with a sincere
intention will be forgiven [by Allah], and whoever says La ildha
illa Allah, his balance will be tilted [towards good deeds], and
whoever sends me salutations I will intercede for him on the Day
ofJudgment.’”3857
30 31

31. Allah will take out of the Hellfire whoever has said La
ilaha illa Allah
It has been reported in the Hadith about intercession as found in
the two Sahih collections and other books [that the Prophet
said:] ‘Verily Allah, the Exalted, has said: “By My Might and Glory,
1 will take out of it [the Hellfire] whoever says Ld ildha ilia Allah.’”
Abu Nu’aym reported in al-Hilya through its chain to Anas
that the Messenger of Allah % said: ‘From among the people of
Ld ildha ilia Allah some will enter the Hellfire because of their sins,
so the people of Lat and ‘Uzza will say to them: “What was the
use of your saying Ld ildha ilia Allah, seeing that you are with us
here in Hellfire?” He [the Prophet a] said: ‘Allah will get angry
and take them and place them in the River of Life where they will
be relieved of their burns in the same way the moon is relieved of
the eclipse. They will enter Paradise and be named
Jahannamiyyun [those who were in the Hellfire].’
A man asked: ‘0 Anas, did you hear this from the Messenger of
Allah ^?’Anas said: ‘I heard the Messenger of Allah say:
“Whoever lies about me intentionally then let him take his seat
in the Hellfire.” So yes, I heard the Messenger of Allah say
this!’39
32. Ld ildha ilia Allah is the greatest and most
comprehensive favour upon the slaves
Ibn Abi al-Dunya reported through his chain to Mujahid with
respect to the words of Allah:«And has made His Bounties flow to
you in exceeding measure, [both] seen and unseen , he said:
‘La ildha ilia Allah.’ It is also reported from Sufyan b. ‘Uyayna who
said: ‘Is there a greater favour of Allah upon the slaves than they
should be acquainted with Ld ildha ilia Allah?’ He said: ‘Verily,
Ld ildha ilia Allah is for them in the Hereafter like the water in the
earthly life.’40
33. Ld ildha ilia Allah has a light that bursts the heavens
until it reaches the pillar of light in front of the
Throne
[it has been reported] from Abu Hurayra 4®, the Prophet said:
‘Allah, the Blessed and Exalted, has a pillar of light in front of the
Throne. When the slave says Ld ildha ilia Allah, this pillar shakes.
Allah, the Blessed and Exalted, says: “Become still;” so [the pillar]
says: “How will I become still while You have not forgiven the
one who said it?" So [Allah], the Exalted, will say: “Verily I have
forgiven him.” So it [the pillar] becomes still upon [hearing]
this.’41
A corroborating report is related by Daylami on the authority
of Anas 4 that the Messenger of Allah -g said: ‘When the slave
says La ildha ilia Allah, the heavens burst open until it stops in
before Allah, the Blessed and Exalted, who says: “Become still.”
The testimony will say: “How can I become still while you have
not forgiven the one who said me [i.e. the one who said the
testimony]?” So [Allah] will say: “I did not cause you to be
uttered on his tongue save that I had forgiven him.’”
34. La ildha ilia Allah does not have a veil before of Allah
It has been reported by Tirmidhi from Abdullah b. ‘Amr 4» that
the Prophet S said: ‘Tashih is half of the balance, and
al-hamdulillah fills it up, and Ld ildha ilia Allah does not have a veil
between itself and Allah until it reaches before Him.’42 [It has
been reported] from Anas that the Prophet S said: ‘There is
nothing save that it has a veil between it and Allah, except Ld
ildha iliaAllah and the invocation ofthe father.’43
The Merits of the Two Testimonies of Faith
Muslim reported from ‘Ubada b. al-Samit 4>: ‘I heard the
Messenger of Allah say: “Whosoever witnesses that there is no
god but Allah and that Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah,
Allah forbids for him the Hellfire.’”
The two Shaykhs [Bukhari and Muslim] reported on the
authority ofAnas £ that the Prophet said: ‘0 Mu'adh b. Jabal!’
” See al-Hilya.
*° See Kitab al-Shukr of Ibn Abi al-Dunya.
" Hafiz al-Mundhiri said: ‘Bazzar reported it and it is gharib [singular]’
See al-Targhib of Mundhiri.
It has been attributed in al-Durr al-Manthur to Ibn Mardawayh.
33
32

See Majmd'al-Zawd’id.
35
Tur Ttsiwm OrF.Am
He said thrice: 'Here I am, 0 Messenger of Allah, to be at your
sen ice!’ He said: ‘There is no one who bears witness that there is
no god but Allah and that Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah,
truthfully from his heart, except that Allah saves him from the
Hellfire.’ He said: ‘Shall I not tell the people so that they may
rejoice?’ He said: ‘[No, for] then they would rely on it [too much].’
Mu'adh informed about this as he was dying, to avoid the sin
ofconcealing this information. Hafiz al-Mundhiri said:
Some of the masters from among the people of
knowledge are of the opinion that these types of
generalizations which have been reported, mentioning
that those who say La ilaha ilia Allah will enter Paradise,
or that the Hellfire is forbidden for them, and other
similar sayings, were pertinent only at the beginning
of Islam, when the people were being called only to
affirm the oneness of Allah. Then, when the
obligations were legislated, and the proscribed
punishments were set, this was abrogated; and the
evidence for this is abundant, and obvious...
‘Abdallah [the author] says: There is a possibility that what is
meant here by abrogation is an abrogation of restriction—and
this in accordance to the custom of the salaf [predecessors]
wherein they would use the word abrogation to mean any change
to the original nature of something; be it a change of description,
or the specification ofa general statement, or the restriction of a
broad statement, and so on.
What is intended here is the change of the rule from the
absolute to the restricted. In other words, when the obligations
were placed on them these became mandatory in addition to
their saying La ilaha ilia Allah, and then the Fire was made
forbidden for them. So, whoever left the obligations, whether
denying them or ridiculing them, would not be saved from the
Fire by his declaration [of the testimony], Hafiz al-Mundhiri went
on to say;
This was the opinion of al-Dahhak, al-Zuhri, Sufyan
al-Thawri, and others. Another group said: ‘There is no
need to term this as abrogation, for everything that is
34
Part I: There is no cod but
GOD
a pillar of the faith and from the duties of Islam is from
the implications and completions of recognizing the
two testimonies; for if he assents and then refuses to
follow something from the obligations—either by
denying them or belittling them in the manner of
being rid of them—then we judge him with disbelief
and that he will not enter Paradise.’ ...And this saying
is also close [to the previous position],
...And another group said: ‘The utterance of the
words of tawhid [Divine unity] are a means for entering
Paradise and gaining salvation from Hellfire, with the
condition that it comes with the performance of
obligations and the avoidance of enormities, for if it
does not come with the performance of obligations
and the avoidance of enormities, then the
pronouncement of the words of Divine unity do not
protect [the person] from entering Hellfire.’ And this is
close to [what was said] before, or it is [exactly] it.
Ahmad reported from Rafa a al-Juhani that the Messenger of
Allah £ said: ‘I swear by Allah that no slave dies having said that
there is no god but Allah and that I am the Messenger of Allah,
and behaves with upright rectitude, save that his place is in
Paradise.’
And he [the Prophet] $ said: ‘And my Lord dfe has promised me
to enter seventy thousand from among my nation into Paradise
without reckoning or punishment, and I hope that you do not
enter it until you and whoever has done good from among your
fathers and wives and offspring have gained residences in
Paradise.’14
Tabarani has reported in al-Awsat from Sa‘d b. ‘Ubada that
he heard the Prophet say. ‘Whoever says La ilaha ilia. Allah
wahdahu la sharika lahu’ [There is no god but Allah, Who is Alone
and without partners], following it with his heart, humbling his
tongue towards it, and testifies that Muhammad is His slave and
Messenger &, Allah shall safeguard him from the Fire.’
And [it has been reported] from ‘Amr b. ‘Abasa who said:

Tur Tmimom Orfarm
An old nun supported by a cane approached the Prophet until
he was standing in front of him and said: “0 Prophet of Allah, I
have committed treachery and debauchery [during my life]; will
Allah forgive me?" The Prophet ft said: “Do you not bear witness
that there is no god but Allah?” He [the old man] said: “Yes, and 1
testify that Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah." He [the
Prophet w] said: “Allah has forgiven you your treachery and
debauchery.”’*5
The Virtue of calling others
TO BEAR WITNESS TO THE TESTIMONY OF FAITH
[it has been reported] from Salman al-Farisi 4*, the son of Islam
[who said:] The Messenger of Allah said: ‘Whoever says: “0
Allah, I call You to bear witness, and I call the Angels to bear
witness, and the bearers of Your Throne, and the heavens and
what they contain, and the worlds and what they contain, and all
Your creation, that You are Allah—there is no god besides You—
and I charge with disbelief whoever rejects this from among the
first and last, and I bear witness that Muhammad is Your slave
and Messenger’-whoever says it once, Allah will free one-third
ofhim from the Fire; whoever says it twice, the Exalted will free
two-thirds ofhim from the Fire; and whoever says it three times,
Allah will completely free him from the Fire.’4546
45 Reported by Ahmad and Tabarani and its chain is reliable, as mentioned i n
Majma'al-Zawa'id.
“ Haythami said in Majma al-Zawa'id: ‘It was reported by Tabarani with two
chains: in one ofthem is Ahmad b. Ishaq whom I do not know, and the rest
of its men are narrators found in the Sahih collections.’ And before this he
reported a narration similar to this one from Bazzar.
The Testimony of La ilaha illa Allah
Muhammad Rasul Allah is the Firm Word
Allah said: »Allah will make firm those who believe with an
upright word in this world and in the Hereafter; and Allah will
lead astray the oppressors; Allah does as He wills.) It has come in
the narrations from the one who was responsible for explaining
36
.. u .'And We have sent down unto you the
the Qur’an, as Allah sa ■ c|early to men what is sent for
Message that you may ex tbiat tbis Uprjght word is
(hem. and that1 -SbjaM Muhammad Rasul Allah
er world (the Hereafter] is the
Its uprigi nes people will be asked in the
uprightness of [saying] d b Allah and will be ided to
Soever be -sledgby Allah
„dwill not be guided to the right answer, since he ,s unjust.
The Muhammadan guidance came with elucidations and
proofs, but'he disbelieved in it and shunned it. and became
haughty and he knew the truth but did not acknowledge and
submit to it due to pride and stubbornness, so his recompense
was that Allah should lead him astray. The Exalted said: ‘ And
Allah will not mislead a people after He has guided them, in order
that He may make clear to them what to avoid.) And the Exalted
said: (As to the Thamud, We gave them Guidance)-in other
words^ the truth was shown to them clearly with evidence and
proofs—(...but they preferred blindness [of heart] over
Guidance.)
The Exalted said: (They [the people of the Book] know it as
they know their own sons, but some of them conceal the truth
whilst they know.) They know the truth of the Prophet and
through his signs and miracles they know that he is the
Messenger of Allah, but they do not admit it, and they conceal
the truth. The Exalted said: (It is not you they reject; it is the
signs ofAllah which the wicked deny.)
Whosoever rejects the truth, in other words, disowns the truth
after it has become plain and after he has come to know of it, that
person is unjust. The Exalted says: tBut Allah will lead astray
those who do wrong; Allah does what He wills.)
It is reported by the two Shaykhs [Bukhari and Muslim] and in
the Sunan collections, from Bara’ b. ‘Azib 4s that the Messenger of
Allah ft said: ‘When the Muslim is asked, he will testify that there
is no god but Allah and that Muhammad is the Messenger of
Allah. This is the [explanation] of the saying of the Exalted:
’Allah will make firm those who believe with an upright word in
this world and in the Hereafter; and Allah will lead astray the
oppressors; Allah does as He wills.)’

38
39
The voice of Bilal resonates with the testimony
La ilaha illa AllahMuhammad Rasul Allah
IN THE GATHERING PLACE ON THE DAY OF RESURRECTION
AND ALL THE PROPHETS AND THEIR NATIONS FROM THE BEGINNING
UNTIL THE END WILL DECLARE THE TESTIMONY OF
La ilaha illa Allah Muhammad Rasul Allah
The Voices of the Muezzins tower overthe World
Resonating with the Testimony
La ilaha illa Allah Muhammad Rasul Allah
Darimi reported in his Sunan on the authority of Ka‘b that he
said: ‘We find him [Muhammad, the Messenger of Allah
mentioned in the Torah: “Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah.
He is not rude, or harsh, nor is he boisterous in the markets, nor
does he recompense an evil act with another evil; rather he
pardons and forgives, and his nation is praise-giving, exalting
Allah Al in every highland and praising him in every lowland.
They wear their loin cloths at mid-shin level, and they wash their
limbs [perform ablution]. Their caller calls in the sky, and their
lines for fighting and their lines for prayer are the same. In the
nights they make buzzing sounds like the sounds of bees [i.e.
night prayer, constant recitation]. His birthplace is in Mecca,
his place of immigration is to Tayba [Medina], and his dominion
is in the Levant.'”
Tabarani and Hakim reported from Abu Hurayra that the
Messenger of Allah sg said: ‘The Prophets will be resurrected on
animals (in other words, heavenly camels) until they reach the
gathering place, and I will be resurrected on the Buraq,47 and
Bilal will be resurrected on a camel from among the camels of
Paradise, and he will call a pure and unadulterated call48 and true
47 The riding animal that took the Prophet 3? on his miraculous Night
Journey. [Tr.J
“ Zurqani said: ‘Meaning, it will be free from the opponents in the world,
due to the lifting of the veils and the direct witnessing of the truth, for on
that day no one shall deny it.’
testimony. When he says: “I bear witness that Muhammad is the
Messenger of Allah," the believers from the first to the last will
testify to this. It will be accepted from those who accepted (it in
this world) and it will be rejected from those who rejected49
(those who said it hypocritically in this world).’
It is reported by Ibn Zanjuwayh in Fada’il al-‘Amal from Kathfr
b. Murra al-Hadrami that the Prophet of Allah said: ‘The camel
of Thamud will be resurrected for Salih and he will ride it from
his grave to the place of gathering, and I will be on the Buraq,
and it will be specially for me to the exclusion of other Prophets,
and Bilal will be resurrected on a camel from among the camels
of Paradise. He will call with the truth while riding on it. When
the Prophets and their people hear “I bear witness that there is
no god but Allah and I bear witness that Muhammad is the
Messenger of Allah,” they will say: “And we bear witness to
this.’"50
In the book Dhakhair al-‘Uqba of Hafiz Muhib al-Din al-Tabari
there is a report whose citation he attributed to Hafiz al-Silafi
from the narration of Abu Hurayra that the Messenger of Allah
£ said: ‘The Messengers will be resurrected on animals [the
camels of Paradise] and Salih will be resurrected on his camel,
and the children of Fatima will be resurrected on the two camels:
al-‘Adba and al-Qaswa, and I will be resurrected on the Buraq,
and Bilal will be resurrected on a camel from among the camels
ofParadise.’51
The Recommendation
to make frequent mention of the Testimony
Abu Ya'la reported through a good chain from Abu Hurayra
that the Messenger of Allah said: ‘Be frequent in repeating the
testimony of La ildha ilia Allah before [a preventive reason] comes
between you and it.’52
” See al-Mawdhib of al-Qastalani, and al-Khasa’is al-Kubra of Hafiz al-Suyuti
and al-Fath.
” As stated in al-Mawdhib and al-Khasa’is.
51 As stated in al-Mawdhib and its commentary.
“ See al-Targhib of Mundhiri.

The Recommendation to make mention of the
Testimony in the Following Situations
AND WHAT HAS BEEN REPORTED ABOUT THEIR RESPECTIVE VIRTUES
1. At the morning and evening times
[It has been reported] from Anas *£>, the Prophet said: ‘Whoever
says when they wake up: “0 Allah, we have awoken and we call
for You to witness, and we call the bearers of Your Throne to
witness, and Your Angels, and all Your creation, that verily You
are Allah besides whom there is no god, and that Muhammad is
Your slave and Messenger,” Allah will forgive the sins he may
encounter in that day of his, and if he says it at nightfall, Allah
will forgive the sins he may encounter that night.’ This is
reported by Tirmidhi and Abu Dawud.53
Abu Dawud reported from Anas that the Prophet said:
‘Whoever says when he wakes up or says at nightfall: “0 Allah, I
have awoken, 1 call for You to witness, and I call the bearers of
Your Throne to witness and Your Angels, and all Your creation,
that verily You are Allah besides whom there is no god, and that
Muhammad is Your slave and Messenger”—whoever says it once,
Allah will free one-third of him from the Fire; whoever says it
twice, the Exalted will free two-thirds of him from the Fire; and
whoever says it three times, Allah will completely free him from
the Fire.’54
2. Following ablutions
[it has been reported] from ‘Umar that the Prophet S said:
'There is none ofyou who makes a complete or perfect ablution
and then says: “I bear witness that there is no god but Allah, Who
is alone and without partners, and I bear witness that
Muhammad is His slave and Messenger,” save that Allah opens
for him the eight doors of Paradise so that he may enter from
whichever one he wishes.’
Hafiz Mundhiri said: ‘It is reported by Muslim, Abu Dawud, and
Ibn Majah and the wording in the narration of the later two [Abu
Dawud and Ibn Majah] reads: ‘He makes a perfect ablution.’
i! See al-Fath al-Kabir.
Mlbid.
Abu Dawud added: ‘...then he raises his hands to the sky and
says...,' citing the aforementioned narration.
Tirmidhi reported it in the same way as Abu Dawud but with
the additional wording: ‘0 Allah, make me from among those who
constantly repent and make me from among those who are pure
and clean.’
Abu Ya'la and Daraqutni reported from ‘Uthman b. ‘Affan
that he said: ‘I heard the Messenger of Allah say: “Whoever
performs ablutions and washes his hands three times, then rinses
his mouth three times, sniffs out from his nose three times, and
washes his face three times, and his hands up to his elbows three
times, and passes his hand over his head, then washes his feet
and he does not speak until he says: “I bear witness that there is
no god but Allah Who is One without partners, and I bear witness
that Muhammad is his slave and Messenger,” he will be forgiven
[for the sins that occur] between the two ablutions.’”55
3. At the time of call to prayer
Muslim reported from ‘Umar b. al-Khattab that the Messenger
ofAllah % said: ‘When the muezzin says Allahu Akbar Allahu Akbar
and one of you says Allahu Akbar Allahu Akbar, and he says
Ashhadu an la Ildha ilia Allah and you say Ashhadu an la Ildha ilia
Allah, and he says Ashhadu ana Muhammad Rasul Allah and you
say Ashhadu ana Muhammad Rasul Allah, and he says Hayya ‘ala
al-Salah and you say Ld hawla wa-la quwwata ilia Billah, and he says
Hayya 'ala al-falah and you say Ld hawla wa-la quwwata ilia Billah,
and he says Allahu Akbar Allahu Akbar and you say Allahu Akbar
Ailahu Akbar, and he says Ld Ildha ilia Allah and you say Ld Ildha ilia
Allah; [whoever says this sincerely] from his heart, will enter
Paradise.’
Ibn Zanjuwayh reported from Kathir b. Murra al-Hadrami56
who said: 'Bilal will be resurrected on a camel from among
the camels of Paradise and he will call the call to prayer while
riding on its back. When the Prophets and their nations hear;
' See al-Targhib of al-Mundhiri.
hamar/tT [elevated, directly traced to the Prophet ^] form.
40

ntnsnmOrFAim
” See Sharh al-Mawahib.
“Ibid.
59 See al-Targhib.
“Mundhirisaid: ‘In it [its chain] there is Ishaq b. Abdullah b. Kaysan and he
was careless [in transmitting Hadith reports].’
“ This means that all the believing slaves are brothers in belief, and this
brotherhood has been established by Allah through his saying: (Verily the
believers are but brothers), and He will ask them about the rights of each
other on the Day ofJudgment.
“ Reported by Abu Dawud as mentioned in Jami' al-Usul, and reported by
Nasa’i as mentioned in Mundhiri's Targhib. ' y
” SeeJami'al-Usul.
"I bear witness that there is no god but Allah and that
Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah," they will say: “And we
bear witness to this as well.’”57
Daylami reported from ‘All 4 who said: ‘The Prophet Jfe saw
me in a state ofsadness and he said: “Why do I find you sad, 0 Ibn
AbiTalib? Find some ofyour family to recite the call to prayer in
your ear, for it is a cure for grief.” I [‘All] tried and 1 found it to be
so.’ And each ofthe narrators said: ‘We tried it and we found it to
be so.’58
Muslim and Tirmidhi reported (and this is with the latter’s
wording) on the authority of Sa‘d b. Abi Waqqas 4s that the
Messenger of Allah said: ‘Whoever says upon hearing the
muezzin's call: “And 1 bear witness that there is no god but Allah,
Who is alone and without partners, and that Muhammad is His
slave and Messenger; I am satisfied with Allah as my Lord, with
Islam as my way of life, and with Muhammad S as a
Messenger”-Allah will forgive him his sins.’59
Tabarani reported in al-Kabir from Ibn ‘Abbas & that the
Prophet s said: ‘Whoever hears the call [to prayer] and says: “I
bear witness that there is no god but Allah, Who is One, without
partners, and that Muhammad is His slave and Messenger. 0
Allah, send blessings upon Muhammad and allow him to reach
the level of intercession with You, and make us [from among
those who are] in his intercession on the Day ofJudgment”—his
intercession is obligatory.’60
The testimony while sitting in prayer is obligatory, and in it,
the one performing the prayer is calling his Lord to bear witness,
along with His Messenger and the pious slaves of Allah, to the
testimony that there is no god but Allah and that Muhammad is
His slave and Messenger.
It is incumbent upon the one performing the prayer to testify
with his heart and to call his Lord, the Lord of the Worlds, Who is
in before him in his qibla [direction of prayer], to bear witness,
PARTliTH^i^0600^'6
.well as the one in front of him who guided himuntohis
the Messenger of Allah :^-to bear witness, as well as
righteous servants of Allah.
4. After the prayers , ...
[It has been reported] from Zayd b. al-Arqam 4* wo sa •
Messenger ofAllah used to say after every prayer. ,
Lord and Lord of everything! I am a witness that You are e
Lord, without partners. . , .
0 Allah, our Lord and Lord of everything! I am a witness a
Muhammad is your slave and Messenger. 0 Allah, our Lor an
Lord of everything! I am a witness that the slaves are all
brothers.61
0 Allah, our Lord and Lord of everything! Make me sincere to
You and [allow me to] extol You in every hour of this world an
the Hereafter.
0 Owner of Glory and Honour! I hear and I respond. Allah is
Great, the Great: (Allah is the Light of the heavens and earth.!
Allah is Great, the Great, Allah is sufficient for us, and He is the
Best Protector. Allah is Great, the Great.’”62
5. In the opening of the religious oratory
It is reported by Abu Dawud and Nasal from Abdullah b. ‘Amr b.
al-‘As & that the Messenger of Allah 38 gave a speech on the day
of the conquest of Mecca, on the step of the Sacred House [the
Kaba], and said after extolling Allah [saying Allahu Akbar] thrice:
‘There is no god but Allah, Who is alone and without partners;
Allah is true in His Promise, and He has helped His slave, and He
alone has defeated the confederates. Verily, every deed that was
practiced in the Time of Ignorance and was remembered and
announced ofblood or money is under my feet, save the giving of
water during Hajj and the custodianship of the House.’63
42
43

The TestimonyOfFaith
Abu Dawud reported from Abu Hurayra that the Prophet sfc said:
‘Every oratory that does not include the testimony is like a
leprous hand.’
6. When standing up from [concluding] a gathering
[it has been reported] from Abu Hurayra & that the Messenger of
Allah «said: ‘Whoever sits in a gathering wherein a lot of useless
talk has taken place, and before standing up from this gathering
he says: "Glory and praises are for You 0 Allah! I bear witness
that there is no god but You, I ask for Your forgiveness and turn
in repentance to You”-will be forgiven for what transpired in
thatgathering.'64
[it has been reported] from Jubayr b. Mat'am that the
Messenger of Allah £ said: ‘Whoever says in a gathering of
remembrance: “Glory and praises are for Allah, Glory and praises
are for You 0 Allah, I bear witness that there is no god but You, 1
ask for Your forgiveness and turn in repentance to You,” it is like
a stamp that imprints on it, and if he says it in a gathering of idle
talk, it is an expiation for him.’
Mundhiri said: ‘It is reported by Nasa’i and Tabarani and its
men [in the chain of narrators] are found in the Sahih collections,
and Hakim said it is rigorously authentic according to the
conditions set by Muslim.’
Mundhiri said: ‘And It is reported and transmitted by Ibn Abi
al-Dunya that the Messenger of Allah said: “When any of you
sits in a gathering, he does not benefit anything from it until he
says thrice: “Glory and praises are for your 0 Allah, there is no
god but You, forgive me and accept my repentance.” if it [the
gathering] was good, it is like a seal [of goodness] on it, and if it
was a meeting ofidle talk it is expiation for what occurred in it.’”
[it has been reported] from Rafi1 b. Khudayj who said:
The Messenger of Allah issued an order that whenever his
Companions met and wished to rise up they would say:
“Glory and praises are for You, 0 Allah. I bear witness that there
is no god but You. I ask for Your forgiveness and turn in
repentance to You.
M Reported by Abu Dawud and Tirmidhi, and the wording is from the latter,
as stated in Targhib.
‘"I have done wrong and 1 have wronged myself. Forgive me for
verily there is no one who forgives sins other than You.”
We said: "Were these words inspired to you?” He [The
Messenger of Allah •£] said: “Yes. Jibril came to me and said: ‘O
Muhammad! Here is the expiation for gatherings.””65
In these narrations there is an encouragement to keep the
supplication at the end of the gatherings due to its tremendous
benefit.
THE RECOMMENDATION TO CONSTANTLY SAY
La ilaha illa Allah wahdahu la sharika lahu
AND WHAT HAS BEEN REPORTED WITH RESPECT TO ITS BENEFITS
The two Shaykhs [Bukhari and Muslim] reported from Abu Ayub
$ that the Messenger of Allah said: ‘Whoever says ten times:
“There is no god but Allah, Who is alone and without partners;
for Him is the dominion and for Him are all praises, and He is able
to do all things," it is as if he has freed four [slaves] from the
offspring ofIsma'il.’
[it has been reported] from ‘Umar b. Sa‘id from his father from
his grandfather that the Prophet said: ‘The best of
invocation is the invocation on the Day of Arafat, and the best
thing said by me and the Prophets before me is: “There is no god
but Allah, Who is alone and without partners: for Him is the
dominion and for Him are all praises, and He is able to do all
things.”' It is reported by Tirmidhi who said it is a hasan ghartb
[good, but singular] tradition.
This illustrates to us the virtues of this expression, which was
the best thing said by the Messenger of Allah and the best
thing said by the Prophets who were before him—may the
blessings ofAllah be upon them.
[it has been reported] from Abu Umama that the Messenger
of Allah said: ‘Whoever says: “There is no god but Allah,
“ Reported by Nasa'i and the wording is his, and by Hakim who
authenticated it, and reported by Tabarani in all three of his collections
through a good chain as stated in Mundhiri’s Targhib.
44
45

'"SeeJami'al-Usul.
"And in the version ofTabarani through a good chain from Mu‘adh b . Jabal
£ it reads:on that day sins will not catch him save the association of
Partners with Allah.’ In the version of Ahmad b. Abdullah b. Ghanam it
Tirmidhi reported from al-Aghar Abi Salam who said: ‘Abu Sa'id
and Abu Hurayra & bore witness that they witnessed the
Messenger of Allah say: “Whoever says: “There is no god but
Allah, Allah is the Greatest,” his Lord confirms him and says:
“There is no god but Me, and I am the Greatest.”
“ Reported by Tabarani and its men used as evidence in the Sahih
[ofBukhari], as mentioned by Mundhiri.
67 See KitabDa'awat in theJami' ofTirmidhi. In Fath al-Bari it is ascribed to the
Musnad ofImam Ahmad.
Thf Tfstimfw Of Faith
Who is alone and without partners; for Him is the dominion and
for Him are all praises, and He is able to do all things,” will not be
outpaced by works, and no sin shall remain with him.’66
Indeed, this expression has a very important effect upon the
forgiveness ofsins.
Tabarani reported from Ibn Umar 4, who said: ‘1 heard the
Messenger of Allah £ say: “Whoever says: “There is no god but
Allah, the One, without partners, for Him is the Dominion, and
for Him are all praises, He gives life and causes death, and He is
the living who never dies, in His Hands is [all] goodness, and He is
able to do all things," seeking with it nothing but the Pleasure of
Allah, Allah will enter him into the heavens of bliss by means of
it.’”
Tabarani reported from ‘Abdullah b. Abi Awfa that the
Messenger of Allah £ said: ‘Whoever says: “There is no god but
Allah, Who is alone and without partners, the One and Absolute,
(He begets not nor was He begotten, and there is none like unto
Him)," Allah will write for him one million good deeds.’
Tirmidhi reported from Tamim al-Darl that the Messenger
of Allah £ said: ‘Whoever says ten times: “I bear witness that
there is no god but Allah, the One, without partners, the One God,
the Absolute One, He has taken neither a partner nor a child, and
there is none comparable to Him,” Allah will write for him forty
million good deeds.’67
Allah’s confirmation of the servant
WHEN HE SAYS LA ILAHA ILLA ALLAH
■And when he says: “There is no god but.Allah, Who is „
Allah, the Exalted, says: “There is no god but Me,
And when he says: "There is no god but Allah, Who is a
Who has no Partners,” Allah, the Exalted, says: There is no go
but Me, Who is alone and I have no partners.”
And when he says: “There is no god but Allah, His is the
dominion, His are all praises,” Allah, the Exalted, says: “There is
no god but Me, Mine is the dominion, and Mine are all praises.”
And when he says: “There is no god but Allah, and there is
neither might nor power save by Allah,” Allah, the Exalted, says:
“There is no god but Me, and there is neither might nor power
save by Me."’
He [the Prophet t] used to say: ‘Whoever says this during his
sickness and dies, the Hellfire will not touch him.’68 And it is
obvious that when the slave is confirmed by his Lord, he is in the
register ofthe veraciously truthful.
The recommendation to persevere in saying
La ilaha illa Allah wahdahu la sharIka lahu
Ten Times after the Fajr, Maghrib, and—
IN ONE NARRATION—THE ‘ASR PRAYERS
[it has been reported] from Abu Dharr that the Messenger of
Allah % said: ‘Whoever says ten times before outstretching his
legs, immediately after concluding the Fajr [morning] prayer and
before speaking: “There is no god but Allah, Who is alone and
without partners, His is the dominion, and for Him are all praises,
He gives life and causes death, and He is able to do all things,”
Allah will write for him ten good deeds, and will erase from him
ten bad deeds, and will elevate him ten degrees, and during his
entire day he will be protected against every evil, and he will be
protected from Satan, and sins will not touch him69 that day
unless ifhe associates partners with Allah, the Exalted.’
46
47

Part I; There is no cod but God
Mundhirisaid: ‘Tirmidhi reported it and the wording is from him,
and lie said it is a hasan gliarib sahih narration, and Nasa’i [also
reported it] with the wording: “...in His Hands is [all] goodness,”
and he also added: “and for every time he says it is [the reward
of] freeing a believing slave," and: "whoever says it when he is
leaving the 'Asr [afternoon] prayer will be given [the same
reward] for his night-time.’”
[it has been reported] from Mu’adh b. Jabal that the
Messenger ofAllah Isaid: ‘Whoever says ten times when leaving
from the morning prayer: “There is no god but Allah, Who
is alone and without partners, His is the dominion, and for Him
are all praises, He gives life and causes death, in His hands is
[all] goodness, and He is able to do all things,” will be granted
seven things: Allah will write for him ten good deeds, and will
erase from him ten bad deeds, and will elevate him ten degrees,
and it will be equal to ten designations for him, and for him there
will be protection from Satan, and a protection from evil, and
sins will not catch him that day save shirk [the association of
partners] with Allah, the Exalted. And whoever says that when he
is leaving from the Maghrib [evening] prayer will be awarded this
for his night-time.’70
reads: ‘And it is not allowed for sins to overtake him save the association
[ofpartners with Allah], See al-Targhib ofMundhiri.
■'Reported by Ibn Abi al-Dunya and Tabarani through a good chain, with the
wording from him, as stated in al-Targhib ofMundhiri.
71 Reported by Ahmad and Nasa’i and Ibn Hibban in his Sahih and the
wording and version are from him: ‘And for him [is the reward of] ten
[freed] slaves.’
[ft has been reported] from Abu Ayub 4» that the Messenger of
Allah g said: 'Whoever says ten times when he wakes up: “There
is no god but Allah, Who is alone and without partners, His is the
dominion, and for Him are all praises, and He is able to do all
things,” Allah will write for him ten good deeds, and will erase
from him ten bad deeds, and will elevate him ten degrees, and it
is equal to him as freeing four slaves, and he will have protection
until it darkens, and whoever says it when he prays Maghrib-
after his prayer-will have the same until he wakes up [in the
morning].’71
lit has been reported] from ‘Abd al-Rahman b. Ghanam that
the Messenger of Allah said: ‘Whoever says ten times, before he
leaves the Maghrib and Subh [Fajr] prayers: “There is no god but
Allah, Who is alone and without partners, His is the dominion,
and for Him are all praises, He gives life and causes death, and He
i$ able to do all things,” Allah will write for each one [he said] ten
good deeds, and will erase from him ten bad deeds, and will
elevate him ten degrees, and he will have protection against all
evil, and a protection against the outcast Satan, and his sins will
not be allowed to overcome him save polytheism, and he will be
from among the best in deeds, save for a man who outstripped
him and said better than what he said.’72
[it has been reported] from ‘Umara b. Shubayb & that the
Messenger of Allah said: ‘Whoever says ten times immediately
after the Maghrib prayer: “There is no god but Allah, the One,
without partners, His is the dominion, and for Him are all praises,
He gives life and causes death, and He is able to do all things,” he
will be appointed guards [al-maslaha73] by Allah: armed Angels
who protect him from Satan until he wakes up, and Allah shall
write for him ten obligatory good deeds, and erases for him ten
grievous sins, and it is equal [in reward] for him to the freeing of
ten believing slaves.’
Mundhiri said: ‘It is reported by Nasa’i and Tirmidhi who said
it is a hasan [good] narration that we do not know except through
Layth b. Sa‘d and we do not know of ‘Umara having heard it from
the Prophet &’
” Hafiz al-Mundhiri said: ‘Ahmad reported it and its men are all men in the
5uhih collections except for Shahr b. Hawshab, and there is difference of
opinion about the companionship [with the Prophet 38] of ‘Abd al-Rahman b.
Ghanam, and this Hadith has been reported through a group of Companions.
” The erudite scholar, Ibn Athir said in his commentary on the rarefied
words used in this Hadith (jami‘ al-Usul): ‘al-maslaha: A folk who safeguard
the battle-trenches. They were called maslaha because they were armed with
weapons [aslfha], by which they would repel the enemy.’
48 49

The virtue of the one who says:
La ilaha illa Allah wahdahu la sharIka lahu
One hundred times after the Morning Prayer
Tabarani reported in al-Awsat through a good chain from Abu
Umama «that the Messenger of Allah ft said: ‘Whoever says one
hundred times at the end of the Morning Prayer before
outstretching his feet: “There is no god but Allah, Who is alone
and without partners, His is the dominion, and for Him are all
praises, He gives life and causes death, and He is able to do all
things,” he is among the best of the people in deeds on earth,
except one who says like what he has said, or says more than
what he said.’74
74 As stated in Targhib ofMundhiri.
75 SeeJami'al-UsuL
The recommendation to say
Generally after all the prescribed prayers
[It has been reported] from the bondsmen of Mughira b. Shu'ba
that he said: ‘Mughira b. Shu'ba dictated to me in a letter to
Mu'awiya that the Prophet ft used to say after completing every
obligatory prayer:
“There is no god but Allah, Who is alone and without partners,
His is the dominion, and for Him are all praises, He gives life and
causes death, and He is able to do all things. 0 Allah, none can
withhold what You have conferred, nor can one confer what You
have withheld. And a fortune does not benefit its owner against
You.’” This was reported by Bukhari, Muslim, and Nasa’i and in a
version attributed to him [Nasa’i] it mentions that he ft- would
say this thrice.75
It is reported by Muslim and others from ‘Urwa b. Zubayr &
that he used to say after every prayer, after saying the final
salutation: 'There is no god but Allah, Who is alone and without
partners, His is the dominion, and for Him are all praises, He
gives life and causes death, and He is able to do all things, There
50
.her might nor power save by Allah, there is no god but
and we worship none but Him, His are all the blessings an
f ours, and His are all good praises, there is no god but Allah
land we are] sincerely upon the religion even if the disbelievers
hate it' He said: 'And the Messenger of Allah ft used to say 1
Sever, prayer."
THE RECOMMENDATION TO SAY
in the Morning and Evening
[it has been reported] from of Ibn Mas'ud 4® who said: The
Messenger of Allah ft used to say when he entered the evening:
“We have entered the evening as has the dominion: all of it for
Allah. And all praises are due to Allah. There is no god but Allah,
Who is alone and without partners. His is the dominion and for
Him are all praises, and He is able to do all things. 0 Lord, I ask of
you the good of this night, and the good of what comes after it,
and I seek refuge from the evil of this night and the evil that
comes after it. 0 Lord, 1 seek refuge from laziness and decrepit
old age. 0 Lord I seek refuge in You from the punishment in
Hellfire and the punishment in the grave.” And when the
morning time would enter he would say: “We have entered the
morning as has the dominion; all of it for Allah...’” In another
version it reads: ‘0 Lord I seek refuge in You from laziness,
senility, decrepit old age, and the trials of this world, and the
punishment ofthe grave.’77
[it has been reported] from Abu ‘Ayyash al-Zarqi that the
Prophet ft said: ‘Whoever says when he wakes up: “There is no
god but Allah, Who is alone and without partners. His is the
dominion and for Him are all praises, and He is able to do all
things,” he shall receive the same [reward] as freeing a slave
from among the offspring of Isma‘11. And for him ten good deeds
are written, and ten bad deeds are pardoned.
’‘Ibid.
" He said inJami' al-Usul: ‘This is the version of Muslim and Tirmidhi, and in
the version of Abu Dawud it reads: “The evils of old age and disbelief.” And
in another narration it reads: “The evils of old age and arrogance.’”
51

Pm TteriMOwOf Faith
‘And he is raised by ten degrees, and he is in protection against
Satan until night-fall. ‘And ifhe says it at nightfall he receives the
same [reward] until he enters the morning.'78
” In Fath al-Bdri it was attributed to Abu Dawud, Ibn Majah, and Imam
Ahmad.
” As stated in the Musnad and the Sunan.
" Mundhiri said: ‘Its chain is fair and unbroken, and its narrators are
trustworthy and strong, and there is a disagreement regarding Azhar b.
Sinan. Ibn 'Adi said: "I hope there is no problem with it.” Tirmidhi relayed a
separate wording in place of “one million” that reads: “and He will build for
The recommendation to say
on the Day of Arafat
[it has been reported] from Ibn ‘Umar & who said: ‘The most
[frequent] supplication of [the Prophet] on the Day of Arafat
was: “There is no god but Allah, Who is alone and without
partners. His is the dominion and for Him are all praises, He gives
life and causes death, in His Hands is [all] goodness and He is able
to do all things.’”7’
THE RECOMMENDATION TO SAY LA ILAHA ILLA ALLAH
WAHDAHULA SHARIKA LAHU IN VARIOUS SITUATIONS
1. When entering a marketplace
[it has been reported] from ‘Umar b. al-Khattab that the
Messenger of Allah said: ‘Whoever enters the market and says:
“There is no god but Allah, Who is alone and without partners.
“His is the dominion and for Him are all praises, He gives life and
causes death, He is the living who never dies, in His Hands is [all]
goodness and He is able to do all things,” Allah writes for him one
million good deeds, and erases a thousand sins, and increases him
in position one million ranks.’
In another narration it reads: ‘And He builds for him a house in
Paradise.' Tirmidhi reported it and said that it is a gharib Hadith.80
When turning on one’s side during the night
been reported] from the Mother of the Believers, ‘A’isha—
ay Allah be pleased with her-who said: ‘When the Messenger
"fAllah « would turn on his side at night he would say: “There is
n0 god but Allah the One, the Vanquisher, the Lord of the
heavens and earth and whatever is in between them, the Mighty
and the Forgiving.’”81
3, When returning from Hajj, ‘Umra, or a trip
[It has been reported] from Ibn ‘Umar & who said: ‘When the
Messenger of Allah & returned from a battle, or Hajj, or ‘Umra,
and ascended high ground, he would magnify Allah [say Allahu
Akbar] thrice and then say: “There is no god but Allah, Who is
alone and without partners. His is the dominion and for Him are
all praises, He gives life and causes death, He is the living who
never dies, in His Hands is [all] goodness, and He is able to do all
things. We have come back turning [to Allah], worshipping
[Allah], prostrating [to Him], praising our Lord. Allah is true in
His Promise, and He has helped His slave, and He has single
handedly defeated the confederates.’”82
The names of the Phrase La Ilaha illa Allah
1. It is the wording of the testimony
The two Shaykhs [Bukhari and Muslim] reported from Ibn ‘Umar
4 who said: ‘1 heard the Messenger of Allah ■£; say: “Islam is built
upon five: the testimony that there is no god but Allah and that
Muhammad is the Messenger ofAllah...’”
It is appropriate that the words of the testimony to Allah are
with regard to his Oneness and Divinity, and to the
Messengership of our Master Muhammad 3S, for that is
completely grounded in rational and direct proofs.
him a house in Paradise." Ibn Majah, Ibn Abi al-Dunya, and Hakim reported
't and authenticated it.' In Fath al-Bdri it was attributed to Imam Ahmad
] Reported by Nasa’i and Hakim, as stated in al-Fath and other [collection 1
’ Reported by Bukhari, Muslim, and others. •*’
53
52

theTestimonyOrFaith
For this reason, you will frequently see verses in the Holy Qur’an
that testify to His Power, Knowledge, and Wisdom, followed by a
testimony to his Divinity and Oneness. An example of this is
found in Allah’s Words: (He it is Who shapes you in the wombs as
He pleases. There is no god but He, the Exalted in Might, the
Wise.)
Furthermore, you will frequently encounter reports from the
Prophet ft in which he would bring some of Allah’s signs in the
cosmos that Allah caused to occur at his hand, and he would
conclude it with the two testimonies of faith. An example of this
is reported from Abu Hurayra who said: ‘We were with the
Prophet ft in a journey when the provisions of the people were
exhausted, until they intended to slaughter some of their riding
animals. ‘Umar said: “0 Messenger of Allah, gather what is left
of the provisions of the people and supplicate to Allah for it
[to be multiplied].” So it was done. The possessor of wheat would
bring his wheat, the possessor ofdates would bring his dates, and
the possessor of date stones would bring his date stones. It was
asked: “What did they do with the date stones?” It was said:
“They used to suck them and soak them in water.” So he
[the Prophet ft] prayed over the items until [they multiplied and]
the people filled up their provisions, then [the Prophet gs] said:
“I bear witness that there is no god besides Allah and that I am
the Messenger ofAllah. A servant shall not meet Allah having no
doubt therein except that he shall enter Paradise.’”
2. It is the firm word
The phrase La Ildha ilia Allah Muhammad Rasulullah is called the
firm word. Allah, the Exalted, said: (Allah will make firm those
who believe, with a firm word in this world and in the
Hereafter.)
The meaning ofthe firm word mentioned in these noble verses
has come from the one entrusted with explaining the Qur’an,
[the Prophet] ft. It is reported by both Bukhari and Muslim and
others from Anas that the Messenger of Allah said: ‘When
the Muslim is questioned in the grave he will testify that there is
no god but Allah and that Muhammad is His Messenger, and this
is [the explanation] ofthe words ofthe Exalted:
(Alhh will make firm those who believe
World and in the Hereafter )
„described as the firm word bee
, with a firm word in this
ause it is firmer than any
firm thing and is affirmed with every affirming thing. Nay, it
affirms every firm thing. For that which agrees with it is firm,
and whatever is in opposition to it is infirm.
It is the strongest of all certainties, and the firmest of all firm
things, and its firmness is reflected by the firmness of every firm
thing that is knowable, as well as the observable phenomena in
the cosmos; there is nothing firmer than it; there is nothing truer
than it; there is nothing that possess a stronger truth; there is
nothing whose truth is more unequivocal; and there is nothing
whose dominion and authority is more honourable.
3. It is the good word
Allah said: (Have you not considered how Allah sets forth a
parable ofa good word [being] like a good tree, whose root is firm
and whose branches are in heaven, yielding its fruit in every
season by the permission of its Lord? And Allah sets forth
parables for men that they may be mindful.)
What is meant by the good word here is La Ildha ilia Allah and
what is meant by a good tree is the date tree, as has been clarified
by the Prophet ft, about whom Allah says: (That you may make
clearto the people what has been revealed to them.)
Tirmidhi and Nasa’i reported from Anas that he said: ‘The
Prophetftcame with a stalk of dates and recited: (...a parable of
a good word [being] like a good tree—until it reaches maturation
it yields its fruits in every season by the permission of its Lord.)
He ft said: “It is the date-palm tree.” Then he read: (And the
parable of an evil Word is that of an evil tree...) and said: “It is
the colocynth.”’
From this good word of La Ildha ilia Allah emanates all good
words, good actions, and good behaviours. Through it the heart is
made good and the lands are made well, as Allah says: (As for the
good land, its vegetation comes forth by the permission of its
lord.)
Through it, the words of the believers are made good, as the
Exalted says: (Unto Him ascend the goodly words and the
righteous actions raise them up.) Through it occur all virtuous,
54
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The Testimony of Faith: Its Merits, Meanings, and Effects

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The Testimony of Faith: Its Merits, Meanings, and Effects