La ilaha ill Allaah, Muhammad-ur- Rasul-Allaah
[None has the right to be worshipped but Allaah,
and Muhammad (sallalahu alayhi wa sallam =
May the peace and blessings of Allaah be upon
him) is the Messenger of Allaah ].


We have noticed that most of the Europeans and
others, who embrace Islam, do not understand
the reality of the meaning of the first
fundamental principle of Islam, i.e. “La ilaha ill
Allaah (None has the right to be worshipped but
Allaah – and Muhammad (sallalahu alayhi wa
sallam) is the Messenger of Allaah.” So I consider
it essential to explain something of the meanings
of this Great Sentence (i.e. Principle) in some
detail:
La ilaha ill Allaah, Muhammad-ur-: Rasulullah
“None has the right to be worshipped but Allaah
….. and Muhammad (sallalahu alayhi wa sallam)
is the Messenger of Allaah” It has three aspects :
A, B and C.


Aspect A: It is that, you have. to pledge a
covenant with (Allaah), the Creator of the
Heavens and Earth, the Ruler of all that exists,
the Lord of Majesty and Highness, on four points
(or conditions):

Point 1: A confession with your heart that the-
Creator (of everything) is Allaah, it is that you
have to say: “I testify that the Creator of all the
universe including the stars, the planets, the sun,
the moon, the heavens, the earth with all its
known and unknown forms of life, is Allaah.. He
is the Organizer and Planner of all its affairs. It is
He Who gives life and death, and He (i.e. .Allaah -
Alone) is the Sustainer, and the Giver of Security,
etc. “And this is called your confession for the
Oneness of the Lordship of Allaah,” — “TAUHID
Ar-Rububiyya”..

Point 2: A confession with your heart that you
have to say: “I testify that: None has the right to
be worshipped but Allaah Alone. The word
“Worship” (i.e. ‘Ibadah) carries a great number of
meanings in the Arabic language: It conveys that
all kinds of worship are meant for Allaah (and
none .else, whether it be an angel, Messenger,
Prophet, Jesus-son of Mary, Ezra, Muhammad,
saint, idol, the sun, the moon and all other kinds
of false deities). So pray to none but Allaah,
invoke none but Allaah, ask for help from none
(unseen) but Allaah, swear by none but Allaah,
offer an animal as sacrifice to none but Allaah,…
etc., and that means – all what Allaah and His
Messenger (sallalahu alayhi wa sallam) order you
to do, (in His Book. The Qur’an and in the As-
Sunna (Legal ways of Prophet Muhammad ,
sallalahu alayhi wa sallam ) you must do, and all
that Allaah and His Messenger (sallalahu alayhi
wa sallam) forbid you, you must not do.” And this
is called (your confession for the) “Oneness of the
Worship of Allaah.”– “Tauhid Al-Uluhiyya”. And
that you (mankind) worship none but Allaah.

Point 3: A confession with your heart that you
have to say: “O Allaah! I testify that all the best
of names and the most perfect qualities with
which You have named or qualified Yourself in
Your Book (i.e. the Qur’an) or as Your Prophet
Muhammad (sallalahu alayhi wa sallam) has
named or qualified You, with his statement,” …… I
confirm that all those (names and qualifications)
are for You without changing their meanings or
neglecting them completely or giving resemblance
to others.” As Allaah said: “There is nothing like
unto Him and He is the All-Hearer, the All-
Seer.” (Qur’an 42:11). This Holy Verse confirms
the quality of hearing and the quality of sight for
Allaah without resemblance to others (the
creation), and likewise. He also said: “To one
whom I have created with Both My Hands,” ( Qur’an 38:75). and He also said: “The Hand of Allaah is over
their hands.” (Qur’an 48: 10)
This confirms two Hands for Allaah, but there is
no similarity (i.e. they are NOT like human hands)
for them. Similarly Allaah said: “The Most
Beneficent (Allaah) “Istawa” (rose over) the
(Mighty) Throne.” (Qur’an 20:5).
So He rose over the Throne really in a manner
that suits His Majesty. And Allaah is over His
Throne over the seventh Heaven, as the slave-girl
pointed towards the Heavens, when Allaah’s
Messenger (Muhammad sallalahu alayhi wa
sallam ) asked her as to where Allaah is? He only
comes down over the first (nearest) Heaven to us
on the Day of ‘Arafat (Hajj, i.e. the 9th of Dhul-
Hijja), and also during the last third part of the
night as mentioned by the Prophet (sallalahu
alayhi wa sallam), but He is with us by His
Knowledge only, not by His Personal-Self
(bidhatihi). It is not like that, as some people say
that Allaah is present everywhere, here. there, and
even inside the breasts of men.
He sees and hears all that we do or utter, etc.
And this is called (your confession for the)
“Oneness of the Names and Qualities of Allaah”
“Tauhid Al-Asma was-Sifat” and this is the Right
Faith, the faith which was followed by the
Messengers of Allaah (from Noah, Abraham,
Moses, David, Solomon, Jesus to Muhammad
( peace of Allaah be upon them all) and the
companions of the Prophet Muhammad (sallalahu
alayhi wa sallam) and the righteous followers of
these Messengers (peace of Allaah be upon them
all).


Point IV :A confession with your heart that you
have to say: “O Allaah! I testify that Muhammad
(sallalahu alayhi wa sallam) is Your Messenger.”
That means that none has the right to be
followed after Allaah. but the Prophet Muhammad
(sallalahu alayhi wa sallam), as he is the Last of
His Messengers. As Allaah said:
“Muhammad (sallalahu alayhi wa sallam) is not
the father of any man among you but he is the
Messenger of Allaah and the last (end) of the
Prophets and Allaah is Ever All-Aware of
everything” ( Qur’an 33:40).
“And whatsoever the Messenger (Muhammad,
sallalahu alayhi wa sallam ) gives you, take it and
whatsoever he forbids you, abstain from
it,”(Qur’an 59:7).
And Allaah said: “Say (O Muhammad, sallalahu
alayhi wa sallam, to mankind): If you (really) love
Allaah, then follow me.” (Qur’an 3:31).
As for others than Muhammad ( sallalahu alayhi
wa sallam ), their statements are to be taken or
rejected as to whether these are in accordance
with Allaah’s Book (i.e. the Qur’an) or with the
Sunna (legal ways, orders, acts of worship,
statements, etc.) of the Prophet (sallalahu alayhi
wa sallam) or not. As the Divine Inspiration has
stopped after the death of the Prophet
Muhammad (sallalahu alayhi wa sallam) and it
will not resume except at the time of the Descent
of Jesus, son of Mary and he (i.e. Jesus) will rule
with justice according to the Islamic Laws. during
the last days of the world as it has been
mentioned in the authentic Hadith (i.e. Narration
of the Prophet Muhammad, sallalahu alayhi wa
sallam ) (sahih-Al-Bukhari Vol. 3, Hadith No. 425)

Aspect B:. It is essential to utter, “La ilaha ill Allaah, Muhammad-ur-Rasul Allaah” (“None has the right to be worshipped but Allaah, and Muhammad (sallalahu alayhi wa sallam) is the Messenger of Allaah “. As it has come in the statement of the Prophet Muhammad (sallalahu alayhi wa sallam) to his uncle Abu Talib at the time of the latter’s death: “O uncle, if you utter it (‘None has the right to be worshipped but Allaah, and Muhammad, sallalahu alayhi wa sallam, is the Messenger of Allaah’), then I shall be able to argue on your behalf before Allaah, on the Day of Resurrection.” Similarly, when Abu Dhar Al-Ghifari embraced Islam, he went to Al-Masjid-al-Haram and he proclaimed it loudly in front of the Quraish infidels Until he was beaten severely.

Aspect C: . It is essential that the limbs and all other parts and organs of one’s body testify to it, and this is very important as regards its meaning (i.e., the meaning of “None has the right to be worshipped but Allaah. and Muhammad, sallalahu alayhi wa sallam, is the Messenger of Allaah”). So whoever has confessed this (with his Lord), he shall not Commit sins like robbing. killing, stealing, illegal sexual intercourse, eating pig meat. drinking alcoholic beverages, taking undue advantage of orphan’s property. cheating in trade. bribery and earning money through illegal means. etc… or otherwise the limbs, all other parts and organs of his body will testify against him that he was a liar in his words which he pledged to Allaah. In case he commits the above sins, he should know that it is a sin that obliges him to repent to Allaah, and ask His Forgiveness, as (his) body parts (i.e. skin, private parts, hands, tongue ears. etc.) will testify to the above mentioned crimes (i.e. actions) against his self on the Day of Resurrection. And with the confession of this Great Sentence (i.e. Principle) a person enters in the fold of (i.e. embraces) the Islamic Religion accordingly, it is essential for him to believe in all the Messengers of Allaah and not to differentiate between them. As it is mentioned in His Book, Allaah said: “Do then those who disbelieve think that they can take My Slaves (i.e. the angels; Allaah’s Messengers; Jesus, son of Mary, etc.) as Auliya” (Lords, Gods, Protectors etc.) besides Me? Verily, We have prepared Hell as an entertainment for the disbelievers (in the Oneness of Allaah– Islamic Monotheism). Say (O Muhammad, sallalahu alayhi wa sallam): Shall We tell you the greatest losers in respect of (their) deeds?” Those whose efforts have been wasted in this life, while they thought they were acquiring good by their deeds”. “Those are they who deny the Ayat (proofs, evidences, verses, lessons, signs, revelations, etc.) of their Lord and in the meeting with Him (in the Hereafter). So their works are in vain, and on the Day of Resurrection, We shall not give them any weight.” “That shall be their recompense, Hell, because they disbelieved and took My Ayat (proofs, evidences, verses, lessons, revelations, etc.) and My Messengers by way of jest and mockery. “ “Verily! Those who believe (in the Oneness of Allaah Islamic–Monotheism), and do righteous deeds, they shall have the gardens of Al-Firdaus (Paradise) for their entertainment.” “Wherein they shall dwell (for ever). No desire will they have to be removed there from.” “Say ( O Muhammad, sallalahu alayhi wa sallam ! to Mankind): If the sea were ink ( with which to write) the Words of my Lord, surely the sea would be exhausted, before the Words of my Lord would be finished even if We brought (another sea) like it for its aid.” “Say (O Muhammad, sallalahu alayhi wa sallam ), I am only a man like you, it has been inspired to me that your Ilah (God) is One Ilah (God — i.e. Allaah). So whoever hopes for the meeting with his Lord, let him work righteousness and associate none as a partner in the worship of his Lord.” (The Qur’an 18: 102-1 10).
This introduction is necessary for anyone who wishes to embrace Islam. After this confession he (or she ) should take a bath (i.e. Ghusl) and then offer a two Rak’at prayer, and act upon the five Principles of Islam, as narrated by Ibn ‘Umar (may Allaah be pleased with him) in the Book, Sahih Al-Bukhari. Vol. I Hadith No.7 : Narrated Ibn ‘Umar (may Allaah be pleased with him), Allaah’s Messenger , sallalahu alayhi wa sallam, said: Islam is based on (the following five (principles):
1. To testify La ilaha ill Allaah wa anna Muhammad-ar-Rasul Allaah (None has the right to be worshipped but Allaah and that Muhammad, sallalahu alayhi wa sallam, is Allaah’s Messenger).
2. To offer the (compulsory congregational) prayers dutifully and perfectly (Iqamat-as -Salat). 3. To pay Zakat (i.e. obligatory charity).
4. To perform Hajj (i.e. Pilgrimage to Makka).
5. To observe fast during the month of Ramadan. and must believe in the six Articles of Faith, i.e. to believe in:
(I) Allaah, (2) His Angels, (3) His Messengers, (4) His Revealed Books, (5) the Day of Resurrection, and (6) Al-Qadar (Divine Preordainments i.e. whatever Allaah has ordained must come to pass).]

Posted from appendix of the book The Noble Quran by. Dr.Muhammad Taqi-ud-Din Al-Hilali, Ph.D. & Dr. Muhammad Muhsin Khan
salaf-us-saalih.com/2014/01/27/faithmuttaqun/

Nice piece! Jazakallahu khairan!!





We all need to reflect and ponder over the Shahada in everyday of our lives.