The conditions of “La ilaha ila Allah” are like the teeth of the key. “La ilaha illa Allah” is the key to Paradise. The key does not open except if it has teeth.
Conditions of La ilaha illa Allah
Every reward for saying “La ilaha ila Allah” that is in the Qur’an and Hadeeth depends in the presence of these conditions, and they are eight:
1- Knowing its meaning:
It does not benefit the one who is ignorant of its meaning. Thus, it is a must for the one who wants to accept Islam to know its meaning. The Prophet –may Allah praise and send him peace- has said: “Whoever dies while s/he knows that ‘no god should be worshipped except Allah’, enters Paradise” (Muslim).
2- Certainty:
100%. If one doubts even 1% in disbelieving in gods other than Allah, is not a Muslim. If one doubts the disbelief of the Jews and Christians who have heard about Islam, they are not Muslim. The Prophet ﷺ has said: “I bear witness that no god should be worshipped but Allah and I am the messenger of Allah; there is no slave who meets Allah with these two without doubting them except they will enter Paradise” (Muslim).
3- Sincerity:
It does not benefit the one who shows off with it or worships other than Allah. The Prophet ﷺ has said: “The happiest person with my intercession is the one who says ‘La Ilaha Ila Allah’ sincerely from his heart or his soul” (Bukharee).
4- Truthfulness:
It does not benefit the one who says it while lying such as the hypocrites. The Prophet ﷺ has said: “There is no one who bears witness that ‘La Ilaha Ila Allah and Muhammad is His slave and messenger truthfully from his heart except that Allah will prohibit the Fire for him” (Bukharee and Muslim).
5- Love:
One should not love anyone like s/he loves Allah. Moreover, one should loves everything and everyone that Allah has ordered to love. Its opposite is hate. Thus, from the nullifiers of Islam is to hate something which the Messenger legislated, even if s/he acts upon it. Allah says: ” Still there are some who take others as Allah’s equal—they love them as they should love Allah…” (2:165).
6- Submission:
It means we must act upon it. If one does not do so, it does not benefit them. Allah says: ” But no! By your Lord, they will never be ˹true˺ believers until they accept you ˹O Prophet˺ as the judge in their disputes, and find no resistance within themselves against your decision and submit wholeheartedly ” (4:65).
7- Acceptance:
Does not refuse saying it, acting upon it, and believing it. Allah says: “For whenever it was said to them ˹in the world˺, “There is no god ˹worthy of worship˺ except Allah,” they acted arrogantly and argued, “Should we really abandon our gods for a mad poet?”” (37:35).
8- Disbelieving:
Worshipping anyone or anything that is worshipped besides Allah is false. No one and nothing deserves to be worshipped besides Allah.
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