اللّٰهُ لَا إِلٰهَ إِلَّا اللّٰهُ مُحَمَّدٌ رَسُولُ اللّٰهِ
La ilāha illallāh, Muḥammadur Rasūlullāh
(There is no god but Allah, Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah)
The First Kalimah is the foundation of Islam. It contains two essential beliefs: the oneness of Allah (Tawheed) and the prophethood of Muhammad (peace be upon him). Believing in and declaring this Kalimah with sincerity makes a person a Muslim.
The importance of this Kalimah is evident from the Qur’an and Hadith.
Allah says:
فَاعْلَمْ أَنَّهُ لَا إِلَٰهَ إِلَّا اللَّهُ
(Surah Muhammad, 47:19)
So know that there is no deity except Allah.
The Prophet Muhammad ﷺ said:
مَن قَالَ لَا إِلٰهَ إِلَّا اللّٰهُ دَخَلَ الْجَنَّةَ
(Sahih Muslim)
Whoever says ‘La ilaha illallah’ will enter Paradise.
Another Hadith says:
حَقُّ اللَّهِ عَلَى الْعِبَادِ أَنْ يَعْبُدُوهُ وَلَا يُشْرِكُوا بِهِ شَيْئًا
(Sahih Bukhari and Muslim)
The right of Allah over His servants is that they worship Him and do not associate anything with Him.
This Kalimah saves from Hellfire, opens the door to Jannah, and is heavier on the scale than the earth and heavens. It must be said with full belief, sincerity, and knowledge.
The conditions for this Kalimah to be accepted are:
- Knowledge (ʿIlm)
- Certainty (Yaqīn)
- Sincerity (Ikhlāṣ)
- Truthfulness (Ṣidq)
- Love (Maḥabbah)
- Submission (Inqiyād)
- Acceptance (Qabūl)
Without belief in this Kalimah, no good deed is accepted. It is the key to Islam and the essence of all teachings in the religion.