The Virtue of The Phrase “There is no god but Allah”
Selections from the Book The Story of The Beginning of Creation and The Creation of Adam, peace be upon him …
Written by Dr. Ali Muhammad al-Sallabi...
Episode (2)
In the Book of Allah and the Sunnah of His Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him), there are numerous virtues, traits, and commendable qualities associated with this phrase that are difficult to fully enumerate here. It is the word by which the heavens and the earth were established, for which all creation was created. Through it, Allah sent His messengers, revealed His scriptures, and enacted His laws. For its sake, scales were set up, records were established, and the realms of Paradise and Hell were set. It is the criterion by which creation is divided into believers and disbelievers, the righteous and the wicked.
It is the foundation of creation and decree, reward and punishment. It is the truth for which creation was made, and about which questions and judgments are made. It establishes the direction of prayer, and is the basis of the religion. For its sake, the swords of jihad were drawn. It is Allah’s right upon all His servants.
It is the word of Islam, the key to the abode of peace. All people, past and present, will be questioned about it. A servant’s feet will not move on the Day of Judgment until they are asked two questions: What did you worship? And what did you respond to the messengers? The answer to the first is the true understanding, acknowledgment, and practice of "There is no god but Allah." The answer to the second is the true understanding, acknowledgment, and obedience to "Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah."
Among the virtues of this phrase mentioned in the Holy Qur'an is that it is described as the "good word" and the "firm saying," as Allah Almighty says: {Have you not considered how Allah presents an example, [making] a good word like a good tree, whose root is firmly fixed and its branches [high] in the sky? (24) It produces its fruit all the time, by permission of its Lord. And Allah presents examples for the people that perhaps they will be reminded. (25)} [Ibrahim: 24-25]. It is also described as the "the most trustworthy handhold" as Allah Almighty says: {So whoever disbelieves in taghut and believes in Allah has grasped the most trustworthy handhold with no break in it.} [Al-Baqarah: 256]. Among its virtues is that all the messengers were sent with it, bringing good news and warning, as Allah Almighty says: {And We sent not before you any messenger except We revealed to him that, "There is no deity except Me, so worship Me."} [Al-Anbya: 25]. These are just some of the many virtues mentioned in the Holy Qur'an.
As for the virtues of this phrase mentioned in the honorable Sunnah, there are many; we will mention some of them:
Among these virtues is that it is the best of the branches of faith. It has been reported from him (peace and blessings be upon him) that he said: "Faith has over seventy branches, the most excellent of which is the declaration that there is no god but Allah, and the humblest of which is the removal of what is injurious from the road".
Among its virtues is that jihad was established to exalt it. The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) said: "I have been ordered to fight against the people until they testify that there is none worthy of worship except Allah and that Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah, and until they establish the salah and pay the zakat. And if they do that then they will have gained protection from me for their lives and property, unless [they commit acts that are punishable] in Islam, and their reckoning will be with Allah".
Among its virtues is that it outweighs the records of sins. In the Hadith, Abdullah ibn Amr ibn al-As (may Allah be pleased with him) reported that the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) said: "Indeed Allah will distinguish a man from my Ummah before all of creation on the Day of Judgement. Ninety-nine scrolls will be laid out for him, each scroll is as far as the eye can see, then He will say: 'Do you deny any of this? Have those who recorded this wronged you?' He will say: 'No, O Lord!' He will say: Do you have an excuse?' He will say: 'No, O Lord!' So He will say: 'Rather you have a good deed with us, so you shall not be wronged today." Then He will bring out a card (Bitaqah); on it will be: "I testify to La Ilaha Illallah, and I testify that Muhammad is His servant and Messenger." He will say: 'Bring your scales.' He will say: 'O Lord! What good is this card next to these scrolls?' He will say: 'You shall not be wronged.' He said: 'The scrolls will be put on a pan (of the scale), and the card on (the other) pan: the scrolls will be light, and the card will be heavy, nothing is heavier than the Name of Allah".
Episode references:
- Ali Muhammad al-Sallabi, The Story of The Beginning of Creation and The Creation of Adam, peace be upon him, pp. 46-49.
- Sahih Muslim, Book of Faith, Chapter: Explaining the number of branches of faith, the best and least of them, the virtue of modesty, and its being part of faith, No.: (35).
- Sahih Al-Bukhari, Book of Faith, Chapter: (If they repent, establish prayer, and give zakat, then let them go), No.: (25).
- Al-Tirmidhi Jami’, Book of Faith, Chapter: What was said about the one who dies while bearing witness that there is no god but Allah, No.: (2639).
For further information and review of the sources for the article, see:
The Book of The Story of The Beginning of Creation and The Creation of Adam, peace be upon him on the official website of Sheikh Dr. Ali Muhammad al-Sallabi:
