La Ilah Illallah is not merely a chant whose chanting is considered as enough. But following conditions must be met for its acceptance by Allah the Almighty:
- One must be fully aware of its implications. Thus a true Muslim is one who comprehends the true meaning of this kalimah. Allah says:
فَاعْلَمْ أَنَّهُ لا إِلَهَ إِلاَّ اللَّهُ محمد: 19
“And know that there is no ilah but Allah” (Muhammad: 19).
- One should affirm it solemnly so much that there remains no doubt of falsehood, i.e. believe it from the depths of his heart. The Messenger of Allah (sallAllahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) said:
من قال لا إله إلا الله مصدقا بها قلبه دخل الجنة
(Translation of meaning) one who uttered the kalimah La Ilah Illallah by mouth and believed in it at heart he shall enter the Paradise (Muslim).
- One should earnestly affirm it, not hypocritically or just to show to others, but quit honestly and earnestly at heart. The Messenger of Allah (sallAllahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) said that:
من قال لا إله إلا الله مخلصا من قبله دخل الجنة البزار
(Translation of meaning) One who uttered La Ilah Illalah from the sincerity of his heart he shall enter the Paradise (Al-Bazzar).
- One should not only utter it but also recognize it and be prepared to fulfil all its requirements. Thus Abu Hurairah (RadhiAllahu Anhu) was told by the Messenger of Allah sallAllahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) that:
فَمَنْ لَقِيتَ مِنْ وَرَاءِ هَذَا الْحَائِطَ يَشْهَدُ أَنْ لَا إِلَهَ إِلَّا اللهُ مُسْتَيْقِنًا بِهَا قَلْبُهُ، فَبَشِّرْهُ بِالْجَنَّةِ مسلم
(Translation of meaning) Whosoever he meets outside this enclosure chanting La Ilah Illallah with full belief give him the good news of Paradise (Muslim).
- One should love this kalimah and its reciters as well as oppose its opposite kalimah and its adherents. This is the reason, why the reciters of kalimah love and listen to their brothers in faith and dislike the polytheists and the opponents of Allah. Allah says:
المؤمنون وَالْمُؤْمِنَاتُ بَعْضُهُمْ أَوْلِيَاءُ بَعْضٍ (71) التوبة: 71
(Translation of meaning) “The believing men and women are each other’s supporters” (Al-Taubah: 71).
A Muslim understands fully the requirements of this kalimah, keeps away from sinful acts, and with dedicated worship seeks the vicinity of Allah, carries out his commands whole-heartedly, and abides by his prohibitions. He also knows very well that La Ilah Illallah is the “Ism-i-Azam” [The Great Name of God]; that all prayers and supplications are accepted through this medium. Once the Messenger of Allah (sallAllahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) heard somebody as saying:
اللَّهُمَّ إِنِّي أَسْأَلُكَ بِأَنِّي أَشْهَدُ أَنَّكَ أَنْتَ اللَّهُ لا إِلَهَ إِلا أَنْتَ ، الأَحَدُ الصَّمَدُ الَّذِي لَمْ يَلِدْ ، وَلَمْ يُولَدْ ، ولَمْ يَكُنْ لَه كُفُوًا أَحَدٌ
(Translation of meaning) “O my God I pray to Thee on the strength of this testimony that Thou are Allah and that there is no god but you. You are the one, the insurmountable mountain who did not bear any nor was born of any nor was any one his co-equal”. The Messenger of Allah (sallAllahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) said, that by the entity, who owns my life this person has prayed with reference to the Ism-i-Azam and any prayer made with reference to the Ism-i-Azam is bound to be accepted (Tirmidhi). According to another narration the Messenger of Allah (sallAllahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) said: Ism-i-Azam is found in these two Ayats: وَإِلَهُكُمْ إِلَهٌ وَاحِدٌ لا إِلَهَ إِلاَّ هُوَ الرَّحْمَنُ الرَّحِيمُ
“Wa Ilahukum Ilahun Wahid La Ilaha Illa Hu arrahman-arrahim” and (2) the Ayat of Surah Al Imran:
اللَّهُ لا إِلَهَ إِلاَّ هُوَ الْحَيُّ الْقَيُّومُ الم ، “Alf-laam-meem. Allah la Ilah Illa Hu al-Hayy al–Qayyum” (Tirmidhi, Ibn Maja).
