By
Major M. Y. Babangida
Praise be to Allah. We praise Him, seek His help, and seek His forgiveness. We repent to Him and seek refuge in Allah from the evils of our souls and from our bad deeds. Whomever Allah guides, none can misguide; and whomever He allows to go astray, none can guide.
I bear witness that there is no god but Allah alone, without a partner, and I bear witness that Muhammad is His servant and Messenger. May the peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, his family, and his noble companions.
To proceed, O servants of Allah, I enjoin you and myself to fear Allah as He has commanded — to obey Him and not disobey Him, to remember Him often and be grateful to Him, for remembrance brings life to the heart and light to the soul.
Allah the Almighty says: “O you who have believed, remember Allah with much remembrance, and exalt Him morning and evening.” (Al-Ahzab 33:41-42)
He also says: “And when you have completed the prayer, remember Allah standing, sitting, and [lying] on your sides.” (An-Nisa’ 4:103)
*THE EXCELLENCE OF DHIKR (Remembrance of Allah)*
All acts of obedience are forms of remembrance of Allah, whether with the tongue, the heart, or the limbs. Yet, the most frequent and accessible remembrance is that done with the tongue, for it can be done in all states: standing or sitting, walking or riding, awake or resting.
Among all forms of dhikr, the best and most virtuous is the statement:
“Lā ilāha illā Allāh” — “There is no god but Allah.”
The Prophet peace be upon him said: “The best thing that I and the Prophets before me have said is: Lā ilāha illallāh, waḥdahu lā sharīka lah, lahu’l-mulk wa lahu’l-ḥamd, wa huwa ‘alā kulli shay’in qadīr.” (Narrated by Malik and others)
This short yet mighty phrase is light on the tongue but heavy on the scales. It is the word of truth and the foundation of Islam.
*THE GREATNESS OF “Lā ilāha illā Allāh”*
This statement is not merely a word said by the tongue. It is the word upon which the heavens and the earth were established, for which Allah created all creatures, sent His Messengers, revealed His Books, and legislated His laws. Because of it, people are divided into believers and disbelievers; by it, reward and punishment are determined. It is the key to Paradise, the word of sincerity (kalimat al-ikhlāṣ), the word of piety (kalimat al-taqwā), and the firmest handhold (al-‘urwah al-wuthqā).
The Prophet peace be upon him said: “Allah has forbidden the Fire to anyone who says, ‘There is no god but Allah,’ seeking thereby Allah’s pleasure.” (Narrated by al-Bukhārī and Muslim)
IT'S IMMENSE WEIGHT
In an authentic narration, the Prophet peace be upon him said that Mūsā (peace be upon him) said: “O Lord, teach me something by which I may remember You and supplicate You.”
Allah said: “O Mūsā, say: Lā ilāha illā Allāh.”
He said: “O Lord, all Your servants say that.”
Allah said: “O Mūsā, if the seven heavens and all within them, and the seven earths as well, were put in one side of a scale, and Lā ilāha illā Allāh were placed on the other, Lā ilāha illā Allāh would outweigh them all.” (Narrated by Ibn Ḥibbān and al-Ḥākim, who authenticated it.)
*ITS TWO PILLARS: NEGATION AND AFFIRMATION*
This noble statement rests on two pillars:
NEGATION (NAFY): Denying all false gods and rejecting worship of anything besides Allah, “Lā ilāha” (There is no god).
AFFIRMATION (ITHBĀT): Affirming that worship, lordship, and divinity belong solely to Allah, “illā Allāh” (but Allah).
Thus, it means disavowal of polytheism and devotion of all worship to Allah alone. This is the message of Ibrāhīm (peace be upon him), as Allah says:
“Indeed, I am free from what you worship, except for He who created me, and indeed, He will guide me.” (Az-Zukhruf 43:26-27)
And He says: “Whoever disbelieves in Tāghūt and believes in Allah has grasped the most trustworthy handhold that will never break.” (Al-Baqarah 2:256)
WHAT “LĀ ILĀHA ILLĀ ALLĀH” REQUIRES
O servants of Allah, saying this phrase sincerely means rejecting all forms of shirk and devoting one’s worship entirely to Allah. Praying, fasting, supplicating, sacrificing, relying, fearing, and loving only for His sake.
Whoever says it with his tongue but violates its meaning by calling upon the dead, circumambulating graves, or seeking help from saints and righteous people has not fulfilled its requirements. Such acts are forms of shirk, whether directed at idols or graves.
The true meaning of “Lā ilāha illā Allāh” is to abandon all worship of anything besides Allah and to submit fully to His commands and laws.
JUDGING BY THE LAW OF ALLAH
Part of the requirements of this statement is to judge by the law of Allah, to permit what He has permitted, and to forbid what He has forbidden. No created being has the right to legislate or command in defiance of Allah’s commands.
Allah says:“Or have they partners who have legislated for them in religion that which Allah has not permitted?” (Ash-Shūrā 42:21)
And He says: “And if you obey them, indeed you are polytheists.” (Al-An‘ām 6:121)
He also says: “They have taken their rabbis and monks as lords besides Allah, and [also] the Messiah, the son of Mary; while they were commanded to worship none but One God. There is no deity except Him; exalted is He above what they associate with Him.” (At-Tawbah 9:31)
Finally, O believers, understand that “Lā ilāha illā Allāh” is not a mere phrase, it is a covenant between you and your Lord. Whoever fulfills its meaning will find safety, peace, and Paradise. But whoever neglects its conditions and acts against its requirements will not benefit from its utterance.
So renew your faith, purify your hearts from shirk, and live by the true meaning of “Lā ilāha illā Allāh”, through sincerity in worship, obedience to Allah, and adherence to His law.
Praise be to Allah, the Lord of the Worlds. I bear witness that there is no god but Allah, and I bear witness that Muhammad is His servant and Messenger.
O Allah, make us among those who live and die upon “Lā ilāha illā Allāh.”
O Allah, purify our hearts from hypocrisy and our deeds from showing off.
O Allah, forgive the believers, men and women, the living and the dead.
O Allah, grant success, guidance, and wisdom to our leaders, and make them rule by Your Book and the Sunnah of Your Prophet peace be upon him,. O Allah, grant us beneficial knowledge, pure sustenance, and accepted deeds.
Indeed, Allah commands justice, good conduct, and giving to relatives, and forbids immorality, bad conduct, and oppression. He admonishes you that perhaps you will be reminded. (An-Nahl 16:90)
Remember Allah much, and He will remember you; be grateful to Him, and He will increase you. And the remembrance of Allah is greater, and Allah knows what you do.
Major M. Y. Babangida writes from the office of the Chief Imam, 4-Brigade Central Mosque Benin City, Edo State.
