I)
The Conditions of ‘La ilaha illAllah’
La ilaha illAllah has seven conditions. The testification (Shahaadah) does not benefit the one who merely utters the testification, unless he fulfils all seven conditions;
1. Knowledge that negates ignorance
2. Certainty that negates doubt
3. Acceptance that negates rejection
4. Submission that negates abandonment
5. Sincerity that negates Shirk (associating partners with Allah)
6. Truthfulness that negates Falsehood (meaning hypocrisy)
7. Love that negates its opposite, which is hatred
The explanation of these seven conditions is as follows:
The First Condition: Knowledge: Knowledge of the meaning of the testification and its intent, for example, what the testimony negates and what it affirms - a knowledge that negates ignorance. Allah says, “except those who bear witness to the truth, and they know…” [Soorah az-Zukhruf (43): 86]
'those who bear witness,' means they witness, 'La ilaha illAllah,' 'and they know,' by their hearts what they witnessed by their tongues. So, he who utters it but does not have the knowledge of it, then the testimony will not benefit him, because he did not believe in the intent of testification.
The Second Condition: Certainty: The testifier should be certain of the meaning of the testification for, if he doubts in it then the testimony will not benefit him. Allah says, “Only those are the believers who have believed in Allah and His Messenger, and afterward doubt not…” [Soorah al-Hujurat (49): 15]
So, if he doubts, then he is a hypocrite. Allah's Messenger (sallalalhu alaihi wa-sallam) said, “Whoever you meet behind this wall testifying 'La ilaha illAllah,' with certainty in his heart, then give him the glad tiding of Jannah.” [Saheeh al-Bukharee] Thus, he who does not have certainty in his heart does not deserve to enter Jannah.
The Third Condition: Acceptance: Acceptance of what the testimony necessitates like, worshiping Allah alone, and abandoning the worship of other than Him. Because, he, who utters the testimony but does not accept it and does not adhere to it, then he is from among those regarding whom Allah says, “Truly, when it was said to them, 'La ilaha ill-Allah', they puffed themselves up with pride (i.e. denied it). And (they) said, 'Are we going to abandon our aaliha (those which are worshipped) for the sake of a mad poet?” [Soorah as-Saaffaat (37): 35-36] This is the situation of many people today; they say, 'La ilaha illAllah,' but do not refrain from worshiping others besides Allah (like making dua, seeking aid, etc) and thus, they are not accepting the meaning of, 'La ilaha illAllah.'
La ilaha illAllah has seven conditions. The testification (Shahaadah) does not benefit the one who merely utters the testification, unless he fulfils all seven conditions;
1. Knowledge that negates ignorance
2. Certainty that negates doubt
3. Acceptance that negates rejection
4. Submission that negates abandonment
5. Sincerity that negates Shirk (associating partners with Allah)
6. Truthfulness that negates Falsehood (meaning hypocrisy)
7. Love that negates its opposite, which is hatred
The explanation of these seven conditions is as follows:
The First Condition: Knowledge: Knowledge of the meaning of the testification and its intent, for example, what the testimony negates and what it affirms - a knowledge that negates ignorance. Allah says, “except those who bear witness to the truth, and they know…” [Soorah az-Zukhruf (43): 86]
'those who bear witness,' means they witness, 'La ilaha illAllah,' 'and they know,' by their hearts what they witnessed by their tongues. So, he who utters it but does not have the knowledge of it, then the testimony will not benefit him, because he did not believe in the intent of testification.
The Second Condition: Certainty: The testifier should be certain of the meaning of the testification for, if he doubts in it then the testimony will not benefit him. Allah says, “Only those are the believers who have believed in Allah and His Messenger, and afterward doubt not…” [Soorah al-Hujurat (49): 15]
So, if he doubts, then he is a hypocrite. Allah's Messenger (sallalalhu alaihi wa-sallam) said, “Whoever you meet behind this wall testifying 'La ilaha illAllah,' with certainty in his heart, then give him the glad tiding of Jannah.” [Saheeh al-Bukharee] Thus, he who does not have certainty in his heart does not deserve to enter Jannah.
The Third Condition: Acceptance: Acceptance of what the testimony necessitates like, worshiping Allah alone, and abandoning the worship of other than Him. Because, he, who utters the testimony but does not accept it and does not adhere to it, then he is from among those regarding whom Allah says, “Truly, when it was said to them, 'La ilaha ill-Allah', they puffed themselves up with pride (i.e. denied it). And (they) said, 'Are we going to abandon our aaliha (those which are worshipped) for the sake of a mad poet?” [Soorah as-Saaffaat (37): 35-36] This is the situation of many people today; they say, 'La ilaha illAllah,' but do not refrain from worshiping others besides Allah (like making dua, seeking aid, etc) and thus, they are not accepting the meaning of, 'La ilaha illAllah.'
The
Fourth Condition: Submission: Submitting to what
the testimony indicates. Allah says, “And whosoever submits his face (himself)
to Allah, while he is a Muhsin (doer of good) then he has grasped the
most trustworthy handhold…” [Soorah Luqmaan (31):22]
The most trustworthy handhold is, 'La ilaha illAllah,' and the meaning of, 'submits his face,' is sincere submission to Allah.
The Fifth Condition: Truthfulness: To witness the testimony with truthfulness in one's heart. He, who utters the testimony while his heart is not certain about its truthfulness, then he is a lying hypocrite. Allah says, “And of mankind, there are some (hypocrites) who say, 'We believe in Allah and the Last Day' while in fact, they believe not. They (think to) deceive Allah and those who believe, while they only deceive themselves, and perceive (it) not! In their hearts is a disease (of doubt and hypocrisy) and Allah has increased their disease. A painful torment is theirs because they used to tell lies.”
The most trustworthy handhold is, 'La ilaha illAllah,' and the meaning of, 'submits his face,' is sincere submission to Allah.
The Fifth Condition: Truthfulness: To witness the testimony with truthfulness in one's heart. He, who utters the testimony while his heart is not certain about its truthfulness, then he is a lying hypocrite. Allah says, “And of mankind, there are some (hypocrites) who say, 'We believe in Allah and the Last Day' while in fact, they believe not. They (think to) deceive Allah and those who believe, while they only deceive themselves, and perceive (it) not! In their hearts is a disease (of doubt and hypocrisy) and Allah has increased their disease. A painful torment is theirs because they used to tell lies.”
[Al-Baqarah
(2): 8-10]
The Sixth Condition: Sincerity: It is purification of the action from all blemishes of Shirk, such that one does not utter it for the pleasures of the world, showing off or fame as is known from the authentic Hadeeth, “Allah has prohibited the Fire for the one, who says, 'La ilaha illAllah' seeking by it, the face of Allah.” [Bukhari & Muslim]
The Seventh Condition: Love: Love for the testimony, its intent and those who act upon its prerequisites. Allah says, “And of mankind are some who take (for worship) others besides Allah as rivals (to Allah). They love them as they love Allah. But those who believe love Allah more (than anything else)” [Soorah al-Baqarah (2):165] So, the people of, 'La ilaha illAllah' love Allah with sincere love while the people of Shirk love Him just as they love others besides Him and this negates the prerequisites of La ilaha illAllah.
The Sixth Condition: Sincerity: It is purification of the action from all blemishes of Shirk, such that one does not utter it for the pleasures of the world, showing off or fame as is known from the authentic Hadeeth, “Allah has prohibited the Fire for the one, who says, 'La ilaha illAllah' seeking by it, the face of Allah.” [Bukhari & Muslim]
The Seventh Condition: Love: Love for the testimony, its intent and those who act upon its prerequisites. Allah says, “And of mankind are some who take (for worship) others besides Allah as rivals (to Allah). They love them as they love Allah. But those who believe love Allah more (than anything else)” [Soorah al-Baqarah (2):165] So, the people of, 'La ilaha illAllah' love Allah with sincere love while the people of Shirk love Him just as they love others besides Him and this negates the prerequisites of La ilaha illAllah.
II)
The Conditions of 'Muhammadur-Rasoolullah'
1.
Affirming his (sallalalhu alaihi wa-sallam) Prophet hood and having
faith in it inwardly within the heart.
2.
Verbally declaring it and affirming it outwardly through the tongue.
3.
Following him by acting upon the truth he came with, and refraining from the
evil that he has forbidden.
4.
Believing in what he has informed about - from the unseen of the past and the
future.
5.
Loving him more than oneself, wealth, children, parents and the whole of
humanity.
6.
Giving precedence to his saying over everybody, and acting upon his Sunnah.
“Say
(O Muhammad SAW): O mankind! Verily,
I am sent to you all as the Messenger of Allâh - to Whom belongs the dominion
of the heavens and the earth. Lâ ilâha illa Huwa (none has the right to
be worshipped but He); It is He Who gives life and causes death. So believe in
Allâh and His Messenger (Muhammad SAW)…” [Soorah A’raaf (7): 158]
The Conditions of Shahaadah- Testimony of Faith