Learn the seven conditions of La ilaha illa Allah based on the Quran, Sunnah, and the understanding of the Salaf.
Praise be to Allah, and blessings and peace be upon the Messenger of Allah, his family, and his companions.
The testimony of faith, La ilaha illa Allah (There is no deity worthy of worship except Allah), is the foundation of Islam. However, merely pronouncing these words is not sufficient. The scholars have explained that this testimony has conditions which must be fulfilled for it to benefit a person.
Shaykh Hafiz al-Hakami (رحمه الله) summarized these conditions in his famous poem:
“Knowledge, certainty, submission and following.
So listen to what I say.
Truthfulness, sincerity and love.
May Allah help you to do that which He loves.”
Sullam al-Wusul
1. Knowledge (العلم)
The first condition is knowledge of what La ilaha illa Allah negates and what it affirms. A person must understand that all worship belongs to Allah alone and that every false deity besides Him must be rejected.
“So know (O Muhammad ﷺ) that La ilaha illa Allah (none has the right to be worshipped but Allah).”
Qur'an, Surah Muhammad 47:19
“Except for those who bear witness to the truth knowingly, and they know.”
Qur'an, Surah Az-Zukhruf 43:86
“Whoever dies knowing that there is no god except Allah will enter Paradise.”
Sahih Muslim 26
2. Certainty (اليقين)
The second condition is certainty. A Muslim must believe in this testimony with complete conviction and without any doubt.
“Only those are the believers who have believed in Allah and His Messenger, and afterward doubt not...”
Qur'an, Surah Al-Hujurat 49:15
“Bear witness that there is no god except Allah and that I am the Messenger of Allah, for no person meets Allah with these two, not doubting in them, but he will enter Paradise.”
Sahih Muslim 27
“Whoever you meet behind this wall who bears witness that there is no god except Allah, believing in it with certainty in his heart, then give him the glad tidings of Paradise.”
Sahih Muslim 31
3. Acceptance (القبول)
The third condition is acceptance of everything implied by La ilaha illa Allah, both inwardly and outwardly.
“Truly, when it was said to them: La ilaha illa Allah, they puffed themselves up with pride.”
Qur'an, Surah As-Saffat 37:35
Allah condemned the disbelievers because they refused to accept the truth and arrogantly rejected Tawhid.
“Has he made the gods all into One God? Verily, this is a curious thing!”
Qur'an, Surah Sad 38:5
“Nay! He (Muhammad ﷺ) has come with the truth and he confirms the Messengers.”
Qur'an, Surah As-Saffat 37:37
“The guidance and knowledge with which Allah has sent me is like abundant rain which falls on the land...”
Sahih al-Bukhari 79; Sahih Muslim 2282
The one who accepts and acts upon divine guidance benefits from it, whereas the one who rejects it gains nothing.
4. Submission and Following (الانقياد)
The fourth condition is complete submission to Allah and obedience to His commands.
“And whosoever submits his face to Allah while he is a Muhsin, then he has grasped the most trustworthy handhold.”
Qur'an, Surah Luqman 31:22
The most trustworthy handhold mentioned in this verse refers to La ilaha illa Allah.
“None of you truly believes until his desire is in accordance with that which I have brought.”
Reported by al-Nawawi in Al-Arba'in; authenticated by several scholars
True faith requires obedience and following the guidance of Prophet Muhammad ﷺ.
5. Truthfulness (الصدق)
The fifth condition is truthfulness. A person must sincerely believe in his heart what he says with his tongue.
“Do people think that they will be left alone because they say: ‘We believe,’ and will not be tested?”
Qur'an, Surah Al-'Ankabut 29:2-3
“And of mankind are some who say: ‘We believe in Allah and the Last Day,’ while in fact they believe not.”
Qur'an, Surah Al-Baqarah 2:8
“There is no one who bears witness that there is no god except Allah and that Muhammad is His slave and Messenger, sincerely from the heart, but Allah will make him forbidden for the Fire.”
Sahih al-Bukhari 128; Sahih Muslim 32
6. Sincerity (الإخلاص)
The sixth condition is sincerity. Worship must be directed to Allah alone without any form of shirk.
“Surely, the religion is for Allah only.”
Qur'an, Surah Az-Zumar 39:3
“Allah Alone I worship by doing religious deeds sincerely for His sake only.”
Qur'an, Surah Az-Zumar 39:14
“The most deserving of my intercession are those who say La ilaha illa Allah sincerely from the heart.”
Sahih al-Bukhari 99
7. Love (المحبة)
The seventh condition is love for this testimony, love for what it implies, love for Allah, and love for those who adhere to Tawhid.
“And of mankind are some who take others besides Allah as rivals. They love them as they love Allah. But those who believe are stronger in their love for Allah.”
Qur'an, Surah Al-Baqarah 2:165
“No one of you truly believes until I am more beloved to him than his son, his father and all of mankind.”
Sahih al-Bukhari 15; Sahih Muslim 44
True faith is inseparable from sincere love for Allah and His Messenger ﷺ.
Summary
The conditions of La ilaha illa Allah are:
- Knowledge
- Certainty
- Acceptance
- Submission and Following
- Truthfulness
- Sincerity
- Love
Whoever fulfills these conditions inwardly and outwardly has truly realized the meaning of La ilaha illa Allah and has grasped the firmest handhold that never breaks.
And Allah the Exalted knows best.
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