The document discusses the meaning and importance of the Islamic declaration of faith "La ilaha illa-Allah", which means "there is no god but Allah". It explains that this declaration affirms the oneness of God and rejects the worship of anything other than Allah. The document also discusses how sincere belief in this concept establishes a complete system of worshipping only Allah and referring all matters to Him alone. It provides examples from the Quran and hadith of the Prophet Muhammad emphasizing the importance of uttering the declaration of faith, especially for those who are dying.

1. The Pillars of Islam and Iman.
By Sheikh Muhammad bin Jamil Zeno
Prepared by Ms Nabila Yaqub Khan

2. The meaning of Lailaha illa Allah
“None has the right to be
worshipped but Allah,”
It is the negation of the worship of
other than Allah.
It is affirmation of Allah alone:
There is only one God.

3. References
Allah says in Surah Muhammad verse 19:
 “So know that none has the right to be
worshipped but Allah….”
The Prophet said :
 “Whoever says La ilaha illa-Allah sincerely will
enter Paradise.”
(Sahih Al Jami)

4. A Person is sincere to La ilaha illa-
Allah when he:
Understands it
Acts according to its requirement
Invites others to it
Gives it precedence over all other
issues
Realizes that all man and Jinn are
created to worship Allah

5.  Allah’s Messenger said to his uncle Abu
Talib when he was dying:
“O uncle, say ‘ La ilaha illa-Allah’, a statement by which
I can plead on your behalf before Allah.’
But his uncle refused to say, ‘La ilaha illa-Allah’.”
( Al Bukhar, Al Muslim)

6. The Prophet
preached in Makkah for 13 years
and invited the pagans to ‘ La ilaha
illa-Allah’
Saying “Testify that none has the
right to be worshiped but Allah.”

7. The response of the people:
They wondered why the Warner sent
to them was a man from among
themselves.
The disbelievers called the Prophet
a sorcerer, a liar and a mad poet.
They thought that it was strange
that he made all the gods into Allah
(one God).

8. …..The Response of the People.
 The leaders of the Makkans told their people
to continue to worship their gods.
 They had not heard of the faith in Allah from
the later generations of their ancestors.
 They said it was an invention in their religion.
 They refused to say ‘ La ilaha illa-Allah’
because their pride.
 They asked each other not to give up their
gods for the sake of “a mad poet”.

9. The Prophet
said
 “Whoever says ‘ La ilaha illa-Allah’ and rejects
whatever is worshipped besides Allah, his
property and blood becomes sacred and his
reckoning (estimation of this eman and deeds
etc) is with Allah the Mighty and exalted.”
( Al Muslim)

10. A complete system of Life
 ‘ La ilaha illa-Allah’ is the foundation of tawhid and
Islam.
 It makes worship pure for Allah
 A believer calls upon Allah alone
 He refers all issues to Allah alone.
 He excludes all other systems of law.

11. The meaning of Ilah as explained
by the scholar Ibn Rajab:
 The one who is obeyed and not defied.
 Because of our sense of awe and
reverence, fear and hope.
 We place our trust in Him.
 Ask Him and supplicate to Him alone.
 If someone does the above mentioned to
anyone other than Allah, he is not
sincere to ‘ La ilaha illa-Allah’

12. The last words of a Dying Person
The Prophet said:
 “Urge those of you who are in their death
beds to say ‘ La ilaha illa-Allah’; for
verily, whoever’s last words are ‘ La ilaha
illa-Allah’ , will eventually enter Paradise
even if he has to go through whatever he
has to go through.”
(Ibn Hibban in his Sahih)

13. …The last words of a Dying Person
Allah’s Messenge visited a
(dying) man of Ansar and said to him, “Uncle
say ‘ La ilaha illa-Allah’. The ansari asked, “Do
you consider me maternal uncle or paternal
uncle?” The Prophet (may peace be upon him
) said , “A maternal uncle”. The man
said, “Then it is better for me to say ‘ La ilaha
illa-Allah’.
He replied, ‘Yes’.”
(Reported by Ahmed)

14. The words ‘ La ilaha illa-Allah’ will
benefit the one who:
Confirms the meaning of ‘ La ilaha illa-
Allah’ in his life.
Does not nullify it by associating partners
with Allah.
Does not supplicate to the dead.
Does not call upon the living that is
absent.
Such acts nullify are ‘ La ilaha illa-Allah’ just
as wudu is by urination etc.

15. The Prophet said:
“Whoever says, ‘ La ilaha illa-Allah’
it will be his salvation someday no
matter what befalls him before
that.”
( Reported by Baihaqi in Ahadith Sahiha)

16. CW/ HW: Review
 What is the meaning of ‘ La ilaha illa-Allah
 What is the importance of ‘ La ilaha illa-Allah’
in Islam?
 What is the meaning of Illah as explained by
Ibn Rajab?
 Who would be able to benefit from ‘ La ilaha
illa-Allah’?
 What should we urge a dying person to say
explain with the help of ahadith?