Narrated from Sayyiduna Abu Huraira (may Allah be pleased with him) that the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) said: Faith has sixty-four branches, the highest and most superior of them is "La ilaha illallah" (There is no god but Allah), and the lowest is removing something harmful from the path.
Hadith Referenceالفتح الربانی / كتاب الأذكار والدعوات / 5422
Hadith Gradingمحدثین:صحیح
Hadith Takhrij«أخرجه البخاري: 9، ومسلم: 35، (انظر مسند أحمد ترقيم الرسالة: 8926 ترقیم بيت الأفكار الدولية: 8913»
Brief Explanation
Benefits: … "La ilaha illallah," which is the most superior branch of faith, establishes the oneness of divinity (tawhid al-uluhiyyah), meaning that there is only one true and rightful deity for all those who dwell in the universe, whose name is Allah. All other deities conceived of in the world are baseless, powerless, without authority, without reality, and false. For the virtue of this statement (kalimah), see Hadith number (5430).