2 Sharʿi Evidences Regarding the Wording of the Kalimah Tayyibah
Derived from: Fatawa Arkan-e-Islam
الحمد لله، والصلاة والسلام علىٰ رسول الله، أما بعد!
Is the complete phrase “Lā ilāha illā Allāh Muḥammadur Rasūlullāh” found in any Hadith as it is?
The exact combined wording of the Kalimah Tayyibah —
"لَا إِلٰهَ إِلَّا اللّٰهُ مُحَمَّدٌ رَسُوْلُ اللّٰهِ"
— is not recorded verbatim in a single Hadith.
Rather, this is a concise form of the fuller declaration:
“أشهد أن لا إله إلا الله وأشهد أن محمدًا عبده ورسوله”
which comprehensively affirms Allah’s oneness and the Prophethood of Muhammad ﷺ.
The Prophet ﷺ said:
"أمرت أن أقاتل الناس حتى يقولوا لا إله إلا الله، فإذا قالوها عصموا مني دماءهم وأموالهم..."
(al-Muʿjam al-Awsaṭ: 6/215)
Translation:
“I have been commanded to fight the people until they say: ‘Lā ilāha illā Allāh.’ When they say it, they protect from me their lives and property...”
This Hadith clearly shows that the Prophet ﷺ regarded the Tawḥīd portion of the Kalimah — Lā ilāha illā Allāh — as the essential declaration of faith.
"لَا إِلٰهَ إِلَّا اللّٰهُ مُحَمَّدٌ رَسُوْلُ اللّٰهِ"
It is implicitly understood as:
“(أشهد أن) لا إله إلا الله (وأشهد أن) محمد رسول الله”
— with the verbs “I bear witness” mentally present and understood by both the speaker and listener.
✔ This method is consistent with Qur’anic style, where ellipses (محذوف) are often implied in the language.
✔ The aforementioned Hadith also contains implied rulings, though not explicitly stated in words.
Therefore, saying:
“Lā ilāha illā Allāh Muḥammadur Rasūlullāh”
is completely correct and valid.
Note:
In Ṣalāh, during at-Taḥiyyāt, it is necessary to pronounce the full wording precisely as prescribed, without omission or addition.
“Lā ilāha illā Allāh” is a valid and sufficient summary of the Kalimah.
وبالله التوفيق
Derived from: Fatawa Arkan-e-Islam
الحمد لله، والصلاة والسلام علىٰ رسول الله، أما بعد!
❖ Question:
Is the complete phrase “Lā ilāha illā Allāh Muḥammadur Rasūlullāh” found in any Hadith as it is?
Answer:
The exact combined wording of the Kalimah Tayyibah —
"لَا إِلٰهَ إِلَّا اللّٰهُ مُحَمَّدٌ رَسُوْلُ اللّٰهِ"
— is not recorded verbatim in a single Hadith.
Rather, this is a concise form of the fuller declaration:
“أشهد أن لا إله إلا الله وأشهد أن محمدًا عبده ورسوله”
which comprehensively affirms Allah’s oneness and the Prophethood of Muhammad ﷺ.
✦ Evidence ①: Hadith Mentioning “Lā ilāha illā Allāh”
◈ Narration of Abu Hurairah رضي الله عنه:
The Prophet ﷺ said:
"أمرت أن أقاتل الناس حتى يقولوا لا إله إلا الله، فإذا قالوها عصموا مني دماءهم وأموالهم..."
(al-Muʿjam al-Awsaṭ: 6/215)
Translation:
“I have been commanded to fight the people until they say: ‘Lā ilāha illā Allāh.’ When they say it, they protect from me their lives and property...”
This Hadith clearly shows that the Prophet ﷺ regarded the Tawḥīd portion of the Kalimah — Lā ilāha illā Allāh — as the essential declaration of faith.✦ Evidence ②: Linguistic and Juristic Validity
➤ Based on
- In Arabic (as in many languages), certain words are understood to be implied (محذوف).
- Example:
The phrase “بِسْمِ اللَّهِ الرَّحْمَٰنِ الرَّحِيمِ” is understood as:
“I begin in the name of Allah...”
Although the verb “I begin” does not appear in the Arabic, it is mentally acknowledged.
- Similarly, when someone says:
"لَا إِلٰهَ إِلَّا اللّٰهُ مُحَمَّدٌ رَسُوْلُ اللّٰهِ"
It is implicitly understood as:
“(أشهد أن) لا إله إلا الله (وأشهد أن) محمد رسول الله”
— with the verbs “I bear witness” mentally present and understood by both the speaker and listener.
✔ This method is consistent with Qur’anic style, where ellipses (محذوف) are often implied in the language.
✔ The aforementioned Hadith also contains implied rulings, though not explicitly stated in words.
Therefore, saying:
“Lā ilāha illā Allāh Muḥammadur Rasūlullāh”
is completely correct and valid.
Note:
In Ṣalāh, during at-Taḥiyyāt, it is necessary to pronounce the full wording precisely as prescribed, without omission or addition.
✦ Scholarly Consensus (Ijmāʿ)
- There is unanimous agreement among the scholars of the Ummah that:
“Lā ilāha illā Allāh” is a valid and sufficient summary of the Kalimah.
- No credible scholar is reported to have objected to this formulation.
- Hence, the usage of this phrase is permissible, established, and legislated (mashrūʿ wa jāʾiz).
وبالله التوفيق
