✿ Forty Authentic Hadiths on the Virtue of
✍ Written by: Abu Hamzah Abdul Khaliq Siddiqi
إن الحمد لله نحمده، ونستعينه، من يهده الله فلا مضل له، ومن يضلل فلا هادي له ، وأشهد أن لا إله إلا الله وحده لا شريك له، وأن محمداً عبده ورسوله. أما بعد:
The Most Excellent Remembrance is “Lā Ilāha Illā Allāh”
قَالَ اللهُ تَعَالَى:
﴿قُلْ إِنَّمَا أَنَا بَشَرٌ مِّثْلُكُمْ يُوحَىٰ إِلَيَّ أَنَّمَا إِلَٰهُكُمْ إِلَٰهٌ وَاحِدٌ فَاسْتَقِيمُوا إِلَيْهِ وَاسْتَغْفِرُوهُ ۗ وَوَيْلٌ لِّلْمُشْرِكِينَ﴾

Translation:
Allah Almighty said: “Say, ‘I am only a human being like you; it has been revealed to me that your God is One God. So stand upright before Him and seek His forgiveness. And woe to the polytheists.’”
Hadith 1: The Best Form of Dhikr
«عن جابر بن عبد الله رضي الله عنهما يقول: سمعت رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم يقول: أفضل الذكر لا إله إلا الله، وأفضل الدعاء الحمد لله»

Translation:
Jābir bin ʿAbdullāh رضي الله عنهما reported: I heard the Messenger of Allah ﷺ say:
“The best remembrance (dhikr) is ‘Lā Ilāha Illā Allāh’, and the best supplication (duʿāʾ) is ‘Al-ḥamdu lillāh.’”
The Declaration Opens the Gates of Heaven
Hadith 2
«وعن أبى هريرة رضي الله عنه قال: قال رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم: ما قال عبد لا إله إلا الله قط مخلصا، إلا فتحت له أبواب السماء ، حتى تفضي إلى العرش ما اجتنب الكبائر»

Translation:
Abū Hurairah رضي الله عنه reported that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said:
“When a servant sincerely says ‘Lā Ilāha Illā Allāh,’ the gates of the heavens are opened for it until it reaches the Throne — provided that he avoids the major sins.”
Knowledge Before Action
قَالَ اللهُ تَعَالَى:
﴿فَاعْلَمْ أَنَّهُ لَا إِلَٰهَ إِلَّا اللَّهُ﴾

Translation:
Allah Almighty said: “Know, therefore, that there is no deity worthy of worship except Allah.”
Hadith 3
«وعن عثمان قال: قال رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم: من مات وهو يعلم أن لا إله إلا الله دخل الجنة»

Translation:
ʿUthmān رضي الله عنه reported that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said:
“Whoever dies knowing that ‘Lā Ilāha Illā Allāh’ — that none has the right to be worshiped except Allah — shall enter Paradise.”
Lā Ilāha Illā Allāh — A Means to Ultimate Success
Hadith 4
«وعن ربيعة بن عباد من بني الديل وكان جاهليا، قال: رأيت النبى صلى الله عليه وسلم فى الجاهلية فى سوق ذي المجاز وهو يقول: يا أيها الناس قولوا: لا إله إلا الله تفلحوا»

Translation:
Rabīʿah bin ʿAbbād al-Dīlī رضي الله عنه said: “I saw the Prophet ﷺ in the pre-Islamic period at the market of Dhū al-Majāz saying:
‘O people! Say Lā Ilāha Illā Allāh and you will be successful.’”
The Universal Call to Lā Ilāha Illā Allāh
قَالَ اللهُ تَعَالَى:
﴿قُلْ مَا كُنتُ بِدْعًا مِّنَ الرُّسُلِ وَمَا أَدْرِي مَا يُفْعَلُ بِي وَلَا بِكُمْ ۖ إِنْ أَتَّبِعُ إِلَّا مَا يُوحَىٰ إِلَيَّ وَمَا أَنَا إِلَّا نَذِيرٌ مُّبِينٌ﴾

Translation:
Allah Almighty said: “Say, ‘I am not a new thing among the messengers, nor do I know what will be done with me or with you. I only follow what is revealed to me, and I am only a clear warner.’”
Hadith 5
«وعن ابن عباس أن معاذا قال: بعثني رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم قال: إنك تأتي قوما من أهل الكتاب فادعهم إلى شهادة أن لا إله إلا الله وانى رسول الله، فإن هم أطاعوا لذلك فأعلمهم أن الله افترض عليهم خمس صلوات فى كل يوم وليلة... »

Translation:
Ibn ʿAbbās رضي الله عنهما reported: The Messenger of Allah ﷺ sent Muʿādh bin Jabal رضي الله عنه to Yemen and said:
“You are going to a people from among the People of the Book. First invite them to testify that there is no deity but Allah and that I am the Messenger of Allah. If they accept this, then inform them that Allah has enjoined upon them five prayers every day and night...”
(Full narration continues as in the references.)
Protection of Life and Property through Lā Ilāha Illā Allāh
Hadith 6
«وعن أبى هريرة أخبره أن رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم قال: أمرت أن أقاتل الناس حتى يقولوا: لا إله إلا الله، فمن قال لا إله إلا الله عصم منى ماله ، ونفسه ، إلا بحقه، وحسابه على الله»

Translation:
Abū Hurairah رضي الله عنه reported that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said:
“I have been commanded to fight the people until they say ‘Lā Ilāha Illā Allāh.’ Whoever says it, his life and property are protected from me — except for a right due — and his reckoning is with Allah.”
Bearing Witness with Sincerity of Heart
قَالَ اللهُ تَعَالَى:
﴿فَادْعُوا اللَّهَ مُخْلِصِينَ لَهُ الدِّينَ وَلَوْ كَرِهَ الْكَافِرُونَ﴾

Translation:
“Call upon Allah, devoting the religion sincerely to Him, even though the disbelievers detest it.”
Hadith 7
«وعن معاذ قال: سمعت رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم يقول: من شهد أن لا إله إلا الله مخلصا من قلبه دخل الجنة»

Translation:
Muʿādh رضي الله عنه reported that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said:
“Whoever bears witness that there is no deity except Allah, sincerely from his heart, shall enter Paradise.”
Testifying with Truthful Conviction
قَالَ اللهُ تَعَالَى:
﴿وَالَّذِي جَاءَ بِالصِّدْقِ وَصَدَّقَ بِهِ ۙ أُولَٰئِكَ هُمُ الْمُتَّقُونَ﴾

Translation:
“And he who brings the truth and confirms it — it is they who are the righteous.”
Hadith 8
«وعنه رضي الله عنه قال: قال رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم: ما من أحد يشهد أن لا إله إلا الله ، وأن محمدا رسول الله صدقا من قلبه إلا حرمه الله على النار»

Translation:
Muʿādh رضي الله عنه reported that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said:
“No one testifies sincerely from his heart that ‘There is no deity but Allah, and Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah,’ except that Allah makes the Fire forbidden for him.”
Uttering Lā Ilāha Illā Allāh for the Sake of Allah’s Pleasure
قَالَ اللهُ تَعَالَى:
﴿وَمَا لِأَحَدٍ عِندَهُ مِن نِّعْمَةٍ تُجْزَىٰ۔ إِلَّا ابْتِغَاءَ وَجْهِ رَبِّهِ الْأَعْلَىٰ۔ وَلَسَوْفَ يَرْضَىٰ۔﴾

Translation:
“He has no favor from anyone to be repaid; rather, he seeks only the Face of his Lord, the Most High — and surely, he will be satisfied.”
Hadith 9
«وعن محمود ابن الربيع الأنصاري أن عتبان ابن مالك ... فقال له رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم: فإن الله حرم على النار من قال لا إله إلا الله ، يبتغي بذلك وجه الله»

Translation:
Maqmūd bin al-Rabīʿ رضي الله عنه narrated from ʿItbān bin Mālik رضي الله عنه that the Prophet ﷺ said:
“Allah has made the Fire forbidden for the one who says ‘Lā Ilāha Illā Allāh,’ seeking thereby only the pleasure of Allah.”
The Declaration Earns the Prophet’s Intercession
قَالَ اللهُ تَعَالَى:
﴿اللَّهُ لَا إِلَٰهَ إِلَّا هُوَ الْحَيُّ الْقَيُّومُ...﴾

Translation:
“Allah! There is no deity but He, the Ever-Living, the Sustainer of all. Neither slumber nor sleep overtakes Him... Who is it that can intercede with Him except by His permission...”
Hadith 10
«وعن أبى هريرة رضي الله عنه أنه قال: قيل يا رسول الله من أسعد الناس بشفاعتك يوم القيامة؟ قال رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم: ... أسعد الناس بشفاعتي يوم القيامة من قال لا إله إلا الله خالصا من قلبه أو نفسه»

Translation:
Abū Hurairah رضي الله عنه said: I asked, “O Messenger of Allah! Who will be the most fortunate person to receive your intercession on the Day of Judgment?”
The Messenger of Allah ﷺ replied:
“I expected, O Abū Hurairah, that none would ask me this before you, seeing your eagerness for hadith. The happiest person with my intercession on the Day of Judgment will be the one who says ‘Lā Ilāha Illā Allāh’ sincerely from his heart.”
Steadfastness in the Grave through Lā Ilāha Illā Allāh
قَالَ اللهُ تَعَالَى:
﴿يُثَبِّتُ اللَّهُ الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا بِالْقَوْلِ الثَّابِتِ فِي الْحَيَاةِ الدُّنْيَا وَفِي الْآخِرَةِ ۖ وَيُضِلُّ اللَّهُ الظَّالِمِينَ ۚ وَيَفْعَلُ اللَّهُ مَا يَشَاءُ﴾

Translation:
“Allah keeps firm those who believe, with the firm word (Lā Ilāha Illā Allāh) in this worldly life and in the Hereafter; and Allah lets the wrongdoers go astray. And Allah does whatever He wills.”
Steadfastness in the Grave through the Declaration
Hadith 11
«وعن البراء بن عازب رضي الله عنهما عن النبى صلى الله عليه وسلم قال: إذا أقعد المؤمن فى قبره أتى ثم شهد أن لا إله إلا الله وأن محمدا رسول الله فذلك قوله ﴿يُثَبِّتُ اللَّهُ الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا بِالْقَوْلِ الثَّابِتِ﴾»

Translation:
Al-Barā’ bin ʿĀzib رضي الله عنهما narrated that the Prophet ﷺ said: “When the believer is made to sit in his grave, he bears witness that there is no deity but Allah and that Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah. That is the meaning of His saying: ﴿يُثَبِّتُ اللَّهُ الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا بِالْقَوْلِ الثَّابِتِ﴾ — ‘Allah keeps firm those who believe with the firm word.’”
The Declaration as a Cause of Goodness and Blessing
Hadith 12
«وعن عمر ، أن رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم قال: من قال فى السوق: لا إله إلا الله وحده لا شريك له، له الملك وله الحمد، يحيي ويميت وهو حي لا يموت، بيده الخير وهو على كل شيء قدير ، كتب الله له ألف ألف حسنة ، ومحا عنه ألف ألف سيئة، وبنى له بينا فى الجنة»

Translation:
ʿUmar رضي الله عنه narrated that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said: “Whoever says in the marketplace: ‘Lā Ilāha Illā Allāh waḥdahu lā sharīka lah, lahu al-mulku wa lahu al-ḥamd, yuḥyī wa yumīt wa huwa Ḥayy lā yamūt, biyadihi al-khayr wa huwa ʿalā kulli shay’in qadīr’ — Allah writes for him one million good deeds, erases from him one million sins, and builds for him a house in Paradise.”
Dhikr as Protection from Loss and Ruin
قَالَ اللهُ تَعَالَى:
﴿أَلَيْسَ اللَّهُ بِكَافٍ عَبْدَهُ﴾

Translation:
“Is not Allah sufficient for His servant?”
Hadith 13
«وعن المغيرة بن شعبة فى كتاب إلى معاوية أن النبى صلى الله عليه وسلم كان يقول فى دبر كل صلاة مكتوبة: لا إله إلا الله وحده لا شريك له، له الملك وله الحمد وهو على كل شيء قدير . اللهم لا مانع لما أعطيت ولا معطي لما منعت، ولا ينفع ذ الجد منك الجد»

Translation:
Al-Mughīrah bin Shuʿbah رضي الله عنه wrote to Muʿāwiyah رضي الله عنه that the Prophet ﷺ used to say after every prescribed prayer:
“Lā Ilāha Illā Allāh waḥdahu lā sharīka lah, lahu al-mulku wa lahu al-ḥamd wa huwa ʿalā kulli shay’in qadīr. Allāhumma lā māniʿa limā aʿṭayt, wa lā muʿṭiya limā manaʿt, wa lā yanfaʿu dhal-jaddi minka al-jadd.”
(“There is no deity but Allah, alone without partner. His is the dominion and His is the praise, and He is over all things capable. O Allah, none can withhold what You give, and none can give what You withhold, and the wealth of the wealthy avails nothing against You.”)
Dhikr as a Means of Favor and Grace
Hadith 14
«وعن أبى الزبير قال: كان ابن الزبير يقول فى دبر كل صلاة، حين يسلم: لا إله إلا الله وحده لا شريك له ، له الملك وله الحمد وهو على كل شيء قدير . لا حول ولا قوة إلا بالله ، لا إله إلا الله، ولا نعبد إلا إياه ، له النعمة وله الفضل، وله الثناء الحسن، لا إله إلا الله مخلصين له الدين ولو كره الكافرون . وقال: كان رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم يهتل بهن دبر كل صلاة»

Translation:
Abū al-Zubayr said: Ibn al-Zubayr رضي الله عنه used to say after every prayer, upon concluding with salām:
“Lā Ilāha Illā Allāh waḥdahu lā sharīka lah, lahu al-mulku wa lahu al-ḥamd wa huwa ʿalā kulli shay’in qadīr. Lā ḥawla wa lā quwwata illā billāh. Lā Ilāha Illā Allāh, wa lā naʿbudu illā iyyāh. Lahu an-niʿmatu wa lahu al-faḍl, wa lahu ath-thanā’ al-ḥasan. Lā Ilāha Illā Allāh, mukhliṣīna lahud-dīn wa law kariha al-kāfirūn.”
He said: The Messenger of Allah ﷺ would recite these phrases abundantly after every prayer.
Ease in Hardships through Dhikr
قَالَ اللهُ تَعَالَى:
﴿فَإِن تَوَلَّوْا فَقُلْ حَسْبِيَ اللَّهُ لَا إِلَٰهَ إِلَّا هُوَ ۖ عَلَيْهِ تَوَكَّلْتُ ۖ وَهُوَ رَبُّ الْعَرْشِ الْعَظِيمِ﴾

Translation:
“But if they turn away, say: ‘Allah is sufficient for me; there is no deity but He. In Him I place my trust, and He is the Lord of the Mighty Throne.’”
Hadith 15
«وعن أبى الدرداء رضي الله عنه قال: من قال إذا أصبح وإذا أمسى: حسبي الله لا إله إلا هو عليه توكلت وهو رب العرش العظيم، سبع مرات كفاه الله ما أهمه صادقا كان بها أو كاذبا»

Translation:
Abū al-Dardā’ رضي الله عنه said: “Whoever says morning and evening seven times:
‘Ḥasbiyallāhu lā ilāha illā huwa ʿalayhi tawakkaltu wa huwa Rabbul-ʿArshil-ʿAẓīm,’
Allah will suffice him concerning what preoccupies him — whether he said it truthfully or otherwise.”
Forgiveness of Every Sin through Dhikr
قَالَ اللهُ تَعَالَى:
﴿فَتَلَقَّىٰ آدَمُ مِن رَّبِّهِ كَلِمَاتٍ فَتَابَ عَلَيْهِ ۚ إِنَّهُ هُوَ التَّوَّابُ الرَّحِيمُ﴾

Translation:
“Then Adam received words from his Lord, so He turned to him in mercy. Indeed, He is the Accepting of Repentance, the Most Merciful.”
Hadith 16
«وعن ابن مسعود، أنه سمع النبى صلى الله عليه وسلم يقول: من قال استغفر الله الذى لا إله إلا هو الحي القيوم واتوب إليه»

Translation:
Ibn Masʿūd رضي الله عنه narrated that he heard the Prophet ﷺ say:
“Whoever says: ‘Astaghfirullāha alladhī lā ilāha illā huwa al-Ḥayyu al-Qayyūm wa atūbu ilayh,’ (I seek forgiveness from Allah — there is no deity but He, the Ever-Living, the Sustainer — and I repent to Him), his sins will be forgiven even if he had fled from the battlefield.”
The Virtue of Seeking Forgiveness with Lā Ilāha Illā Allāh
قَالَ اللهُ تَعَالَى:
﴿اسْتَغْفِرُوا رَبَّكُمْ إِنَّهُ كَانَ غَفَّارًا. يُرْسِلِ السَّمَاءَ عَلَيْكُم مِّدْرَارًا. وَيُمْدِدْكُم بِأَمْوَالٍ وَبَنِينَ وَيَجْعَل لَّكُمْ جَنَّاتٍ وَيَجْعَل لَّكُمْ أَنْهَارًا .﴾

Translation:
“Seek forgiveness from your Lord; indeed, He is ever Forgiving. He will send (rain from) the sky upon you in showers, and He will strengthen you with wealth and sons, and He will grant you gardens and will grant you rivers.”
وَقَالَ اللهُ تَعَالَى:
﴿وَالَّذِينَ إِذَا فَعَلُوا فَاحِشَةً أَوْ ظَلَمُوا أَنفُسَهُمْ ذَكَرُوا اللَّهَ فَاسْتَغْفَرُوا لِذُنُوبِهِمْ وَمَن يَغْفِرُ الذُّنُوبَ إِلَّا اللَّهُ وَلَمْ يُصِرُّوا عَلَىٰ مَا فَعَلُوا وَهُمْ يَعْلَمُونَ﴾

Translation:
“And those who, when they commit an indecency or wrong themselves, remember Allah and seek forgiveness for their sins — and who forgives sins except Allah? — and do not persist in what they have done while they know.”
Hadith 17
«وعن شداد بن أوس رضى الله عنه عن النبى صلى الله عليه وسلم سيد الاستغفار أن تقول: اللهم أنت ربي لا إله إلا أنت خلقتني وأنا عبدك وأنا على عهدك ووعدك ، ما استطعت، اعوذ بك من شر ما صنعت ، أبوء لك بنعمتك على وأبوء لك بذنبي، فاغفرلى فإنه لا يغفر الذنوب إلا أنت . قال: ومن قالها من النهار موقنا بها فمات من يومه قبل أن يمسي فهو من أهل الجنة ، ومن قالها من الليل وهو موقن بها فمات قبل أن يصبح فهو من أهل الجنة»

Translation:
Shaddād bin Aws رضي الله عنه narrated that the Prophet ﷺ said: “The master supplication for seeking forgiveness is to say:
‘Allāhumma anta rabbī, lā ilāha illā anta, khalaqtanī wa anā ʿabduka, wa anā ʿalā ʿahdika wa waʿdika mā istaṭaʿt, aʿūdhu bika min sharri mā ṣanaʿt, abū’u laka biniʿmatika ʿalayya, wa abū’u laka bidhambī, faghfir lī fa-innahū lā yaghfiru adh-dhunūba illā anta.’
Whoever says it during the day with firm conviction and dies before evening will be among the people of Paradise; and whoever says it at night with firm conviction and dies before morning will be among the people of Paradise.”
The Card (Bittāqah) and Ninety-Nine Registers of Sins
Hadith 18
«وعن عبد الله بن عمرو بن العاص يقول: سمعت رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم يقول: إن الله سيخلص رجلا من أمتي على رؤوس الخلائق يوم القيامة فينشر عليه تسعة وتسعين سجلا كل سجل مثل مد البصر ، ثم يقول: أتنكر من هذا شيئا؟ أظلمك كتبتي الحافظون؟ فيقول: لا ، يا رب فيقول: أفلك عدر؟ فيقول: لا يا رب، فيقول: بلى إن لك عندنا حسنة ، فإنه لا ظلم عليك اليوم ، فتخرج بطاقة فيها: أشهد أن لا إله إلا الله وأشهد أن محمدا عبده ورسوله ، فيقول: احضر وزنك ، فيقول: يا رب ما هذه البطاقة مع هذه السجلات ، فيقول: إنك لا تظلم، قال: فتوضع السجلات فى كفة والبطاقة فى كفة ، فطاشت السجلات وثقلت البطاقة ، فلا ينقل مع اسم الله شيء»

Translation:
ʿAbdullāh bin ʿAmr bin al-ʿĀṣ رضي الله عنهما said: I heard the Messenger of Allah ﷺ say: “Allah will single out a man from my Ummah on the Day of Resurrection before the whole creation. Ninety-nine registers will be spread out for him, each register as far as the eye can see. He will be asked: ‘Do you deny any of this? Did My recording angels wrong you?’ He will reply: ‘No, my Lord.’ He will be asked: ‘Do you have any excuse?’ He will reply: ‘No, my Lord.’ It will be said: ‘On the contrary, you have a good deed with Us; you will not be wronged today.’ Then a card will be brought out on which is written: ‘I bear witness that there is no deity but Allah and I bear witness that Muhammad is His servant and Messenger.’ He will be told: ‘Come for your weighing.’ He will say: ‘My Lord, what is this card compared to these registers?’ He will be told: ‘You will not be wronged.’ The registers will be placed in one pan and the card in the other, and the registers will become light while the card will become heavy — nothing outweighs the Name of Allah.”
Dhikr and the Yearning to Meet Allah
قَالَ اللهُ تَعَالَى:
﴿قُلْ إِنَّمَا أَنَا بَشَرٌ مِّثْلُكُمْ يُوحَىٰ إِلَيَّ أَنَّمَا إِلَٰهُكُمْ إِلَٰهٌ وَاحِدٌ ۖ فَمَن كَانَ يَرْجُو لِقَاءَ رَبِّهِ فَلْيَعْمَلْ عَمَلًا صَالِحًا وَلَا يُشْرِكْ بِعِبَادَةِ رَبِّهِ أَحَدًا﴾

Translation:
“Say: I am only a human being like you; it is revealed to me that your God is One God. So whoever hopes to meet his Lord, let him do righteous work and not associate anyone in the worship of his Lord.”
Hadith 19
«وعن أبى عمرة الأنصاري رضي الله عنه قال: قال النبى صلى الله عليه وسلم: أشهد ان لا إله إلا الله، وانى رسول الله لا يلقى الله عبد مؤمن بها حجبته عن النار يوم القيامة، وفي رواية: لا يلقى الله بهما احد يوم القيامة إلا أدخل الجنة على ما كان فيه»

Translation:
Abū ʿAmrah al-Anṣārī رضي الله عنه narrated that the Prophet ﷺ said: “Whoever declares ‘I bear witness that there is no deity but Allah, and that I am the Messenger of Allah’ and meets Allah as a believer in them — they will shield him from the Fire on the Day of Resurrection. In another narration: No one meets Allah with these two (testimonies) on the Day of Resurrection except that he will enter Paradise, regardless of what he had been upon.”
Entering Allah’s Fortress through Tawḥīd
قَالَ اللهُ تَعَالَى:
﴿إِنَّنِي أَنَا اللَّهُ لَا إِلَٰهَ إِلَّا أَنَا فَاعْبُدْنِي وَأَقِمِ الصَّلَاةَ لِذِكْرِي﴾

Translation:
“Indeed, I — I am Allah; there is no deity except Me. So worship Me and establish prayer for My remembrance.”
Hadith 20
«وعن على رضي الله عنه قال: قال النبى صلى الله عليه وسلم: قال الله تعالى: إني أنا الله لا إله إلا أنا ، من أقرلى بالتوحيد دخل حصني، ومن دخل حصني آمن من عذابي»

Translation:
ʿAlī رضي الله عنه narrated that the Prophet ﷺ said (in a ḥadīth qudsī): “Allah, Exalted is He, said: ‘I am Allah; there is no deity except Me. Whoever affirms My Oneness enters My fortress, and whoever enters My fortress is safe from My punishment.’”
Abundant Recitation of Lā Ilāha Illā Allāh
Hadith 21«وعن أبى هريرة رضي الله عنه قال: قال رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم: أكثروا من قول ان لا إله إلا الله ، قبل أن يحال بينكم وبينها»

Translation:
Abū Hurairah رضي الله عنه narrated that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said: “Recite ‘Lā Ilāha Illā Allāh’ abundantly before a time comes when you will be prevented from saying it.”
Dhikr as a Cause of Divine Help
قَالَ اللهُ تَعَالَى:
﴿أَلَا إِنَّ نَصْرَ اللَّهِ قَرِيبٌ﴾

Translation:
“Behold! The help of Allah is near.”
Hadith 22
«وعن عبد الله بن عمر رضى الله عنهما أن رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم كان إذا قفل من غزو ، أو حج ، أو عمرة ، يكبر على كل شرف من الأرض ثلاث تكبيرات ثم يقول: لا إله إلا الله وحده لا شريك له له الملك وله الحمد، وهو على كل شيء قدير ، آيبون، تائبون، عابدون، لربنا حامدون، صدق الله وعده ، ونصر عبده وهزم الأحزاب وحده»

Translation:
ʿAbdullāh bin ʿUmar رضي الله عنهما reported that when the Messenger of Allah ﷺ returned from a military expedition, Ḥajj, or ʿUmrah, he would declare takbīr three times upon each elevated ground, then say:
“Lā Ilāha Illā Allāh waḥdahu lā sharīka lah, lahu al-mulku wa lahu al-ḥamd, wa huwa ʿalā kulli shay’in qadīr. Āʾibūn, tāʾibūn, ʿābidūn, li-Rabbinā ḥāmidūn. Ṣadaqa Allāhu waʿdah, wa naṣara ʿabdah, wa hazama al-aḥzāba waḥdah.”
(“There is no deity but Allah, alone without partner; His is the dominion and His is the praise, and He is over all things capable. We are returning, repenting, worshipping, praising our Lord. Allah fulfilled His promise, helped His servant, and defeated the confederates alone.”)
The Declaration within the Supplication of the Greatest Name
قَالَ اللهُ تَعَالَى:
﴿قُلْ هُوَ اللَّهُ أَحَدٌ. اللَّهُ الصَّمَدُ. لَمْ يَلِدْ وَلَمْ يُولَدْ . وَلَمْ يَكُن لَّهُ كُفُوًا أَحَدٌ.﴾

Translation:
“Say: He is Allah, the One; Allah, the Self-Sufficient. He neither begets nor is born; and there is none comparable to Him.”
Hadith 23
«وعن بريدة ، قال سمع النبى صلى الله عليه وسلم رجلا يقول: اللهم إني إنى أسألك واشهد بأنك أنت الله الأحد الصمد الذى لم يلد ولم يولد ولم يكن له كفوا أحد، فقال: رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم: لقد سأل باسمه الأعظم، الذى إذا سئل به أعطى ، وإذا دع أجاب»

Translation:
Buraidah رضي الله عنه narrated: The Prophet ﷺ heard a man supplicating, saying:
“Allāhumma innī asʾaluk wa ashhadu bi-annaka anta Allāhu al-Aḥadu aṣ-Ṣamad, alladhī lam yalid wa lam yūlad wa lam yakun lahu kufuwan aḥad.”
The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said: “He has asked by His Greatest Name — when He is asked by it, He gives; and when He is supplicated by it, He answers.”
Meeting Allah with the Declaration Leads to Paradise
Hadith 24
«وعن أبى هريرة قال: قال رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم: أشهد أن لا إله إلا الله وأنى رسول الله لا يلقى الله بهما عبد غير شاك فيهما إلا دخل الجنة»

Translation:
Abū Hurairah رضي الله عنه reported that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said: “I bear witness that there is no deity but Allah and that I am the Messenger of Allah. No servant meets Allah with these two (testimonies), without doubting them, except that he will enter Paradise.”
Hadith 25
«وعن معاذ رضي الله عنه قال: قال رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم: ما من نفس تموت وهى تشهد أن لا إله إلا الله، وأنى رسول الله ، يرجع ذلك إلى قلب موقن إلا غفر الله لها»

Translation:
Muʿādh رضي الله عنه narrated that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said: “No soul dies while testifying that there is no deity but Allah and that I am the Messenger of Allah — with that returning to a heart of certainty — except that Allah forgives it.”
A Means of Salvation from Hellfire
Hadith 26
«وعن أنس رضي الله عنه (فى حديث طويل) أن النبى صلى الله عليه وسلم قال: يخرج من النار من قال: لا إله إلا الله، وكان فى قلبه من الخير ما يزن شعيرة ثم يخرج من النار من قال: لا إله إلا الله، وكان فى قلبه من الخير ما يزن برة ، ثم يخرج من النار من قال: لا إله إلا الله، وكان فى قلبه ما يزن من الخير ذرة»

Translation:
Anas رضي الله عنه narrated (in a longer ḥadīth) that the Prophet ﷺ said: “There will emerge from the Fire one who said ‘Lā Ilāha Illā Allāh’ while in his heart there was goodness equal to the weight of a barley grain; then there will emerge from the Fire one who said ‘Lā Ilāha Illā Allāh’ while in his heart there was goodness equal to the weight of a wheat grain; then there will emerge from the Fire one who said ‘Lā Ilāha Illā Allāh’ while in his heart there was goodness equal to the weight of an atom.”
Hadith 27
«وعن عثمان بن عفان قال: سمعت رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم يقول: إني لاعلم كلمة لا يقولها عبد حقا من قلبه فيموت على ذلك إلا حرمه الله على النار ، شهادة أن لا إله إلا الله»

Translation:
ʿUthmān bin ʿAffān رضي الله عنه said: I heard the Messenger of Allah ﷺ say: “I certainly know a word which no servant says truly from his heart and then dies upon it, except that Allah makes the Fire forbidden for him — it is the testimony that there is no deity but Allah.”
The Declaration in the End Times
قَالَ اللهُ تَعَالَى:
﴿أَنَّهُ لَا إِلَٰهَ إِلَّا أَنَا فَاتَّقُونِ﴾

Translation:
“Indeed, there is no deity but I, so fear Me.”
Hadith 28
«وعن حذيفة رضي الله عنه قال: قال رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم: يدرس الإسلام كما يدرس وشي الثوب حتى لا يدرى ما صيام ولا صدقة ولا نسك، ويسرى على كتاب الله فى ليلة ، فلا يبقى فى الأرض منه آية ، ويبقى طوائف من الناس الشيخ الكبير ، والعجوز الكبيرة ، يقولون ادركنا آباءنا على هذه الكلمة: لا إله إلا الله، فنحن نقولها . قال صلة بن زفر لحذيفة: فما تغنى عنهم لا إله إلا الله وهم لا يدرون ما صيام ولا صدقة ولا نسك؟ فاعرض عنه حديفة فرددها عليه ثلنا ، كل ذلك يعرض عنه حذيفة ، ثم أقبل عليه فى الثالثة فقال: يا صلة تنجيهم من النار»

Translation:
Ḥudhayfah رضي الله عنه narrated that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said: “Islam will wear out like embroidery on a garment wears out, until people will no longer know what fasting is, nor charity, nor ritual. The Book of Allah will be taken away in a single night, and not a single verse will remain on earth. Groups of people will remain — elderly men and elderly women — saying: ‘We found our forefathers upon this word: Lā Ilāha Illā Allāh, so we say it.’ Ṣilah bin Zafar asked Ḥudhayfah: ‘What benefit will Lā Ilāha Illā Allāh give them when they do not know what fasting, charity, or ritual are?’ Ḥudhayfah turned away from him. He repeated it three times, and each time Ḥudhayfah turned away. Then on the third time he turned towards him and said: ‘O Ṣilah, it will save them from the Fire.’”
Entering Paradise Despite Major Sins (for the People of Tawḥīd)
قَالَ اللهُ تَعَالَى:
﴿إِنَّ اللَّهَ لَا يَغْفِرُ أَن يُشْرَكَ بِهِ وَيَغْفِرُ مَا دُونَ ذَٰلِكَ لِمَن يَشَاءُ﴾

Translation:
“Indeed, Allah does not forgive association with Him, but He forgives what is less than that for whom He wills.”
Hadith 29
«وعن أبى ذر رضي الله عنه قال: قال النبى صلى الله عليه وسلم: ما من عبد قال: لا إله إلا الله ، ثم مات على ذلك إلا دخل الجنة، قلت: وإن زنى وإن سرق؟ قال: وإن زنى وإن سرق ، قلت: وإن زنى وإن سرق؟ قال: وإن زنى وإن سرق ، قلت: وإن زنى وإن سرق؟ قال: وإن زنى وإن سرق ، على رغم أنف أبى ذر»

Translation:
Abū Dharr رضي الله عنه narrated that the Prophet ﷺ said: “No servant says ‘Lā Ilāha Illā Allāh’ and then dies upon that except that he will enter Paradise.” I asked: “Even if he committed adultery and theft?” He said: “Even if he committed adultery and theft.” I asked again: “Even if he committed adultery and theft?” He said: “Even if he committed adultery and theft.” I asked a third time: “Even if he committed adultery and theft?” He said: “Even if he committed adultery and theft — despite Abū Dharr’s disapproval.”
The Statement of Tawḥīd is the Highest Branch of Faith
Hadith 30
«وعن أبى هريرة رضي الله عنه قال: قال رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم: الإيمان بضع وسبعون شعبة ، فأفضلها قول لا إله إلا الله ، وأدناها إماطة الأذى عن الطريق ، والحياء شعبة من الإيمان»

Translation:
Abū Hurairah رضي الله عنه narrated that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said: “Faith has over seventy branches. The best of them is the statement ‘Lā Ilāha Illā Allāh’, and the lowest of them is removing something harmful from the road, and modesty is a branch of faith.”
Accepting Lā Ilāha Illā Allāh from the Heart
قَالَ اللهُ تَعَالَى:
﴿إِنَّهُمْ كَانُوا إِذَا قِيلَ لَهُمْ لَا إِلَٰهَ إِلَّا اللَّهُ يَسْتَكْبِرُونَ. وَيَقُولُونَ أَئِنَّا لَتَارِكُو آلِهَتِنَا لِشَاعِرٍ مَّجْنُونٍ.﴾

Translation:
“Indeed, when it was said to them, ‘There is no deity but Allah,’ they were arrogant, and they said, ‘Shall we truly abandon our gods for a mad poet?’”
Hadith 31
«وعن أبى بكر رضي الله عنه قال: قال رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم: من قبل مني الكلمة التى عرضت على عمي، فردها على ، فهي له نجاة»

Translation:
Abū Bakr رضي الله عنه narrated that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said: “Whoever accepts from me the word that I presented to my uncle (at his passing) — but he rejected it — then that word will be salvation for him.”
The Testimony is the Most Excellent Statement
قَالَ اللهُ تَعَالَى:
﴿وَقَضَىٰ رَبُّكَ أَلَّا تَعْبُدُوا إِلَّا إِيَّاهُ﴾

Translation:
“And your Lord has decreed that you worship none but Him.”
Hadith 32
«وعن ابن شماسة المهري قال: حضرنا عمرو بن العاص وهو فى سياقة الموت يبكي طويلا حول وجهه إلى الجدار ... ثم أقيموا حول قبرى قدر ما تنحر جزور ويقسم لحمها حتى أستأنس بكم، وأنظر ماذا أراجع به رسل ربى»

Translation:
Ibn Shumāsah al-Miṣrī رحمه الله said: We were present with ʿAmr bin al-ʿĀṣ رضي الله عنهما during his final moments; he wept for a long time with his face turned to the wall. His son began consoling him: “O my father, did not the Messenger of Allah ﷺ give you such-and-such glad tidings?” He turned his face and said: “The best thing we prepare (for the Hereafter) is the testimony that there is no deity but Allah and that Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah. I passed through three stages:
There was a time when none was more hateful to me than the Messenger of Allah ﷺ, and my greatest wish was to overpower him and kill him. Had I died then, I would surely have been among the people of the Fire. Then Allah placed Islam in my heart; I went to the Prophet ﷺ and said, ‘Extend your right hand so that I may pledge allegiance to you.’ He extended his hand, but I withdrew mine. He said, ‘What is the matter, O ʿAmr?’ I said, ‘I wish to stipulate a condition.’ He said, ‘What condition?’ I said, ‘That I be forgiven.’ He said, ‘Do you not know that Islam wipes out what came before it, Hijrah wipes out what came before it, and Ḥajj wipes out what came before it?’ After that, there was none more beloved and greater in my eyes than the Messenger of Allah ﷺ, and I could not gaze at him fully out of reverence. If I were asked to describe him, I could not, for I could never fill my eyes with him. If I had died in that state, I would hope to be among the people of Paradise. Then we assumed responsibilities (of governance), and I do not know what my state is regarding them. When I die, let no wailing woman accompany me, nor any fire. When you bury me, heap earth well over me, then remain by my grave for as long as it takes to slaughter a camel and distribute its meat, so that I may be comforted by your presence and consider what I shall answer the messengers of my Lord.”**
Affirming Muhammad as the Messenger of Allah
Hadith 33
«وعن عبادة بن الصامت قال: سمعت رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم يقول: من شهد أن لا إله إلا الله و ان محمدا رسول الله حرم الله عليه النار»

Translation:
ʿUbādah bin al-Ṣāmit رضي الله عنه said: I heard the Messenger of Allah ﷺ say: “Whoever testifies that there is no deity but Allah and that Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah, Allah makes the Fire forbidden for him.”
Hadith 34
«وعن معاذ صلى الله عليه وسلم قال: قال رسول الله: ما من احد يشهد أن لا إله إلا الله وأن محمدا رسول الله، صدقا من قلبه إلا حرمه الله على النار»

Translation:
Muʿādh رضي الله عنه narrated that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said: “No one testifies that there is no deity but Allah and that Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah, truthfully from his heart, except that Allah makes the Fire forbidden for him.”
Taking Your Shield from the Fire by Remembrances
Hadith 35
«وعن أبى هريرة رضي الله عنه قال: قال رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم: خذوا جنتكم، قلنا يا رسول الله: من عدو قد حضر؟ قال: لا؛ جنتكم من النار ، قولوا: سبحان الله ، والحمد لله ، ولا إله إلا الله، والله أكبر، فإنها يأتين يوم القيامة منجيات ، ومقدمات، وهن الباقيات الصالحات»

Translation:
Abū Hurairah رضي الله عنه narrated that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said: “Take your shields!” We said, “O Messenger of Allah, from an enemy who has come?” He said: “No; your shields from the Fire — say: Subḥānallāh, al-ḥamdu lillāh, Lā Ilāha Illā Allāh, Allāhu Akbar. For they will come on the Day of Resurrection as saviors and forerunners, and they are the everlasting righteous deeds.”
Hadith 36
«وعن أبى سعيد الخدري ، وأبي هريرة، عن النبى صلى الله عليه وسلم قال: إن الله عزوجل اصطفى من الكلام أربعا: سبحان الله ، والحمد لله ، ولا إله إلا الله، والله أكبر . ومن قال: سبحان الله، كتب له بها عشرون حسنة ، وحط عنه عشرون سيئة ، ومن قال: الله أكبر، فمثل ذلك ، ومن قال: لا إله إلا الله ، فمثل ذلك ، ومن قال: الحمد لله رب العالمين ، من قبل نفسه ، كتب له بها ثلاثون حسنة، وحط عنه بها ثلاثون سيئة»

Translation:
Abū Saʿīd al-Khudrī and Abū Hurairah رضي الله عنهما narrated that the Prophet ﷺ said: “Allah, Mighty and Majestic, has chosen four words: Subḥānallāh, al-ḥamdu lillāh, Lā Ilāha Illā Allāh, Allāhu Akbar. Whoever says Subḥānallāh, twenty good deeds are written for him and twenty sins are erased; whoever says Allāhu Akbar, the same; whoever says Lā Ilāha Illā Allāh, the same; and whoever says al-ḥamdu lillāhi Rabbil-ʿālamīn from himself, thirty good deeds are written for him and thirty sins are erased.”
Night Remembrance and Answered Supplication
Hadith 37
«وعن عبادة بن الصامت ، عن النبى صلى الله عليه وسلم قال: من تعار من الليل فقال: لا إله إلا الله وحده لا شريك له له الملك وله الحمد وهو على كل شيء قدير ، الحمد لله وسبحان الله ، ولا إله إلا الله والله ، أكبر ولا حول ولا قوة إلا بالله ، ثم: قال: اللهم اغفر لي أو دعا استجيب له ، فإن توضأ وصلى قبلت صلاته»

Translation:
ʿUbādah bin al-Ṣāmit رضي الله عنه narrated that the Prophet ﷺ said: “Whoever awakens at night and says:
‘Lā Ilāha Illā Allāh waḥdahu lā sharīka lah, lahu al-mulku wa lahu al-ḥamd wa huwa ʿalā kulli shay’in qadīr; al-ḥamdu lillāh; wa subḥānallāh; wa Lā Ilāha Illā Allāh; wa Allāhu Akbar; wa lā ḥawla wa lā quwwata illā billāh,’
then says: ‘Allāhumma ighfir lī’ or supplicates with any duʿāʾ, he is answered. If he then performs wuḍūʾ and prays, his prayer is accepted.”
A Remembrance Sufficient for One Unable to Memorize Qur’an
Hadith 38
«وعن ابن أبى أوفى ، قال: جاء رجل إلى النبى صلى الله عليه وسلم ، فقال: إني لا أستطيع أن أخذ شيئا من القرآن، فعلمني شيئا يجزئني من القرآن. فقال: قل سبحان الله، والحمد لله، ولا إله إلا الله، والله أكبر ولا حول ولا قوة إلا بالله»

Translation:
Ibn Abī Awfā رضي الله عنه narrated: A man came to the Prophet ﷺ and said: “I cannot memorize anything from the Qur’an; teach me something that will suffice me in place of the Qur’an.” He ﷺ said: “Say: Subḥānallāh, al-ḥamdu lillāh, Lā Ilāha Illā Allāh, Allāhu Akbar, wa lā ḥawla wa lā quwwata illā billāh.”
Final Moments and the Declaration
Hadith 39
«وعن عبد الله بن عمر رضي الله عنهما قال: قال رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم: ألا كم بوصية نوح ابنه؟ ... فإنهما يحجبان عن الله»

Translation:
ʿAbdullāh bin ʿUmar رضي الله عنهما narrated that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said: “Shall I tell you the bequest of Nūḥ (عليه السلام) to his son?” They said, “Yes.” He said: “Nūḥ (عليه السلام) advised his son: ‘I command you with two things and forbid you from two things. I command you to say Lā Ilāha Illā Allāh — for if it were placed on one pan of the scale and the heavens and the earth on the other, it would outweigh them; and if it were a ring, it would break them until it reaches Allah. And (I command you to say): Subḥānallāhi al-ʿAẓīm wa bi-ḥamdih, for it is the worship of the creation and by it their provision is given. And I forbid you from shirk and arrogance, for they veil (a person) from Allah.’”**
Hadith 40
«وعن عائشة رضي الله عنها كانت تقول إن رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم كان بين يديه ركوة أو علبة فيها ماء ... ثم نصب يده فجعل يقول فى الرفيق الأعلى حتى قبض ومالت يده قال أبو عبد الله العلبة من الخشب والركوة من الأدم»

Translation:
ʿĀʾishah رضي الله عنها said: There was before the Messenger of Allah ﷺ a vessel containing water. He would put his hand into the water and wipe his face, saying: “Lā Ilāha Illā Allāh, indeed death has its agonies.” Then he raised his hand and continued to say: “(With) the Highest Companion (al-Rafīq al-Aʿlā),” until his soul was taken and his hand fell. (Abū ʿAbdullāh said: al-ʿUlbah is a wooden container, and al-Rukwah is a leather vessel.)
Hadith 41
«وعن معاذ بن جبل رضي الله عنه قال قال رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم: من كان آخر كلامه لا إله إلا الله دخل الجنة»

Translation:
Muʿādh bin Jabal رضي الله عنه narrated that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said: “Whoever’s last words are ‘Lā Ilāha Illā Allāh’ shall enter Paradise.”
وصلى الله تعالى على خير خلقه محمدٍ وآله وصحبه أجمعين