الفرع الثاني: من فضائل شهادة لا إله إلا الله: أنها أعلى شعب الإيمان
Second Chapter:
One of the virtues of the Testimony of Faith «لَا إِلٰهَ إِلَّا اللهُ» is that it is the highest branch of faith.
On the authority of Abu Huraira, may Allah be pleased with him, who said:
قال رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم: [الإيمان بضع وسبعون -أو بضع وستون- شعبة، فأفضلها قول لا إله إلا الله]
It is 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 more than seventy (or sixty) branches (components). The best part is the acknowledgment of "لا إله إلا الله".
Reference: Sahih al-Bukhari:9, Sahih Muslim:35 (and the wording is his)
Al-Taybi said:
[أفضل الذكر: قول لا إله إلا الله، وهي الكلمة العليا، وهي القطب الذي يدور عليها رحى الإسلام، وهي القاعدة التي بني عليها أركان الدين، وهي الشعبة التي هي أعلى شعب الإيمان، بل هو الكل، وليس غيره]
And Imam Taybi, may Allah have mercy on him, says:
The most excellent remembrance is to say «لا إلٰه إلا الله». This is the highest word, this is the axis around which the mill of Islam revolves, this is the foundation upon which the pillars of religion are established, and this is the branch of faith that is higher than all other branches; indeed, the reality is that this is the entire faith, nothing else besides it.
Reference: Sharh al-Mishkat by al-Taybi al-Kashif 'an Haqa'iq al-Sunan:5/1733
And Al-San'ani said:
[هذه الكلمة الشريفة هي التي أباح الله الأرواح والأنفس والأموال وصانها بها، وبعث رسله أولهم وآخرهم بدعاء الخلق إليها، كل رسول يقول: [اعۡبدوا اللٰہ ما لکمۡ منۡ الٰہ غیۡرہٗ] [الأعراف: 59]، وهي أعلى شعب الإيمان]
And Imam San'ani, may Allah have mercy on him, says:
This is the great and magnificent kalima through which Allah Almighty established the sanctity of lives, souls, and wealth, and through which their protection was ensured. Allah Almighty sent all His messengers, from the first to the last, to invite creation to this very kalima. Every messenger used to say: [اعۡبُدُوا اللّٰہَ مَا لَکُمۡ مِّنۡ اِلٰہٍ غَیۡرُہٗ] Worship Allah; there is no deity except Him, and this is the highest branch of faith.
Reference: At-Tanweer Sharh Al-Jaami' As-Sagheer (As-San'aani): 2/554
