The meaning of [لا إله إلا الله] is: There is no true deity except Allah.
Allah Almighty says:
[وَ مَاۤ اَرۡسَلۡنَا مِنۡ قَبۡلِکَ مِنۡ رَّسُوۡلٍ اِلَّا نُوۡحِیۡۤ اِلَیۡہِ اَنَّہٗ لَاۤ اِلٰہَ اِلَّاۤ اَنَا فَاعۡبُدُوۡنِ]
And We did not send any messenger before you except that We revealed to him that there is no deity except Me, so worship Me.
Reference: Al-Anbiya: 25
Allah Almighty says:
[وَ اِلٰـہُکُمۡ اِلٰہٌ وَّاحِدٌ ۚ لَاۤ اِلٰہَ اِلَّا ہُوَ الرَّحۡمٰنُ الرَّحِیۡمُ]
And your deity is one deity. There is no deity except Him, the Most Merciful, the Especially Merciful.
Reference: Al-Baqarah: 163
Shaykh al-Islam Ibn Taymiyyah (may Allah have mercy on him) says:
[التوحيد الذي بعث الله به رسله هو عبادة الله وحده لا شريك له وهو معنى شهادة أن لا إله إلا الله وذلك يتضمن التوحيد بالقول والاعتقاد وبالإرادة والقصد]
The monotheism with which Allah sent His messengers is that only one Allah is worshipped, who has no partner. This is the meaning of the testimony that there is no true deity except Allah. And this monotheism includes acknowledging Allah as One not only in speech and belief but also in intention and resolve.
Reference: Bayan Talbis al-Jahmiyyah fi Ta'sis Bida'ihim al-Kalamiyyah:4/623
Imam San'ani (may Allah have mercy on him) says:
[رأسَ العبادة وأساسَها التوحيدُ لله الذي تفيده كلمته التي إليها دعت جميع الرسل، وهي قول (لا إله إلَاّ الله)، والمراد اعتقاد معناها والعمل بمقتضاها، لا مجرَّد قولها باللسان. ومعناها: إفراد الله بالعبادة والإلهية، والنفي والبراءة من كلِّ معبود دونه]
The essence and foundation of worship is the Oneness of Allah Almighty, which is indicated by the Kalima to which all the messengers invited, and that is «لا إله إلا الله». This means to have belief in its meaning and to act according to its requirements; merely saying it with the tongue is not intended. Its meaning is that the right of worship and being the object of worship is exclusively for Allah Almighty, and every deity other than Allah is negated and disassociated from.
Reference: Tathir al-I'tiqad 'an Adran al-Ilhad wa Yalihi Sharh al-Sudur fi Tahrim Raf' al-Qubur: (As-San'ani) page 53
Sheikh Ibn Uthaymeen, may Allah have mercy on him, says:
[معنى شهادة أن لا إله إلا الله أن يعترف الإنسان بلسانه وقلبه بأنه لا معبود حق إلا الله- عز وجل فكل ما عبد من دون الله فهو باطل قال تعالى: ذَلِكَ بِأَنَّ اللَّهَ هُوَ الْحَقُّ وَأَنَّ مَا يَدْعُونَ مِنْ دُونِهِ هُوَ الْبَاطِلُ] The meaning of this testimony that there is no true deity except Allah is that a person affirms with both his tongue and heart that there is no true deity except Allah, the Mighty and Majestic. So whoever is worshipped besides Allah is false. Allah Almighty says: [ذَلِكَ بِأَنَّ اللَّهَ هُوَ الْحَقُّ وَأَنَّ مَا يَدْعُونَ مِنْ دُونِهِ هُوَ الْبَاطِلُ] This is because Allah alone is the Truth, and those whom these people call besides Him are all false.
Reference: Al-Hajj: 62, Majmoo' Fatawa wa Rasa'il al-Uthaymeen: 7/223
Ibn Jarir al-Tabari, may Allah have mercy on him, says:
قال ابن جرير: [يقول: لا معبود بحق تجوز عبادته، وتصلح الألوهة له إلا الله الذي هذه الصفات صفاته، فادعوه -أيها الناس- مخلصين له الدين، مخلصين له الطاعة، مفردين له الألوهة، لا تشركوا في عبادته شيئا سواه؛ من وثن وصنم، ولا تجعلوا له ندا ولا عدلا]
There is no being other than Him whose worship is rightfully permissible and who deserves divinity, except Allah, whose attributes have been described. So, O people! Call upon Him alone, being those who dedicate the religion purely for Him, who reserve obedience solely for Him, and who acknowledge His oneness in divinity. Do not associate anything with Him in His worship, whether it be an idol or a carved deity, nor consider anyone His equal or partner.
Reference: Tafsir al-Tabari, Jami' al-Bayan: Vol. 21, p. 410
Ibn Jarir al-Tabari, may Allah have mercy on him, says:
وقال ابنُ جريرٍ في تَفسيرِ قَولِه تعالى: [فَاعْلَمْ أَنَّهُ لَا إِلَهَ إِلَّا اللَّهُ] [محمد: 19] (يقول تعالى ذكره لنبيه محمد صلى الله عليه وسلم: فاعلم -يا محمد- أنه لا معبود تنبغي أو تصلح له الألوهة، ويجوز لك وللخلق عبادته، إلا الله الذي هو خالق الخلق، ومالك كل شيء، يدين له بالربوبية كل ما دونه]
And Ibn Jarir, may Allah have mercy on him, said regarding Allah Almighty's command: [فَاعْلَمْ أَنَّهُ لَا إِلَهَ إِلَّا اللَّهُ] So know that the reality is that there is no deity except Allah. Allah Almighty says to His Prophet Muhammad ﷺ: O Muhammad! Know that there is no deity worthy of worship except Allah, and whose worship is permissible for you and all creation. He is the one who is the Creator of all creation and the Owner of everything, and everything besides Him bows in obedience to His Lordship.
Reference: Tafsir al-Tabari Jami' al-Bayan: Vol. 22, p. 173
Imam Baqaa'i, may Allah have mercy on him, says:
وقال البقاعي في تفسيرِ قَولِه تعالى: [فَاعْلَمْ أَنَّهُ لَا إِلَهَ إِلَّا اللَّهُ]
Reference: Muhammad: 19
: (أي: انتفى انتِفاءً عَظيمًا أن يكونَ مَعبودٌ بحَقٍّ غيرُ المَلِكِ الأعظَمِ؛ فإنَّ هذا العِلْمَ هو أعظَمُ الذِّكرى المُنجِيةِ مِن أهوالِ السَّاعةِ، وإنَّما يكونُ عِلْمًا إذا كان نافِعًا، وإنَّما يكونُ نافِعًا إذا كان مع الإذعانِ والعَمَلِ بما يَقتَضيه، وإلَّا فهو جَهلٌ صِرفٌ]And Imam Baqaa'i, may Allah have mercy on him, said in the explanation of Allah Almighty's command: [فَاعْلَمْ أَنَّهُ لَا إِلَهَ إِلَّا اللَّهُ] So know that the reality is that there is no deity except Allah. This is a very emphatic and definitive negation that the Great King, Allah Almighty, has no other true deity besides Him. Because this knowledge is the greatest advice that saves from the terrors of the Hereafter. And this knowledge is truly called knowledge only when it is beneficial, and it is beneficial only when accompanied by complete submission and obedience of the heart and acting according to its requirements; otherwise, it is mere ignorance.
Reference: Kitab al-Tawheed wa Qurrat Uyun al-Muwahhideen fi Tahqeeq Da'wat al-Anbiya wal-Mursaleen, (Abdul Rahman bin Hasan Al Sheikh): pp.14-15
Izz ibn Abdus-Salam, may Allah have mercy on him, says:
وقال العز بن عبد السلام: (كلمة التوحيد تدل على التكليف بالواجب والحرام؛ إذ معناه: لا معبود بحق إلا الله، والعبادة هي الطاعة مع غاية الذل والخضوع)
And Izz ibn Abdus-Salam, may Allah have mercy on him, says: The word of Tawheed indicates the fulfillment of obligations and adherence to avoiding prohibitions; because its meaning is that there is no true deity except Allah, and worship means complete humility, meekness, and obedience with utmost reverence.
Reference: Al-Imam fi Bayan Adillat al-Ahkam: pp.168-169
Imam Al-Qarafi, may Allah have mercy on him, says:
وقال القرافي في صفة الأذان وشهادة التوحيد: (الإله المعبود، وليس المراد نفي المعبود كيف كان؛ لوجود المعبودين في الوجود، كالأصنام والكواكب، بل ثم صفة مضمرة تقديرها: لا معبود مستحق للعبادة إلا الله، ومن لم يضمر هذه الصفة لزمه أن يكون تشهده كذبا)
And Al-Qarafi, may Allah have mercy on him, in explaining the manner of the Adhan and the testimony of the Kalimah of Tawhid, says: The meaning of Ilah is "the one worshipped." Here, it does not mean the absolute negation of every kind of deity; because in reality, many things are worshipped, such as idols and stars. Rather, here a specific attribute is implied, meaning: there is no deity worthy of worship except Allah. And whoever does not accept this specified attribute, it will be necessary that his testimony of Tawhid be considered false.
Reference: Al-Dhakheera lil-Qarafi: Vol. 2, p. 57
Imam Muhammad bin Abdul Wahhab, may Allah have mercy on him, says:
وقال مُحَمَّدُ بنُ عَبدِ الوَهَّابِ: (معناها: لا مَعبودَ بحَقٍّ إلَّا اللهُ وَحْدَه، و (لا إلهَ) نافيًا جميعَ ما يُعبَدُ مِن دونِ اللهِ، (إلَّا اللهُ) مُثبِتًا العِبادةَ للهِ وَحْدَه لا شَريكَ له في عبادتِه، كما أنَّه ليس له شَريكٌ في مُلْكِه، وتفسيرُها الذي يوضِّحُها قَولُه تعالى: وَإِذْ قَالَ إِبْرَاهِيمُ لِأَبِيهِ وَقَوْمِهِ إِنَّنِي بَرَاءٌ مِمَّا تَعْبُدُونَ]،[إِلَّا الَّذِي فَطَرَنِي فَإِنَّهُ سَيَهْدِينِ]،[وَجَعَلَهَا كَلِمَةً بَاقِيَةً فِي عَقِبِهِ لَعَلَّهُمْ يَرْجِعُونَ]
Reference: Az-Zukhruf: 26-27-28
, وقولُه تعالى: [قُلْ يَا أَهْلَ الْكِتاب تَعَالَوْا إِلَى كَلِمَةٍ سَوَاءٍ بَيْنَنَا وَبَيْنَكُمْ أَلَّا نَعْبُدَ إِلَّا اللَّهَ وَلَا نُشْرِكَ بِهِ شَيْئًا وَلَا يَتَّخِذَ بَعْضُنَا بَعْضًا أَرْبَابًا مِنْ دُونِ اللَّهِ فَإِنْ تَوَلَّوْا فَقُولُوا اشْهَدُوا بِأَنَّا مُسْلِمُونَ]
Reference: Aal Imran: 64
And Muhammad bin Abdul Wahhab, may Allah have mercy on him, says: Its meaning is that there is no true deity except Allah alone. «لَا إِلٰهَ» It negates the worship of everything other than Allah, which is worshipped, while «إِلَّا اللهُ» establishes worship solely for Allah alone; in His worship, He has no partner, just as in His kingship and authority He has no partner. And the interpretation of this statement that fully clarifies its meaning is the statement of Allah Almighty: [And when Abraham said to his father and his people, "Indeed, I am disassociated from that which you worship,"] [Except He who created me; and indeed, He will guide me.] [And He made it a word remaining among his descendants that they might return.] And the statement of Allah Almighty: [Say, O People of the Scripture, come to a word that is equitable between us and you—that we will not worship except Allah and not associate anything with Him and not take one another as lords instead of Allah.] Then if they turn away, say, "Bear witness that we are Muslims (submitting to Him)."]
Reference: Thalathat al-Usul wa Shurut al-Salah wa al-Qawa'id al-Arba': p.15
Sulayman bin Abdullah Al Sheikh, may Allah have mercy on him, says:
وقال سُلَيمانُ بنُ عبدِ اللهِ آل الشَّيخِ: (معنى "لا إلهَ إلَّا اللهُ"، أي: لا معبودَ بحَقٍّ إلَّا إلهٌ واحدٌ، وهو اللهُ وَحْدَه لا شريكَ له، كما قال تعالى: وَمَا أَرْسَلْنَا مِنْ قَبْلِكَ مِنْ رَسُولٍ إِلَّا نُوحِي إِلَيْهِ أَنَّهُ لَا إِلَهَ إِلَّا أَنَا فَاعْبُدُونِ] [الأنبياء: 25]، مع قَولِه تعالى: [وَلَقَدْ بَعَثْنَا فِي كُلِّ أُمَّةٍ رَسُولًا أَنِ اعْبُدُوا اللَّهَ وَاجْتَنِبُوا الطَّاغُوتَ] [النحل: 36]، فصَحَّ أنَّ معنى الإلهِ هو المعبودُ؛ ولهذا لَمَّا قال النبيُّ صلَّى اللهُ عليه وسلَّم لكُفَّارِ قُرَيشٍ: ((قولوا: لا إلهَ إلَّا اللهُ)) قالوا: [أَجَعَلَ الْآلِهَةَ إِلَهًا وَاحِدًا إِنَّ هَذَا لَشَيْءٌ عُجَابٌ]
Reference: p. 5
, وقال قومُ هود: أَجِئْتَنَا لِنَعْبُدَ اللَّهَ وَحْدَهُ وَنَذَرَ مَا كَانَ يَعْبُدُ آبَاؤُنَا
Reference: Al-A'raf: 70
, وهو إنَّما دعاهم إلى لا إلهَ إلَّا اللهُ، فهذا هو معنى لا إلهَ إلَّا اللهُ، وهو عبادةُ اللهِ وتَرْكُ عبادةِ ما سِواه، وهو الكُفرُ بالطَّاغوتِ، وإيمانٌ باللهِ؛ فتضَمَّنَت هذه الكَلِمةُ العظيمةُ أنَّ ما سوى اللهِ ليس بإلهٍ، وأنَّ إلهيَّةَ ما سِواه أبطَلُ الباطِلِ، وإثباتَها أظلَمُ الظُّلمِ، فلا يستحِقُّ العبادةَ سِواه، كما لا تصلُحُ الإلهيَّةُ لغيرِه)And Sulaiman bin Abdullah Al Al Sheikh, may Allah have mercy on him, says: The meaning of [لَا إِلٰهَ إِلَّا اللهُ] is that there is no true deity except Allah alone, and He is Allah alone, who has no partner; as Allah Almighty has said: [And We did not send any messenger before you but We revealed to him that there is no deity except Me, so worship Me], along with Allah Almighty’s statement: [And indeed We sent a messenger to every nation, [saying], "Worship Allah and avoid Taghut"], thus it is proven that the meaning of «اِلٰہ» is deity. That is why when the Noble Prophet ﷺ said to the disbelievers of Quraysh: «لَا إِلٰهَ إِلَّا اللهُ کہو»،, they said: [Has he made all the gods into one God? Indeed, this is a strange thing], and the people of Hud said: [Have you come to us that we should worship Allah alone and leave what our forefathers used to worship?], while the Noble Prophet ﷺ had only invited them to «لَا إِلٰهَ إِلَّا اللهُ». So this is the true meaning of «لَا إِلٰهَ إِلَّا اللهُ»: to worship Allah alone and abandon the worship of everyone else. This is the denial of Taghut and faith in Allah. Therefore, this great phrase contains the reality that there is no true deity except Allah, and to ascribe divinity to anyone other than Allah is the most false falsehood, while believing in divinity for anyone other than Allah is the greatest injustice. Hence, only Allah is worthy of worship, just as divinity is not befitting anyone else besides Him.
Reference: Taysir al-Aziz al-Hamid fi Sharh Kitab al-Tawhid alladhi huwa Haqq Allah 'ala al-'Ibad: p.52
Abdul Rahman bin Hasan Al Sheikh, may Allah have mercy on him, says:
وقال عبدُ الرَّحمنِ بنُ حَسَن آل الشَّيخِ: (فدَلَّت لا إلهَ إلَّا اللهُ على نَفيِ الإلَهيَّةِ عن كُلِّ ما سِوى اللهِ تعالى كائِنًا ما كان، وإثباتِ الإلَهيَّةِ لله وَحْدَه دونَ كُلِّ ما سِواه، وهذا هو التَّوحيدُ الذي دعت إليه الرُّسُلُ، ودَلَّ عليه القُرْآنُ مِن أوَّلِه إلى آخِرِه، كما قال تعالى عن الجِنِّ: [قُلْ أُوحِيَ إِلَيَّ أَنَّهُ اسْتَمَعَ نَفَرٌ مِنَ الْجِنِّ فَقَالُوا إِنَّا سَمِعْنَا قُرْآنًا عَجَبًا]،[يَهْدِي إِلَى الرُّشْدِ فَآمَنَّا بِهِ وَلَنْ نُشْرِكَ بِرَبِّنَا أَحَدًا]
Reference: Al-Jinn: 1, 2
فلا إلهَ إلَّا اللهُ لا تنفَعُ إلَّا مَن عَرَف مَدلولَها نفيًا وإثباتًا، واعتَقَد ذلك وقَبِلَه وعَمِلَ به، وأمَّا مَن قالها مِن غيرِ عِلمٍ واعتِقادٍ وعَمَلٍ، فقد تقَدَّمَ في كلامِ العُلَماءِ أنَّ هذا جَهلٌ صِرفٌ، فهي حُجَّةٌ عليه بلا رَيبٍ)And Abdul Rahman bin Hasan Al Sheikh, may Allah have mercy on him, says: So «لَا إِلٰهَ إِلَّا اللهُ» indicates that the divinity is denied for everyone except Allah, whoever they may be, and divinity is established only for Allah alone, not for anyone else. This is the monotheism to which all the messengers invited, and the Holy Quran from beginning to end points to this; as Allah Almighty said about the jinn: [Say, it has been revealed to me that a group of jinn listened and said, "Indeed, we have heard an amazing Quran"] [which guides to the straight path, so we have believed in it and will never associate anyone with our Lord], so «لَا إِلٰهَ إِلَّا اللهُ» benefits only the person who understands its meaning both in negation and affirmation, believes in it, accepts it, and acts according to its requirements. As for the person who merely utters it with the tongue without knowledge, belief, and action, it has passed in the words of the scholars that this is mere ignorance. Therefore, undoubtedly this word will be a proof against him, not a cause of salvation for him.
Reference: Fath al-Majeed Sharh Kitab al-Tawheed: p.38
Ibn Baz, may Allah have mercy on him, says:
وقال ابنُ باز: (معنى الشَّهادة أن يَشهَدَ بلِسانِه وبقَلْبِه أنَّه لا معبودَ حَقٌّ إلَّا اللهُ، يَشهَدُ بلِسانِه ويُؤمِنُ بقَلْبِه أنَّه لا إلهَ إلَّا اللهُ، يعني: لا مَعبودَ حَقٌّ إلَّا اللهُ، وأنَّ ما عَبَده النَّاسُ مِن دونِ اللهِ مِن أصنامٍ أو أمواتٍ أو أشجارٍ أو أحجارٍ أو ملائكةٍ أو غيرِهم: كُلُّه باطِلٌ، كما قال تعالى: [ذَلِكَ بِأَنَّ اللَّهَ هُوَ الْحَقُّ وَأَنَّ مَا يَدْعُونَ مِنْ دُونِهِ هُوَ الْبَاطِلُ]
Reference: Al-Hajj: 62
, هذا معنى شَهادةِ أنْ لا إلهَ إلَّا اللهُ؛ أن تَشهَدَ عن عِلمٍ ويَقينٍ وصِدقٍ أنَّه لا معبودَ حَقٌّ إلَّا اللهُ، وأنَّ ما عَبَده النَّاسُ مِن دونِ اللهِ كُلُّه باطِلٌ)And Ibn Baz, may Allah have mercy on him, says: The meaning of the testimony is that a person testifies with both his tongue and his heart that there is no true deity except Allah. He acknowledges it with his tongue and believes in it with his heart that «لَا إِلٰهَ إِلَّا اللهُ», meaning there is no true deity except Allah. And those whom people worship besides Allah, whether they are idols, dead people, trees, stones, angels, or anyone else, all of these are false deities; as Allah Almighty has said: [This is because Allah is the Truth, and whatever they call upon besides Him is false]—this is the meaning of the testimony of «لَا إِلٰهَ إِلَّا اللهُ»: that you testify with knowledge, certainty, and truthfulness that there is no true deity except Allah, and all those whom people worship besides Allah are false.
Reference: Fatawa Nur 'ala al-Darb by Ibn Baz: Vol. 1, p. 49
