Source: Khutbāt Ḥāfiẓ Muḥammad Isḥāq Zāhid — Compiled by: Tawheed.com
This article has been written to explain the greatness, virtues, meaning, and requirements of the Kalimah Tayyibah: Lā ilāha illallāh, based on the Qur’an and Sunnah.
This Kalimah is:
◈ The foundation of Islam,
◈ The essence of Tawheed,
◈ And the only path to salvation in this world and the Hereafter.
Creation exists because of it. Prophets were sent and divine scriptures were revealed for its proclamation.
In this article:
Lā ilāha illallāh is that magnificent declaration:
❀ For which Allah created the entire creation
❀ For which all prophets and messengers were sent
❀ For which the divine books were revealed
Mankind is divided based on this Kalimah:
① Believers who accept it – for them are gardens of Paradise
② Disbelievers who reject it – for them is the torment of Hell
On the Day of Judgment, scales will be set, and books of deeds distributed, based on this Kalimah.
This Kalimah is:
﴿ كَلِمَةً طَيِّبَةً كَشَجَرَةٍ طَيِّبَةٍ ﴾
“A good word is like a good tree, its roots are firm and its branches reach the sky.”
[Surah Ibrāhīm: 24]
According to Shaykh ‘Abd al-Raḥmān al-Sa‘dī رحمه الله, this refers to Lā ilāha illallāh. Its fruits are faith, righteous deeds, good character, and noble speech.
﴿ وَمَا أَرْسَلْنَا مِنْ قَبْلِكَ ... إِلَّا نُوحِي إِلَيْهِ أَنَّهُ لَا إِلَٰهَ إِلَّا أَنَا فَاعْبُدُونِ ﴾
“We sent not a messenger before you except that We revealed to him: There is no deity except Me, so worship Me.”
[Surah al-Anbiyā’: 25]
All Prophets focused their entire mission on Tawheed and the Kalimah.
﴿ فَمَن يَكْفُرْ بِالطَّاغُوتِ وَيُؤْمِنْ بِاللَّهِ فَقَدِ اسْتَمْسَكَ بِالْعُرْوَةِ الْوُثْقَىٰ ﴾
“Whoever rejects Tāghūt and believes in Allah has grasped the firmest handhold.”
[Surah al-Baqarah: 256]
According to the Salaf such as Sa‘īd ibn Jubayr and al-Ḍaḥḥāk, Al-‘Urwah al-Wuthqā refers to Lā ilāha illallāh.
﴿ وَأَلْزَمَهُمْ كَلِمَةَ التَّقْوَىٰ وَكَانُوا أَحَقَّ بِهَا ﴾
“He made them adhere to the word of righteousness (Kalimat al-Taqwā), and they were most deserving of it.”
[Surah al-Fatḥ: 26]
The Kalimah is known as Kalimat al-Taqwā, and the Sahābah exemplified its meaning through steadfastness.
﴿ لَهُ دَعْوَةُ الْحَقِّ ﴾
“To Him belongs the true call.”
[Surah al-Ra‘d: 14]
Imām al-Sa‘dī explains this as: worship, supplication, fear, and hope must be directed solely to Allah.
The Prophet ﷺ said:
"Whenever a servant says Lā ilāha illallāh with sincerity, the gates of heaven open for it until it reaches the Throne—so long as he avoids major sins."
[Tirmidhī: 3590, authenticated by al-Albānī]
Yūnus عليه السلام recited the Kalimah in the belly of the whale:
﴿ لَا إِلٰهَ إِلَّا أَنتَ سُبْحَانَكَ ﴾
“There is no deity except You, Glory be to You...”
[Surah al-Anbiyā’: 87]
﴿ فَنَجَّيْنَاهُ مِنَ الْغَمِّ ﴾
“We rescued him from distress, and likewise We save the believers.”
[Surah al-Anbiyā’: 88]
﴿ لَا يَمْلِكُونَ الشَّفَاعَةَ إِلَّا مَنِ اتَّخَذَ عِندَ الرَّحْمَٰنِ عَهْدًا ﴾
“None shall have power of intercession except those who have taken a covenant with the Most Merciful.”
[Surah Maryam: 87]
Ibn ‘Abbās explained: This covenant is the testimony of Lā ilāha illallāh.
The Prophet ﷺ said:
“The happiest person with my intercession on the Day of Judgement is the one who says Lā ilāha illallāh sincerely from his heart.”
[Bukhārī: 99, 6570]
“Allah has made Hell forbidden upon the one who says Lā ilāha illallāh seeking His face.”
[Bukhārī: 1186, Muslim: 33]
This Kalimah is not mere lip-service. It carries a clear meaning, and understanding it is obligatory.
﴿ فَاعْلَمْ أَنَّهُ لَا إِلٰهَ إِلَّا اللَّهُ ﴾
“So know that there is no god but Allah.”
[Surah Muḥammad: 19]
“A being worthy of worship.”
Because He is the:
✔ Creator
✔ Sustainer
✔ Owner of benefit and harm
✔ Controller of life and death
✔ Giver of honor and humiliation
Rejecting all false gods.
Includes rejection of:
Affirming that only Allah deserves worship.
﴿ فَاعْبُدِ اللَّهَ مُخْلِصًا لَهُ الدِّينَ ﴾
“So worship Allah, making religion purely for Him.”
[Surah al-Zumar: 2]
Scholars have derived seven conditions from Qur’an and Sunnah:
① Knowledge – Understand its meaning
② Certainty – Free from doubt
③ Sincerity – Do it only for Allah
④ Truthfulness – From the heart
⑤ Love – For the Kalimah and its people
⑥ Submission – Obey Allah’s commands
⑦ Acceptance – No denial or arrogance
“Whoever dies knowing Lā ilāha illallāh will enter Paradise.”
[Muslim: 26]
✔ Uttering the Kalimah is not enough.
✔ It must be accompanied by understanding, belief, sincerity, love, and action.
May Allah guide us to understand, implement, and remain firm upon Lā ilāha illallāh until our last breath, and bless us with a death upon Tawheed and a place in Paradise.
Āmīn yā Rabb al-‘Ālamīn
Introduction: The Foundation of Islam and Salvation
This article has been written to explain the greatness, virtues, meaning, and requirements of the Kalimah Tayyibah: Lā ilāha illallāh, based on the Qur’an and Sunnah.
This Kalimah is:
◈ The foundation of Islam,
◈ The essence of Tawheed,
◈ And the only path to salvation in this world and the Hereafter.
Creation exists because of it. Prophets were sent and divine scriptures were revealed for its proclamation.
In this article:
- We will first highlight its virtues,
- Then explain its meaning and pillars,
- And finally clarify the conditions for its acceptance,
so that readers do not settle for verbal utterance alone but implement its true demands in their lives.
❖ The Greatness & Importance of the Kalimah Tayyibah
Lā ilāha illallāh is that magnificent declaration:
❀ For which Allah created the entire creation
❀ For which all prophets and messengers were sent
❀ For which the divine books were revealed
Mankind is divided based on this Kalimah:
① Believers who accept it – for them are gardens of Paradise
② Disbelievers who reject it – for them is the torment of Hell
On the Day of Judgment, scales will be set, and books of deeds distributed, based on this Kalimah.
This Kalimah is:
- Al-‘Urwah al-Wuthqā (the firmest handhold)
- The key to Paradise
- The path to salvation from Hell
- The core and foundation of religion
❖ Virtues of the Kalimah in the Qur’an and Sunnah
➊ Kalimah Tayyibah: Described in the Qur’an
﴿ كَلِمَةً طَيِّبَةً كَشَجَرَةٍ طَيِّبَةٍ ﴾
“A good word is like a good tree, its roots are firm and its branches reach the sky.”
[Surah Ibrāhīm: 24]
According to Shaykh ‘Abd al-Raḥmān al-Sa‘dī رحمه الله, this refers to Lā ilāha illallāh. Its fruits are faith, righteous deeds, good character, and noble speech.
➋ The Essence of Every Prophet’s Call
﴿ وَمَا أَرْسَلْنَا مِنْ قَبْلِكَ ... إِلَّا نُوحِي إِلَيْهِ أَنَّهُ لَا إِلَٰهَ إِلَّا أَنَا فَاعْبُدُونِ ﴾
“We sent not a messenger before you except that We revealed to him: There is no deity except Me, so worship Me.”
[Surah al-Anbiyā’: 25]
All Prophets focused their entire mission on Tawheed and the Kalimah.
➌ The Kalimah: The Firmest Handhold (Al-‘Urwah al-Wuthqā)
﴿ فَمَن يَكْفُرْ بِالطَّاغُوتِ وَيُؤْمِنْ بِاللَّهِ فَقَدِ اسْتَمْسَكَ بِالْعُرْوَةِ الْوُثْقَىٰ ﴾
“Whoever rejects Tāghūt and believes in Allah has grasped the firmest handhold.”
[Surah al-Baqarah: 256]
According to the Salaf such as Sa‘īd ibn Jubayr and al-Ḍaḥḥāk, Al-‘Urwah al-Wuthqā refers to Lā ilāha illallāh.
➍ Kalimah Tayyibah: The Word of Righteousness (Kalimat al-Taqwā)
﴿ وَأَلْزَمَهُمْ كَلِمَةَ التَّقْوَىٰ وَكَانُوا أَحَقَّ بِهَا ﴾
“He made them adhere to the word of righteousness (Kalimat al-Taqwā), and they were most deserving of it.”
[Surah al-Fatḥ: 26]
The Kalimah is known as Kalimat al-Taqwā, and the Sahābah exemplified its meaning through steadfastness.
➎ The Kalimah: The Call of Truth (Da‘wat al-Ḥaqq)
﴿ لَهُ دَعْوَةُ الْحَقِّ ﴾
“To Him belongs the true call.”
[Surah al-Ra‘d: 14]
Imām al-Sa‘dī explains this as: worship, supplication, fear, and hope must be directed solely to Allah.
➏ No Barrier Between the Kalimah and Allah
The Prophet ﷺ said:
"Whenever a servant says Lā ilāha illallāh with sincerity, the gates of heaven open for it until it reaches the Throne—so long as he avoids major sins."
[Tirmidhī: 3590, authenticated by al-Albānī]
➐ Deliverance from Distress in Both Worlds
Yūnus عليه السلام recited the Kalimah in the belly of the whale:
﴿ لَا إِلٰهَ إِلَّا أَنتَ سُبْحَانَكَ ﴾
“There is no deity except You, Glory be to You...”
[Surah al-Anbiyā’: 87]
﴿ فَنَجَّيْنَاهُ مِنَ الْغَمِّ ﴾
“We rescued him from distress, and likewise We save the believers.”
[Surah al-Anbiyā’: 88]
➑ Kalimah and Intercession
﴿ لَا يَمْلِكُونَ الشَّفَاعَةَ إِلَّا مَنِ اتَّخَذَ عِندَ الرَّحْمَٰنِ عَهْدًا ﴾
“None shall have power of intercession except those who have taken a covenant with the Most Merciful.”
[Surah Maryam: 87]
Ibn ‘Abbās explained: This covenant is the testimony of Lā ilāha illallāh.
The Prophet ﷺ said:
“The happiest person with my intercession on the Day of Judgement is the one who says Lā ilāha illallāh sincerely from his heart.”
[Bukhārī: 99, 6570]
➒ The Kalimah: Protection from Hellfire
“Allah has made Hell forbidden upon the one who says Lā ilāha illallāh seeking His face.”
[Bukhārī: 1186, Muslim: 33]
❖ Meaning and Components of Lā ilāha illallāh
This Kalimah is not mere lip-service. It carries a clear meaning, and understanding it is obligatory.
﴿ فَاعْلَمْ أَنَّهُ لَا إِلٰهَ إِلَّا اللَّهُ ﴾
“So know that there is no god but Allah.”
[Surah Muḥammad: 19]
✦ The Word "Ilāh" means:
“A being worthy of worship.”
✦ Why is only Allah worthy of worship?
Because He is the:
✔ Creator
✔ Sustainer
✔ Owner of benefit and harm
✔ Controller of life and death
✔ Giver of honor and humiliation
❖ Two Pillars of the Kalimah
➊ Negation (Lā ilāha)
Rejecting all false gods.
Includes rejection of:
- Idols
- Dead saints
- Sorcerers, astrologers
- Those who legislate against Islam
➋ Affirmation (illallāh)
Affirming that only Allah deserves worship.
﴿ فَاعْبُدِ اللَّهَ مُخْلِصًا لَهُ الدِّينَ ﴾
“So worship Allah, making religion purely for Him.”
[Surah al-Zumar: 2]
❖ Conditions of Lā ilāha illallāh
Scholars have derived seven conditions from Qur’an and Sunnah:
① Knowledge – Understand its meaning
② Certainty – Free from doubt
③ Sincerity – Do it only for Allah
④ Truthfulness – From the heart
⑤ Love – For the Kalimah and its people
⑥ Submission – Obey Allah’s commands
⑦ Acceptance – No denial or arrogance
“Whoever dies knowing Lā ilāha illallāh will enter Paradise.”
[Muslim: 26]
❖ Final Conclusion
✔ Uttering the Kalimah is not enough.
✔ It must be accompanied by understanding, belief, sincerity, love, and action.
May Allah guide us to understand, implement, and remain firm upon Lā ilāha illallāh until our last breath, and bless us with a death upon Tawheed and a place in Paradise.
Āmīn yā Rabb al-‘Ālamīn
