La ilaha illallah is the key to enter Jannah and the phrase that goes straight to the throne of Allah. Learn more about the power of this phrase, meaning and how to use it to transform our akhirah.
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La Ilaha Illallah Meaning in English
La ilaha illallah means “there is none worthy of worship except Allah”. It also means there is no god, deity or being which deserves to be worshipped and obeyed except Allah.
The phrase is simultaneously a denial and affirmation.
- “la ilaha” is denial of all worship other than that of Allah.
- “illa Allah” is affirmation that all worship is for Allah Alone without partners.
La Ilaha Illallah in Arabic
This powerful phrase is written in Arabic as:
لا إلَهَ إلَّا اللَّهُ
La Ilaha Illallah is the greatest statement ever uttered, the foundation of faith and the cornerstone of existence itself.
For it, the heavens and the earth were created. For it, thousands of messengers were sent. For it, the final hour will occur, the creation will be gathered and questioned, and then driven either into Hell or Paradise.
When uttered sincerely, it leaves the realms of this earth and ascends up to the Magnificent Throne of Allah. It is the guarantor of one’s ultimate success: its utterer will be saved from Hell and guaranteed Paradise.
This powerful phrase means to be a slave of only Allah, and not of any another slave, ideology, material object or one’s own desires.
With it, one professes Allah’s Lordship over all creation as well as His exclusive right to be worshipped.
He Alone has the Most Perfect Names and Attributes. He is the King Who has no partner, the One Who has no competitor, the Self-Sufficient Master Who has no offspring, and there is nothing like Him.
He is Unique; the First Who was never preceded by non-existence and the Last Who will never come to an end.
Benefits Of La Ilaha Illallah
Among the virtues and benefits of La Ilaha Illallah are:
- The Best Zikr: La Ilaha Illallah is regarded as the supreme form of remembrance (dhikr) by the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) and is considered the best utterance among all the words spoken by him and the prophets before him. Its significance lies in its centrality to the concept of monotheism.
- Ascends To The Throne Of Allah: Uttering La Ilaha Illallah sincerely is believed to open the doors of Paradise, with these words ascending to the Throne of Allah. This ascent continues as long as the individual avoids major sins, highlighting the spiritual elevation associated with the sincere proclamation of monotheism.
- A Renewer Of Faith: The Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) encouraged believers to renew their faith, and one way to achieve this renewal is through the frequent repetition of La Ilaha Illallah. This repetition is seen as a means to reinforce and rejuvenate one’s commitment to monotheism.
- Makes Hell Unlawful: Allah has promised that the one who sincerely says La Ilaha Illallah, seeking His pleasure, will be spared from Hell-fire. This emphasizes the divine acceptance and protection associated with the proclamation of monotheism.
- Last Words Paradise: The Prophet (PBUH) affirmed that a person whose last words are La Ilaha Illallah will enter Paradise. This underlines the significance of this declaration as a key element determining one’s ultimate destiny.
- Means Of Intercession: Uttering La Ilaha Illallah sincerely is considered a means of attaining the Prophet’s intercession on the Day of Judgment. This special privilege is granted to those who sincerely profess monotheism from their hearts.
- Outweighs The Seven Heavens And The Seven Earths: Prophet Nuh’s statement emphasizes the immense weight of La Ilaha Illallah. If placed on one side of the scale against the combined mass of the seven heavens and the seven earths on the other side, it would tip the balance, underscoring its unparalleled significance.
- Outweighs All Sins: Allah’s mercy is highlighted in the narration where a person from the Prophet’s ummah is presented with 99 scrolls of sins. Despite their enormity, the declaration of La Ilaha Illallah outweighs them all, showcasing the transformative power and forgiveness associated with sincere monotheism.
READ ALSO: La Ilaha Illallahul Azimul Halim Meaning
Secret of La Ilaha Illallah
1. Whoever say it with faith will enter Jannah
This is evidenced by the story of a disbeliever who said: There is no god but Allah, and the companion Osama bin Zaid killed him after that in the battle, thinking that he had said it out of fear.
Narrated Usama bin Zaid: Allah’s Messenger (SAW) sent us towards Al-Huruqa, and in the morning we attacked them and defeated them. I and an Ansari man followed a man from among them and when we took him over, he said, “La ilaha illal-Lah.”
On hearing that, the Ansari man stopped, but I killed him by stabbing him with my spear. When we returned, the Prophet (SAW) came to know about that and he said, “O Usama! Did you kill him after he had said “La ilaha ilal-Lah?”
I said, “But he said so only to save himself.” The Prophet (SAW) kept on repeating that so often that I wished I had not embraced Islam before that day. Sahih al-Bukhari 4269
2. Means Of Intercession
The intercession of the Prophet on the Day of Resurrection for those who said it sincerely from his heart.
Narrated Abu Huraira: I said, “O Allah’s Messenger (SAW)! Who will be the luckiest person who will gain your intercession on the Day of Resurrection?”
The Prophet SAW said, “O Abu Huraira! I have thought that none will ask me about this Hadith before you, as I know your longing for the (learning of) Hadiths.
The luckiest person who will have my intercession on the Day of Resurrection will be the one who said, ‘None has the right to be worshipped but Allah,’ sincerely from the bottom of his heart.” Sahih al-Bukhari 6570
3. The Word Of Tawheed
It is the word of tawheed, and its significance appears in the following: It is the word with which all the prophets and messengers were sent, for He, the Most High, said:
And We sent not before you any messenger except We revealed to him that, “There is no deity except Me, so worship Me.” Surah Al Anbiya verse 25
The word Tawheed is the first thing that a person is called to. Because of its importance, neither saying nor action is accepted without it.
Narrated Ibn Abbas: When the Prophet SAW sent Mu adh to Yemen, he said to him, “You are going to a nation from the people of the Scripture, so let the first thing to which you will invite them, be the Tauhid of Allah.
If they learn that, tell them that Allah has enjoined on them, five prayers to be offered in one day and one night.
And if they pray, tell them that Allah has enjoined on them Zakat of their properties and it is to be taken from the rich among them and given to the poor. And if they agree to that, then take from them Zakat but avoid the best property of the people. Sahih al-Bukhari 7372
4. The Negligence Of It Is One Of The Reasons For The Worthless Of The Work.
Allah says;
And it was already revealed to you and to those before you that if you should associate [anything] with Allah, your work would surely become worthless, and you would surely be among the losers. Surah Zumar 65
5. The key to paradise
The importance of La ilaha illallah was mentioned above, so it is considered as the key to Paradise, so there is no entry to Paradise without it.
6. The Best Speech
It is considered the best speech because It is the highest and best branch of faith. He, may God bless him and grant him peace, said:
It is narrated on the authority of Abu Huraira that the Messenger of Allah (may peace and blessings be upon him) said:
Faith has over seventy branches or over sixty branches, the most excellent of which is the declaration that there is no god but Allah, and the humblest of which is the, removal of what is injurious from the path: and modesty is the branch of faith. Sahih Muslim 35
7. It is the supplication of the prophets,
Amr ibn Shu’ayb reported: The Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, said, “The best supplication is that which is made on the day of Arafat.
The best of it is what was said by myself and the prophets before me: There is no God but Allah alone, without any partners, unto Him belong the dominion and all praise and He has power over all things.”
Source: Sunan al-Tirmidhi 3585
8. Good Word
Have you not considered how Allah presents an example, [making] a good word like a good tree, whose root is firmly fixed and its branches [high] in the sky? It brings forth its fruit at all times, by the leave of its Lord. So Allah sets forth parables for men, in order that they may receive admonition. Surah Ibrahim 24-25
9. Blood Is Protected
From the merit of there is no god but Allah, it is a few words with simple letters, whoever says them has protected his blood even if he is in the field of war, as previously mentioned in the story of Osama.
Narrated Anas bin Malik: Allah’s Messenger (SAW) said, “I have been ordered to fight the people till they say: ‘None has the right to be worshipped but Allah.’
And if they say so, pray like our prayers, face our Qibla and slaughter as we slaughter, then their blood and property will be sacred to us and we will not interfere with them except legally and their reckoning will be with Allah.”
Sahih al-Bukhari 392
10. The Word Of Truth, Honesty And The Most Trustworthy Handhold
The virtue of La ilaha illallah is revealed through the benevolent attributes that characterized it, and among these attributes are the following:
11. Word Of Truth
It is described as the word of truth, and the evidence for that is His saying, the Most High:
And those they invoke besides Him do not possess [power of] intercession; but only those who testify to the truth [can benefit], and they know. Surah Zukhuruf 86
7 Condition Of La Ilaha Illallah
There are conditions that must be met for it to be accepted. The 7 Condition Of Laa Ilaha Illallah are:
- Ilm (Knowledge): The first condition of La Ilaha Illallah is knowledge. It involves a deep understanding and awareness of the meaning and implications of this declaration. Muslims are encouraged to seek knowledge about the oneness of Allah, the message of Islam, and the significance of La Ilaha Illallah in shaping their beliefs and actions.
- Al Yaqeen (Certainty): Certainty is the unwavering conviction and firm belief in the truth of La Ilaha Illallah. It requires a strong and unshakeable faith in the oneness of Allah and the principles of Islam. Muslims strive to cultivate a deep sense of certainty in their hearts, free from doubt or hesitation.
- Alqabool (Acceptance): Acceptance involves acknowledging the truth of La Ilaha Illallah in one’s heart and accepting it as the fundamental tenet of faith. It goes beyond mere knowledge and requires a conscious affirmation and internalization of this belief, shaping one’s worldview and actions accordingly.
- Al inkiyaadh (Submission): Submission is an essential aspect of La Ilaha Illallah. It implies willingly surrendering oneself to the will of Allah, obeying His commandments, and recognizing His authority. Muslims practice submission by following the teachings of Islam and aligning their lives with the guidance provided in the Quran and the Sunnah (traditions of Prophet Muhammad).
- Assidqu (Truthfulness): Truthfulness is the sincere and genuine affirmation of La Ilaha Illallah. It involves being truthful in one’s adherence to monotheism and avoiding hypocrisy. Muslims aim to live in accordance with the principles of truthfulness, aligning their actions with the belief in the oneness of Allah.
- Al Ikhlas (Sincerity): Sincerity is the purity of intention in declaring La Ilaha Illallah. Muslims strive to ensure that their worship and deeds are solely for the sake of Allah, without seeking praise or recognition from others. The sincerity of intention is crucial in maintaining the purity of faith.
- Muhabba (Love): Love is the genuine affection and devotion to Allah that accompanies the declaration of La Ilaha Illallah. Muslims express their love for Allah through worship, obedience, and a deep connection with the Creator. This love motivates believers to live righteous lives and fulfill their obligations as outlined in Islam.
May Allah grant us success.
