7 Things You Should Know!

Salam,
Bismillah.

La ilaaha illallah = There is no deity except Allah.
This above statement is commonly known as ‘kalima’ among the Muslims.
Muslims believe that saying this kalima makes you a Muslim and is the pass to Paradise. But is it as simple as that?

There are seven conditions of the kalima (taken from the Quran and Sunnah), defined by scholars, and briefly described below. Do read them, follow and get a ticket to Paradise? ;) (InshaAllah).

Al-‘Ilm (knowledge):

Knowing. Allah says in the Quran, “So know, [O Muhammad], that there is no deity except Allah…” (Muhammad 19).

Blind faith is not at all acceptable. The person who knew that “there is no deity except Allah” will enter into Paradise.

So, knowledge makes the difference. Every person shall be asked 3 questions in the grave. If he answers them correctly, he’ll pass the final test. If he doesn’t, he’ll fail. The person who wouldn’t be able to answer the questions would say “I don’t know”. So, the difference is of knowledge.

It is said that obtaining knowledge is obligatory, which knowledge? Knowledge on the basis of which salvation depends! And that is those 3 questions of the grave.
For details on the 3 questions, click here.

If we know there is an exam tomorrow, we would study.
Prophet Muhammad s.a.w used to take out lessons for his companions from things like the flapping of birds’ wings, as quoted by a companion himself.
He taught wise words (kalimat) to kids too. (Like he once taught something to his young companion, Ibn-e-Abbas r.a.)

So ‘know’, and tell others too.

Al-Yaqeen (certainty):

This is the opposite of doubt. It’s about the certainty on the kalima and the certainty that everything other than it is false. Complete faith!

It is said in a hadith that there is no greater blessing given than certainty and health. So you should make dua for these. (I can’t seem to find hadith references; this is the meaning of the hadith).

This certainty of the kalima is a way for the expiation of the sins too.

Below is the story of a man who was certain that Allah is the Lord and can punish him.

‘Once there was a man on his death-bed, who, losing every hope of surviving said to his family: When I die, gather for me a large heap of wood and make a fire (to burn me). When the fire eats my meat and reaches my bones, and when the bones burn, take and crush them into powder and wait for a windy day to throw it (i.e. the powder) over the sea. They did so, but Allah collected his particles and asked him:
Why did you do so? He replied: For fear of You. So Allah forgave him.”

[Bukhari, Volume 4, Book 56, 659]

Why is there so much importance of Sayyidul-Istighfar? Because we express our certainty in it.
Click here for Sayyidul-Istighfar.

So, first thing is knowledge. And with knowledge comes certainty.

Al-Qubool (acceptance):

This is the opposite of rejection. Some people have knowledge and they are certain that this is the truth but they still do not accept, due to arrogance or some other such reason. For example, Abu Jahal knew and was certain that the message brought by Prophet Muhammad s.a.w is true but he didn’t accept. Similarly, the scholars of Jews and Christians knew and were certain that the message of the Prophet s.a.w is true but they didn’t accept.

“Those to whom We gave the Scripture know him as they know their own sons. But indeed, a party of them conceal the truth while they know [it].” (Al-Baqarah 146)

“Many of the People of the Scripture wish they could turn you back to disbelief after you have believed, out of envy from themselves [even] after the truth has become clear to them.” (Al-Baqarah 109)

“Indeed they, when it was said to them, “There is no deity but Allah,” were arrogant” (As-Saaffat 35)

“The most hated speech to Allah is when a man says to another man, ‘Fear Allah!’ and he replies, ‘Worry about your own self!’ “[Sheikh Albani authenticated it in Silsilatul-Ahaadeethis-Saheehah (#2598)]

Al-Inqiyad (adherence):

Obedience. To show by actually doing the stuff. Acceptance was to affirm by saying it and adherence is to do it too.

“And return [in repentance] to your Lord and submit to Him before the punishment comes upon you; then you will not be helped.” (Az-Zumar 54)

It says in a hadith: “the believer is like a submissive camel, wherever he is led, he follows” [Ahmad (4/126), Ibn Maajah (no. 43), al-Haakim (1/96) and others – Hasan]

““Islam is to bear witness that there is no god but God and that Muhammad is the Messenger of God; and to perform the prayer; pay zakat; fast Ramadan; and to perform Hajj to the House if you are able.”” [From Hadith-e-Jibreel, Sahih Muslim. Click here.]
So in this hadith, Islam, or being a Muslim, means to show it through actions too (prayer, zakat, fast, hajj).

As-Sidq (truth):

To bear witness truthfully from the heart. Because the hypocrites bore witness too but it was not truthful.

“And of the people are some who say, “We believe in Allah and the Last Day,” but they are not believers.” (Al-Baqarah 8)

Al-Ikhlaas (purity):

It says in a hadith, when a servant of Allah utters the words la ilaha illallah (there is no God except Allah) sincerely, the doors of heaven open up for these words until they reach the Throne of Allah, so long as its utterer keeps away from the major sins.

So Allah accepts only the sincere and pure acts of worship.

Prophet Muhammad s.a.w said that the person who will benefit the most from my intercession will be the one who said la ilaaha illallah (there is no God except Allah) from a pure (truthful) heart.

Love of Allah and Prophet s.a.w:

This too is a condition of the kalima. Loving Allah, Prophet Muhammad s.a.w and loving all those things that Allah and His Prophet s.a.w love. Loving Allah’s pious servants (auwliaa and scholars).

“And [yet], among the people are those who take other than Allah as equals [to Him]. They love them as they [should] love Allah. But those who believe are stronger in love for Allah.” (Al-Baqarah 165)

Someone (either from the companions or the pious predecessors) said that if you want to judge your love of Allah then, whatever Allah dislikes you would hate it even more than ‘musabbar’ (it is an extremely bitter substance and is used for weaning off babies).

Denial of Taghoot (false objects of worship):

Denying everything that is worshipped other than Allah.

Just so you get a clear idea of Taghut, “And We certainly sent into every nation a messenger, [saying], “Worship Allah and avoid Taghut.”” (An-Nahl 36)

“And whoever turns away from My remembrance – indeed, he will have a depressed life, and We will gather him on the Day of Resurrection blind.” He will say, “My Lord, why have you raised me blind while I was [once] seeing?” [Allah] will say, “Thus did Our signs come to you, and you forgot them; and thus will you this Day be forgotten.” And thus do We recompense he who transgressed and did not believe in the signs of his Lord. And the punishment of the Hereafter is more severe and more enduring.” (Ta-Ha 124-127)

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If you have any confusions, doubts or questions regarding your aqeedah, clear them NOW! Don’t just let it be!

Wassalam,
Hajrah. :)

P.S. Everything is taken from either the Quran or the sunnah. But I haven’t put those ahadith in quotation marks whose words may not be exact.