AhlulHadeethPublications.Com

بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم

A valuable benefit pertaining to the 8 conditions of the Kalimah (testimony of faith) & its meaning from the Sharh (explanation) of Thalāthatul Usool by Shaykh Muhammad Ibn Abdul Wahāb an-Najdī. رحمه الله By the noble scholar, Shaykh Abdullāh Al-Ghunaymān.

حفظه الله

—

The author, Shaykh Muhammad Ibn Abdul Wahāb an-Najdī رحمه الله says:
The Daleel (evidence) for the Shahādah (testimony of faith) is found in the Āyah in Sūrah Āl-Imrān, where Allāh, the Most High, says:
شَهِدَ اللَّهُ أَنَّهُ لَا إِلَٰهَ إِلَّا هُوَ وَالْمَلَائِكَةُ وَأُولُو الْعِلْمِ قَائِمًا بِالْقِسْطِ ۚ لَا إِلَٰهَ إِلَّا هُوَ الْعَزِيزُ الْحَكِيمُ

“Allāh bears witness that La ilaha illa Huwa (none has the right to be worshipped in truth but He), and the angels, and those having knowledge (also give this witness); (He is always) maintaining His creation in Justice. La ilah illa Huwa (none has the right to be worshipped in truth but He), the All-Mighty, the All-Wise.” [Sūrah Āl-Imran 3:18]

Shaykh Abdullāh Al-Ghunaymān explains: This is an evidence among numerous evidences, and it suffices a person to know an evidence from the numerous evidences. To know a plethora of evidence is good.

The testimony of faith (لا إله إلا الله) must be accompanied by knowledge, certainty, understanding and to act according to it.

Thus, the 8 conditions have been mentioned pertaining to it, with the meanings/explanations of those conditions.

It means that (merely uttering) the Shahādah does not benefit a person, except if it is accompanied by these conditions.

Meaning that it (the Shahādah) doesn’t benefit one unless it is accompanied by these conditions, and they are:

1. Al-Ilm (Knowledge):
   Which negates Jahl (ignorance).
   That is, that you know the meaning of it (Shahādah), and it is not permitted for the servant of Allāh to be ignorant of this. That is why you find the one who is Jāhil (ignoramus) pertaining to its meaning comes with that which opposes it, though he may utter it (the Shahādah). For example, the one who goes to a grave and calls for help from its inhabitant and makes Tawāf (circumambulation) around it and makes Du’ā (supplication) to the grave, yet he says لا إله إلا الله. And this contradicts his statement, because if he knew the meaning of لا إله إلا الله, he would not have done these actions because لا إله إلا الله is in opposition to that. It is an obligation that all worship is done purely for the sake of Allāh alone.

2) Al-Yaqeen (Certainty):
Which negates doubt, and this is difficult to (comprehend) for some people who say: How can you say knowledge, yet certainty? Is certainty not encompassed within knowledge? The answer to that: The objective is not merely to make knowledge-based deductions, but rather to embody it and to truly gain certainty regarding it. And even if certainty is a part of knowledge, it must be established through clear explanation and affirmation, as mere intellectual acknowledgement is insufficient. Knowledge in this aspect must be accompanied with certainty, without any room for doubt, ensuring that a person reaches complete certainty free from any doubt.

3) Al-Qabool (Acceptance):
That is to accept this Kalimah (لا إله إلا الله) and its meaning and not reject anything from it, nor from its obligatory rights.

4) Al-Inqiyād (Obedience):
That which negates it is rejecting it and not submitting to it.

5) As-Sidq (Truthfulness):
Which negates hypocrisy, because even the Munafiq (hypocrite) says:
لا إله إلا الله
But he is a liar, therefore it is binding upon one to be truthful in his speech, statement, and not a liar, because lying is from hypocrisy.

6) Al-Mahabbah (Love):
That you love it and are happy with it as Allāh says:

قُلْ بِفَضْلِ اللَّهِ وَبِرَحْمَتِهِ فَبِذَٰلِكَ فَلْيَفْرَحُوا هُوَ خَيْرٌ مِمَّا يَجْمَعُونَ
Say: In the Bounty of Allāh, and in His Mercy (i.e. Islam and the Qur’ān); -therein let them rejoice. That is better than what (the wealth) they amass. [Yunus 10:58]

Meaning that one considers it a great blessing to have become one of the people of لا إله إلا الله.

7) Al-Ikhlās (Sincerity):
It nullifies Riyā’ (showing off), so the action is for Allāh alone, free from any showing off, so that it is not deemed null and void.

8) Al-Kufr’ bi-Tāghūt (Disbelief in Tāghūt):
Disbelief in whatever is worshipped besides Allāh.

And the author, Shaykh Muhammad Ibn Abdul Wahāb an-Najdī رحمه الله says:

And the meaning of this statement
لَا إِلَهَ إِلَّا اللَّهُ
Is that there is no deity worthy to be worshipped in truth except Allāh.

Shaykh Abdullāh Al-Ghunaymān explains the meaning of {In Truth}:
It means that you affirm, that anything which is worshipped (besides Him) is Bātil (falsehood).

📃 [Sharh Thalāthatul Usool by Shaykh Abdullāh Al-Ghunaymān, Pages 115-116]

✒️Translated to English by:
Abu Sakeenah Abdur Razāq al-Athari

📍Umm Al Qura University (Makkah, KSA)

📆 Jumada II 6, 1446 AH