The 7 Conditions of Laa ilaaha illallah

1)       Ilm – knowledge [which negates ignorance]

Evidence:

The evidence for (the condition of) ‘Ilm is His Saying:

So know (O Muhammad) that Laa ilaaha ill Allah (none has the right to be worshipped except Allah) and seek forgiveness for your sins… [Muhammad 47:19]

Also, His Saying:

And those whom they invoke instead of Him have no power of intercession; except those who bear witness to the truth (i.e. believed in the Oneness of Allâh, and obeyed His Orders), and they know (the facts about the Oneness of Allâh). [az-Zukhruf 43:86]

Allaah –Ta’ala- said:

<La ilaha ‘illa Huwa (none has the right to be worshipped but He), and the angels and those having knowledge (also give this witness); (He is always) maintaining His creation in Justice. La ilaha ‘illa Huwa (none has the right to be worshipped but He), the All-Mighty, the All-Wise.>>

[Aali-‘Imran: 18]

And from the Sunnah, the confirmed Hadeeth in as-Saheeh (Muslim), on the authority of Uthman, who said: the Prophet said: Whoever dies knowing that none has the right to be worshipped except Allah (i.e. laa ilaaha ill Allah) will enter paradise. [Muslim]

2)       Yaqeen - Certainty [which negates doubt]

You need to have Ilm al yaqeen (certain knowledge) as opposed to Ilm al-dhann (suspicious knowledge).

Evidence:

The evidence (for the condition of) al-Yaqeen is His Saying:

The believers are only those who have believed in Allah and His Messenger, and afterward doubt not, but they strive with their wealth and their lives for the Cause of Allah. Those! They are the truthful.

[al-Hujuraat 49:15]

From the Sunnah, the confirmed Hadeeth in the Saheeh (i.e. Muslim), on the authority of Abu Hurairah, that the Messenger of Allah said:

I bear witness that nothing deserves to be worshipped except Allah, and that I am the Messenger of Allah.  No one will meet Allah with these two [words of testimony] – while he has no doubt about them, except that he will enter Paradise.  [Muslim]

Also, from Abu Hurairah – from a long Hadeeth – [the saying of the Prophet]:

Whoever you meet on the other side of this wall, who testifies that nothing deserves to be worshipped except Allah, while his heart is certain of this (testimony) – give him the good news of al-Jannah. [Muslim]

It is only those who believe not in Allaah and the Last Day and whose hearts are in doubt that ask your leave (to be exempted from Jihaad). So in their doubts they waver [Tawbah: 45]  -- speaking of the munaafiqs

3)       Qabool  –Acceptance [which negates ar-Radd- Negation]

The evidence (for the condition of) al-Qubool is His Saying:

And similarly, We sent not a warner before you (O Muhammad Sallahu alaihi wa sallam) to any town (people) but the luxurious ones among them said: ‘We found our fathers following a certain way and religion, and we will indeed follow their footsteps.’

(The warner) said: ‘Even if I bring you better guidance than that which you found your fathers following?’ They said: ‘Verily, We disbelieve in that with which you have been sent.’

So We took revenge of them, then see what was the end of those who denied (the worship of Allah alone). [az-Zukhruf 43:23 – 25]

Also, His Saying:

Truly when it was said to them: 'laa ilaaha ill Allah', they puffed themselves up with pride (i.e. they denied it), and they said: Are we going to abandon our gods for the sake of a mad poet? 

[as- Saaffaat 37:35, 36]

And from the Sunnah in the Saheeh on the authority of Abu Musa –RadhiAllaahu anhu- that the Prophet - sallAllaahu alayhi wa sallam - said: ‘The like of what Allaah sent me with of guidance and knowledge is like heavy rainfall which poured onto the ground. There was some land which was fertile which absorbed the water and many plants and grass began to grow. There was some land which was arid but it held the water and Allaah made the people benefit by it, so they drank from it, used the water and used it for agriculture. There was some other land which was affected by the water but was flat land where nothing would grow. It did not hold the water nor did it allow plants to grow. That is the example of the one who has understanding of the Deen and benefits from what Allaah sent me with, so he learns it and teaches it and the example of he who cannot raise his head due to it and does not accept the guidance of Allaah with which I have been sent.’

4)       Inqiyaad  - Submission & Obedience [negates disobedience]

Inqiyaad definition: Complete Submission and Compliance with its rights, which are the obligatory duties, doing it purely for Allah, seeking His Pleasure.

The evidence (for this condition of) al-Inqiyaad is His Saying:

And turn in repentance and in obedience with true faith to your Lord, and submit to Him before the torment comes upon you, and then you will not be helped. [az-Zumar 39:54]

Also, His Saying:

And who can be better in religion than one who submits his face (himself) to Allah, and he is a Muhsin (a doer of good), and follows the religion of Ibraaheem, Haneefan (to worship none but Allah alone). And Allah did take Ibraaheem as a Khaleel (an intimate friend). [an-Nisaa’ 4:125]

Also, His Saying:

And whoever submits his face [i.e. himself] to Allah, while he is Muhsin (a doer of good), then he has grasped the most trustworthy hand­hold [i.e. laa ilaaha ill Allah.  [Luqmaan 31:22]

Also, His Saying:

But no, by your Lord, they can have no Faith, until they make you (O Muhammad Sallahu alaihi wa sallam) judge in all disputes between them, and find in themselves no resistance against your decisions, and accept (them) with full submission.  [an-Nisaa’ 4:65]

And from the Sunnah, his saying:

No one of you with have (true) Faith, until his Hawaa (desires,whims etc.) are in accordance with what I have come with.  [al-Baghawee, Sharh as-Sunnah 1/213.  Its chain contains Nu’aim ibn Hammad, who has been declared to be da’eef  (weak)]

5)       As-Sidq - Truthfulness [which negates lying (khadib) and prohibits hypocrisy (nifaaq)]

-and it is to say ‘laa ilaaha illallah’ truthfully from one’s heart and to make one’s speech in accordance to what is in one’s heart.

The evidence (for the condition of) as-Sidq is His Saying:

Alif­Lâm­Mîm.

Do people think that they will be left alone because they say: ‘We believe,’ and will not be tested. 

And We indeed tested those who were before them. And Allâh will certainly make (it) known (the truth of) those who are true, and will certainly make (it) known (the falsehood of) those who are liars, (although Allâh knows all that before putting them to test). [al-‘Ankaboot 29:1-3]

Also, His Saying:

And of mankind, there are some (i.e. hypocrites) who say: ‘We believe in Allâh and the Last Day’ while in fact they believe not.

They (think to) deceive Allâh and those who believe, while they only deceive themselves, and perceive (it) not!

In their hearts is a disease (of doubt and hypocrisy) and Allâh has increased their disease. A painful torment is theirs because they used to tell lies. [al-Baqarah 2:8-10 

And from the Sunnah, that which is confirmed in as-Saheehain (i.e. al-Bukhaaree and Muslim), on the authority of Mu’aadh ibn Jabal, from the Prophet:

 …There is none who testifies truthfully from his heart that there is no deity (god) worthy of worship except Allah and Muhammad  is His servant and His Messenger, except that Allah will make Haraam for him (i.e. save him from) the Hell-Fire... [al-Bukhaaree.  (Al-Albaanee said that this narration is not in Muslim. See: Mishkaat, 1/15, no. 25)]

6)       Al-Ikhlaas  – Purity and Sincerity-worshipping Allah exclusively- [which negates shirk]

The evidence (for the condition of) al-Ikhlaas is His Saying:

 Surely, the pure religion  (i.e. the worship and obedience) is for Allah alone. [az-Zumar 39:3]

Also, His Saying:

And they were commanded not, but that they should worship Allâh, and worship none but Him Alone (abstaining from ascribing partners to Him)… [al-Bayyinah 98:5]

And from the Sunnah is the confirmed Hadeeth in the Saheeh (i.e. al-Bukhaaree), on the authority of Abu Hurairah, from the Prophet [that he said]:

The most fortunate of people who will receive my Shafaa’ah (intercession), will be the one who said: ‘La ilaaha ill Allah – sincerely from his heart or his soul. [al-Bukhaaree]

Also, in the Saheeh (i.e. al-Bukhaaree), on the authority of Utbaan ibn Maalik, from the Prophet, that he said:  Allah has forbidden the Fire upon one who says Laa ilaaha ill Allah, seeking by this the Face of Allah (i.e. saying this sincerely for Allah Alone). [al-Bukhaaree]

Also, that which is reported by an-Nasaa’ee, in ‘Amal al-Yawm wa-l-Lailah, from the Hadeeth of two men from among the companions, that the Prophet said: Whoever said: Laa ilaaha ill Allah, Wahda-hu, Laa Shareeka la-hu, la-hu-l-Mulk wa la-hu-l-Hamd, wa Huwa ‘ala kulli shay’in Qadeer – the heart being sincere, the tongue being truthful – Allah will make an opening in the sky due to it, such that He will look at the one who has said it from the people of the earth; and  it is the right of a servant whom Allah looks at that he be given what he asks for.   [This hadeeth has two weak narrators in its Isnaad (chain): Muhammad ibn Abdullah ibn Maimoon and Ya’qoob ibn ‘Aasim ibn ‘Urwah ibn Mas’ood]

7)       Mahabba  - Love  (for His kalimah and that which it entails, love for its people-those who act upon it, adhering to its conditions- and hating what violates it.)

The evidence (for the condition of) al-Mahabbah is His Saying:

And of mankind are some who take [for worship] others besides Allah as Andaal (rivals). They love them as they love Allah.  But those who believe love Allah more (than anything else). [al Baqarah 2:65]

Also, His Saying:

O you who believe! Whoever from among you turns back from his religion (Islâm), Allâh will bring a people whom He will love and they will love Him; humble towards the believers, stern towards the disbelievers, fighting in the Way of Allâh, and never afraid of the blame of the blamers…[al-Maa’idah 5:54]

<< Indeed there has been an excellent example for you in Ibraheem and those with him, when they said to their people: ‘Verily, we are free from you and whatever you worship besides Allaah. We have rejected you and there has begun between us and you hostility and hatred forever, until you believe in Allaah Alone’>> [Mumtahana: 4]

You will not find any people who believe in Allaah and the Last Day befriending those who oppose Allaah and His Messenger even though they were their fathers, their sons, their brothers or their kindred (people). For such

He has written Faith in their hearts >> [Mujadilah:22]

Say: If your fathers, your sons, your brothers, your wives, your kindred, the wealth that you have gained, the commerce in which you fear a decline and the dwellings in which you delight ... are dearer to you than Allaah and His Messenger and striving hard and fighting in His Cause, then wait until Allaah brings about His Decision (torment). And Allaah guides not the people who are the rebellious, disobedient to Allaah. >> [Tawbah: 23-24]

And from the Sunnah, that which is confirmed in the Saheeh (i.e. Muslim) on the authority of Anas, that he said, that the Messenger of Allah said:

Whoever possesses the following three characteristics will taste the sweetness of faith: (1) That he loves Allah  and His Messenger more than anything else; (2)  that he loves a person, and he only loves him for the sake of Allah; (3) and that he hates to return to disbelief after being saved from it just as he would hate to be thrown into the Fire. [Muslim]

Bukhari -Rahimahullaah- said: Muhammad bin Sinaan narrated to us that Faleeh said that Hilaal bin ‘Alee narrated to us on the authority of ‘Atta bin Yassar on the authority of Abu Huraira –RadhiAllaahu anhu- that the Messenger of Allaah – sallAllaahu alayhi wa sallam - said:

 ‘Everyone from my Ummah will enter Paradise, except the one who refuses to enter.’

They asked: ‘O Messenger of Allaah, who would refuse?’

He said: ‘Whoever obeys me enters Paradise and whoever disobeys me has

refused to enter.’

(Al-ilmu, wal-yaqeenu, wal-qaboolu, wa-inqiyaadu, tadri maa aqoolu

wa-sidqu, wal-ikhlaasu, wal-muhabbah

wa-tafaqa Allaahu lima ahabbah)

Knowledge and certainty and acceptance along with submission, and be aware of what I am saying

And truthfulness along with sincerity and love,

Allaah grant you tawfeeq to what He loves

-Poetry by al haafidh al Hakamee from his book Ma’ribul Qubool

Source: A collaboration of Ma’aarij al-Qabool by Hafidh al Hakamee (translated by Abbas abu Yahya) &  Notes from ‘Evidences of  Laa ilaaha Illallaah’ –Muhammad ibn Abdul Wahhaab