[3] Basics- Revisiting and Revising The Most Important Fundamentals: [The Two Pillars of Laa Ilaaha Illal laah]
The Name of Allaah, The Most Merciful, The Bestower of Mercy.
What is the Meaning of Laa Ilaaha Illal laah?
Laa Ilaaha is a negation of all that is devoted as an act of worship to other than Allaah. Illal laah is an affirmation that worship can only be devoted to Allaah alone- without anyone being associated as a partner with Allaah in that.
Therefore, Laa Ilaaha Illal laah is a statement established upon two mighty pillars and two robust foundations – Negation and Affirmation.
Allaah [The Exalted] said:
[وَقَضَىٰ رَبُّكَ أَلَّا تَعۡبُدُوٓاْ إِلَّآ إِيَّاهُ – And your Lord has decreed that you worship none but Him].
[Surah Al-Israa. Aayah 23]
Allaah [The Exalted] said:
[وَمَآ أُمِرُوٓاْ إِلَّا لِيَعۡبُدُواْ ٱللَّهَ مُخۡلِصِينَ لَهُ ٱلدِّينَ – And they were commanded not, but that they should worship Allah, and worship none but Him Alone (abstaining from ascribing partners to Him)]. [Surah Al-Bayyinah. Aayah 5]
Allaah [The Exalted] said that Prophet Ibraaheem [peace be upon him] said to his people:
إِنَّنِى بَرَآءٌ۬ مِّمَّا تَعۡبُدُونَ
إِلَّا ٱلَّذِى فَطَرَنِى
Verily, I am innocent of what you worship, except Him (i.e. I worship none but Allah Alone) Who did create me.
[Surah Az-Zukhruf 26-27]
Allaah [The Exalted] said: [ وَلَقَدۡ بَعَثۡنَا فِى ڪُلِّ أُمَّةٍ۬ رَّسُولاً أَنِ ٱعۡبُدُواْ ٱللَّهَ وَٱجۡتَنِبُواْ ٱلطَّـٰغُوتَ – And verily, We have sent among every Ummah (community, nation) a Messenger (proclaiming): “Worship Allah (Alone), and avoid (or keep away from) Taghut (all false deities, etc. i.e. do not worship Taghut besides Allah)”]. [Surah An-Nahl. Aayah 36]
Allaah [The Exalted] said: [فَمَن يَكۡفُرۡ بِٱلطَّـٰغُوتِ وَيُؤۡمِنۢ بِٱللَّهِ فَقَدِ ٱسۡتَمۡسَكَ بِٱلۡعُرۡوَةِ ٱلۡوُثۡقَىٰ – Whoever disbelieves in Taghut (all false deities) and believes in Allah (by worshipping Allaah alone), then he has grasped the most trustworthy handhold]. [Surah Al-Baqarah Aayah 256]
[Source: Explanation of Important Lessons For The Muslim Ummah. page 43. Maktabah Malik Al-Fahad 1436AH. (2015)]