By Shaykh Saalih Ibn Fawzaan al-Fawzaan
Learn how the belief of Laa ilaha illallaah
benefits the society at large.
So people cannot truly be united except upon the
correct concept of eemaan (faith) and the
correct ’aqeedah of Tawheed, which are both
direct implications of Laa ilaaha illallaah. One
need only consider the conditions of the Arabs
before and after Islaam.
This kalimah (word) Laa ilaha ilallaah (that
none has the right to be worshipped except
Allaah), if it said with truthfulness and
sincerity from the heart, and acted upon in that
which it necessitates - outwardly and inwardly -
then its effect will indeed be praiseworthy upon
both the individual and the society.
From the most important of its effects are:-
1) Uniting the word of the Muslims: This will
result in strengthening the Muslims and
assisting them in defeating their enemies - as
long as they continue to follow and practise the
same single religion, and as long as they adhere
to the same single 'aqeedah (belief). Allaah -
the Most High - said:
"And hold fast to the rope of Allaah and do not
be divided." [3:103]
" It is He Who has strengthened you with His
help and with the Believers, and moreover, He
has put love and affection between their hearts.
If you were to spend all that is in the earth,
then never could you have united their hearts,
but Allaah has united them. Indeed He is the
all-Mighty, the all-Wise." [8:62-63]
And differing in matters of 'aqeedah (beliefs)
is the cause for splitting, disunity and
hostility, as Allaah - the Most High - said:
" Indeed those who split-up their religion and
become sects, you have no part with them in the
least." [6:159]
" But people have cut-off their affair of unity
between them and have become sects, each party
rejoicing in that which is with itself. "
[23:53]
So people cannot truly be united except upon the
correct concept of eemaan (faith) and the
correct 'aqeedah of Tawheed, which are both
direct implications of Laa ilaha ilallaah. One
need only consider the conditions of the Arabs
before and after Islaam.
2) Prevalence of safety and peace in a unified
society, which believes in and abides by Laa
ilaha ilallaah. Since the individuals in such a
society will take care in doing only that which
Allaah has made halaal (lawful) and abandoning
that which Allaah has made haraam (unlawful) -
acting in accordance with what the 'aqeedah
necessitates upon them. So this will prevent
people from enmity, oppression and injustice,
whilst directing them towards co-operation, love
and deep brotherhood for the sake of Allaah,
acting upon His - the Most High's saying - :
" Indeed the Believers are but brothers."
[49:10]
This is clearly reflected in the life of the
Arabs before and after believing in Laa ilaha
ilallaah. Before Islaam, they lived in hostility
and insecurity, constantly fighting and killing
each other. However, when they embraced Islaam
all this changed, and the same people lived with
each other in peace and an atmosphere of love
and brotherhood prevailed, as Allaah - the Most
High - said:
"Muhammad is the Messenger of Allaah, and those
who are with him are strong and mighty against
the unbelievers and merciful and kind amongst
each other." [48:29]
"And remember the favour of Allaah upon you; for
you were enemies and He joined your hearts in
love, so that by His grace you became brothers "
[3:103]
3) Achievement of happiness, attainment of the
khilaafah (succession of power and authority) in
the earth, maintaining purity of the religion
and being steadfast against the onslaught of
false beliefs and foreign ideologies. Allaah
said:
"Allaah has promised to those among you who
truly have eemaan (true faith and belief) and
act in obedience to Allaah and His Messenger,
that he will grant them rulership upon the
earth, just as He granted it to those before
them, and that He will establish their Religion
for them and grant them the authority to
practice their religion which He chose and
ordered them with. And He will certainly change
their situation to one of security, after their
fear. Providing that they worship and obey Me,
not associating anything else in worship with
Me. Then, whoever rejects this favour by
disobedience to their Lord - then they are the
rebellious transgressors." [24:55]
So Allaah - the Most Perfect - has made
achievement of these lofty goals conditional
upon worshipping and obeying Him not associating
any partners with Him. And this is the true
meaning of Laa ilaha ilallaah.
