(Laa Illaaha il’Allaah - (لا اله الاالله)
Its
meaning – There is No diety worthy of worship (in Truth) except Allaah.
Its
pillars are:
1. The
negation phrase “ there is no deity worthy of worship (Laa Ilaaha)
2. The
confirmation phrase “ except Allaah (IllaaAllaah)
The phrase: “there is no deity worthy of worship” negates all other
false objects of worship while the phrase “except
Allaah” confirms that there is only one true Lord, worthy of worship
Who has no partners.
The
conditions of the Shahaadah (testimony of Faith) are eight:
1. `Ilm (Knowledge): Knowledge of it’s meaning – what is
confirmed by it and what is negated by it. As previously stated it was
mentioned that the meaning of: “There is NO deity
worthy of worship except Allaah” is that all other objects of
worship that mankind set up as partners with Allaah are false.
2. Yaqeen
(Certainty): To have certainty in its meaning, (i.e. to be free from doubt or
suspicion). This means one must be upon certainty that none has the right to be
worshipped except Allaah.
3. Al-Ikhlaas (Sincerity): This means the sincerity the servant
has towards his Lord ONLY, in all acts of
worship. For example, if anyone deviates from this sincerity to Allaah and
directs it towards a Prophet, an idol, a king, the jinn or any other false
object of worship, then, certainly he is guilty of committing Shirk
(polytheism) and has contradicted this condition of the Shahaadah (Testimony
of Faith), which is Sincerity.
4. As-Sidq (Truthfulness): It means to speak the truth in
order to remove any trace of hypocrisy. This is the meaning of Sidq. It also
means to observe truthfulness with the tongue as well as the heart. If Sidq is observed
by only the tongue and not by the heart, then this condition of Sidq
(truthfulness) will not be met.