Laa ‘ilaaha illa Allaah (there is no deity except Allaah) is the call of the Prophets and Messengers
Laa ‘ilaaha illa Allaah(there is no deity except Allaah) is the call of the Prophets and Messengers
Call to “Laa ‘ilaaha illa Allaah” is the salvation from Shirk. Allaah The Almighty says: {And invite [people] to your Lord. And never be of those who associate others with Allaah.} [Al-Qasas: 87]
It is also the best deed. Allaah The Almighty says: {And who is better in speech than one who invites to Allaah and does righteousness and says, "Indeed, I am of the Muslims."} [Fussilat: 33]
Moreover, it is the call of the Prophets and Messengers, peace be upon them all. Allaah The Almighty says:{And We certainly sent into every nation a messenger, [saying], "Worship Allaah and avoid Taghut (all false deities, etc. i.e. do not worship Taghut besides Allaah).} [An-Nahl: 36]
It is the invitation of Nooh (Noah), peace be upon him, to his people:
Here he is calling his people. Allaah The Almighty says: {We had certainly sent Noah to his people, and he said, "O my people, worship Allaah; you have no deity other than Him. Indeed, I fear for you the punishment of a tremendous Day.} [Al-A‘raaf: 59]
It is also his invitation to his son:
Allaah The Almighty says on the behalf of Nooh, peace be upon him: {And Noah called to his son who was apart [from them], "O my son, come aboard with us and be not with the disbelievers. [But] he said, "I will take refuge on a mountain to protect me from the water." [Noah] said, "There is no protector today from the decree of Allaah , except for whom He gives mercy."} {Hood: 42-43}
It is the message of Ibraaheem (Abraham), peace be upon him:
He invited his father and people to it. Allaah The Almighty says on the behalf of Ibraaheem, peace be upon him: {[And] when he said to his father and his people, "What do you worship? Is it falsehood [as] gods other than Allaah you desire? Then what is your thought about the Lord of the worlds?"} [As-Saafaat: 85-87]
He also enjoined his sons with it. Allaah The Almighty says: {And Abraham instructed his sons [to do the same] and [so did] Jacob, [saying], "O my sons, indeed Allaah has chosen for you this religion, so do not die except while you are Muslims."} [Al-Baqarah: 132]
It is the invitation of Hood (Hud), peace be upon him, to ‘Aad:
Allaah The Almighty says: {And to the ‘Aad [We sent] their brother Hud. He said, "O my people, worship Allaah ; you have no deity other than Him. Then will you not fear Him?"} [Al-A‘raaf: 65]
It is the call of Saalih (Saleh), peace be upon him, to Thamood:
Allaah The Almighty says: {And to the Thamud [We sent] their brother Saalih He said, "O my people, worship Allaah; you have no deity other than Him. There has come to you clear evidence from your Lord.} [Al-A‘raaf: 73]
It is the advice of Luqmaan to his son:
Allaah The Almighty says: {And [mention, O Muhammad], when Luqman said to his son while he was instructing him, "O my son, do not associate [anything] with Allaah. Indeed, association [with him] is great injustice."} [Luqmaan: 13]
It is the instruction of Ya‘qoob (Jacob), peace be upon him, to his sons before his death:
Allaah The Almighty says: {Or were you witnesses when death approached Jacob, when he said to his sons, "What will you worship after me?" They said, "We will worship your God and the God of your fathers, Abraham and Ishmael and Isaac - one God. And we are Muslims [in submission] to Him."} [Al-Baqarah: 133]
It is the invitation of the Prophet Muhammad, peace and blessings be upon him, and his nation to all people until beginning of the Hour i.e. the Day of Resurrection:
Allaah The Almighty has sent His Messenger, peace and blessings be upon him, with the testimonial of Laa ‘ilaaha illallaah(there is no deity except Allaah) to mankind and Jinn, and Arab and non-Arab. He The Almighty commanded him, peace and blessings be upon him, and his nation to invite to it.
Allaah The Almighty says: {Say, "This is my way; I invite to Allaah with insight,[1] I and those who follow me. And exalted is Allaah ; and I am not of those who associate others with Him."} [Yoosuf: 108]
Ibn Katheer said: Allaah The Almighty orders His Messenger to say to mankind and the Jinn that this is his way, meaning, his method, path and Sunnah, concentrating on calling to the testimony that there is no deity worthy of worship except Allaah alone without partners. The Messenger, peace and blessings be upon him, calls to this testimonial with sure knowledge, certainty and firm evidence. He calls to this way, and all of those who followed him call to what Allaah's Messenger, peace and blessings be upon him, called to with sure knowledge, certainty and evidence, whether logical or religious evidence.[2]
It is the invitation of the Prophet Muhammad, peace and blessings be upon him, to his people:
The Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, used to walk around his people and say to them: Say Laa ‘ilaaha illallaahand you will prosper.[3]
Furthermore, the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, ordered Mu‘aath ibn Jabal, may Allaah be pleased with him, to call the people of Yemen to it:
It was narrated that Ibn ‘Abbaas, may Allaah be pleased with him, said: “When the Messenger of Allaah, peace and blessings be upon him, sent Mu‘aath to Yemen, he said to him: “You are going to people from among the people of the Book. Call them to bear witness that Laa ‘ilaaha illallaah. And in another narration: “To worship Allaah The Almighty alone…[4]
Because of the invitation to it, Allaah The Almighty enjoined Jihaad and the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, sent the armies: Jihaad that is enjoined by Islam is a holy pure fighting. It is not enjoined to shed blood, plunder properties and disgrace honors as the people of oppression, tyranny and aggression do. On contrary, Jihaad is only enjoined to make the word of Allaah The Almighty the uppermost and make the people know their creator and worship their truthful God, glorified and exalted be He.
The Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, sent ‘Ali Ibn Abi Taalib, may Allaah be pleased with him, as a leader of the army in the battle of Khaybar and said to him: “Advance cautiously, until you reach their open space, then invite them to Islam, and tell them of their duties before Allaah. By Allaah, if Allaah were to guide one man through you, that would be better for you than having red camels.”[5]
The nation of monotheism was saved by Abu Bakr, may Allaah be pleased with him, for he knew the God that is worthy of worship and disassociated himself from worshiping others than Him:
The best thing with which Allaah The Almighty kept the nation safe after the death of the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, (Let my soul, son and parents be sacrificed for him) is that Allaah The Almighty appointed from this nation a man who believes firmly in the Oneness of Allaah, is guided, and knows well that there is no god worthy of worship except Allaah The Almighty, stands firm on and with it when the feet slipped and the minds confused. He was the best leader for a people who were confused and perplexed. He was the best shepherd to a people who were like the sheep among the wolves.
He went out to them and said: “Whoever used to worship Muhammad, Muhammad has died, but whoever used to worship Allaah, Allaah is alive and shall never die.” Then recited the verse in which Allaah The Almighty says: {Muhammad is not but a messenger. [Other] messengers have passed on before him. So if he was to die or be killed, would you turn back on your heels [to unbelief]? And he who turns back on his heels will never harm Allaah at all; but Allaah will reward the grateful.} [Aal-‘Imraan: 144][6] The people wept loudly.[7]
Abu Bakr, may Allaah be pleased with him, led the people to true guidance and acquainted them with the right path they were to follow so that they went out reciting: {Muhammad is not but a messenger. [Other] messengers have passed on before him. So if he was to die or be killed, would you turn back on your heels [to unbelief]? And he who turns back on his heels will never harm Allaah at all; but Allaah will reward the grateful.} [Aal-‘Imraan: 144][8]
This is the invitation of the Prophets, Messengers and those who followed them among the scholars and the righteous. So if you follow their footsteps, then you will surely catch them. If you become like them, surely you will be gathered together with them. Do not let the hoopoe be more interested than you with the religion of Allaah The Almighty and calling to it. Certainly, you will get the same reward of whoever follows the way of guidance on your hands.
May Allaah guide us and you to whatever He loves and pleases Him.
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[1]Insight: Sheykh Muhammad ibn Saalih Al-‘Uthaimeen said in his invaluable book entitled “Zaad Ad-Daa‘yah ila Allaah”: Insight in calling people to Allaah The Almighty should have three matters:
Firstly, having clear and deep understanding regarding the rulings of Islam.
Secondly, knowing the conditions of the people being invited.
Thirdly, having sure knowledge of the appropriate way of calling to Allaah The Almighty.
[2] Tafseer Ibn Katheer (2/479).
[3] Reported by Ahmad in Al-Musnad (3/492-4/341), At-Tabaraani in Al-Kabeer (4582) on the authority of Rabee‘ah ibn ‘Ibaad, Ibn Abi Shaybah as in Al-Mataalib Al-‘Aaliyah (4/191), Al-Bukhaari in Af‘aal Al-‘Ibaad (258), Ad-Daar Qutni in As-Sunan (3/44), Al-Haakim Al-Mustadrak (2/611) and deemed it Saheeh (authentic) and Ath-Thahabi agreed with him on the authority of Taarik Ibn ‘Abdullah Al-Muhaaribi, may Allaah be pleased with him.
[4] Reported by Al-Bukhaari in his Saheeh (1458-1496-2448-7371), Muslim (19) and others
[5] Reported by Al-Bukhaari in his Saheeh (3701) and Muslim (2406).
[6] Reported by Al-Bukhaari (3668)
[7] Reported by Al-Bukhaari (3670).
[8] Reported by Al-Bukhaari (3670) on the authority of ‘Aa‘ishah, may Allaah be pleased with her.
