“Whosoever obeys Allah and His Messenger (Muhammad (pbuh) will be admitted to Gardens under which rivers flow (in Paradise), to abide therein, and that will be the great success.” [4:13]
Verily the kalimah is the key to jannah, however like all keys we find that our shahadah also has a number of teeth which fit the grooves of the gated lock of paradise.
A man once came to Wahhab bin Munab’ih (tabieen and one of the advisors in the court of Umar) and said “isn’t the statement of lah ilaha ilallah the key to paradise?” Wahhab bin Munab’ih replied “Indeed it is the key to paradise and every key has ridges to open the right lock.”
Also Hasan Al-Basri asked a man “What have you prepared for death?” the man replied “the testification that none has the right to be worshipped but Allah” and Hasan Al-Basri said “that has some conditions to it.”
These teeth are known as the conditions of the shahadah and below are the conditions of the shahadah so that we may know and familiarise ourselves with these condition so we fulfil the criteria of those believers who will enter paradise.
Condition 1: Al-Ilm - Knowledge
“So know that Laa ilaaha ill-Allah (none has the right to be worshipped but Allah)…”(Muhammad, 47: 19)
This verse is a decisive request to have knowledge about Allah. One can not believe in Allah if he does not know what he/she should believe in. We are obliged to study, learn and know about Allah; His names and attributes, functions and actions; what He likes and dislikes, loves and hates.
Condition 2: Al-Yaqeen - Certainty
Knowledge is not enough, as many kuffaar (disbelievers) know about Allah. But what is also needed is to have certainty without any doubts or conjecture. Any kind of doubt will lead to Kufr (disbelief). We must, in our hearts, be absolutely certain of the truth of the shahadah. As Allah says: “Only those are the believers who have believed in Allah and His Messenger, and afterward doubt not but strive with their wealth and their lives for the cause of Allah...” (Hujaraat, 49: 15)
The Messenger Muhammad (pbuh) also said: "Whoever testifies that there is no god worthy of worship and obedience but Allah and that I am the Messenger of Allah, without any doubt he will enter Jannah." (Saheeh Muslim)
Condition 3: Al-Qubool – Acceptance
Some people may believe, have knowledge, and have certainty, but may not accept Shahadah by their hearts or tongues. This could be because it may be too difficult for them or they may not accept out of their own personal desires. Whoever refuses to accept Shahadah and its implications, even if they know that it is truth and certain about its truth, they still disbelievers. Allah says regarding those people: "Do you believe in part of the book and reject part of it? And what is the reward of those who do so save ignominy in the life of the world, and on the Day of Resurrection they will be consigned to the most grievous doom" (al-Baqara 2: 85).
Condition 4: Al-Inqiyaad - Submission
This implies the actual physical enactment with our deeds of our Shahadah. Allah has clearly made it a condition of faith that one submits to the command of Allah and His messenger. Allah says:
Allah says: “But nay, by your Lord, they can have no Eemaan, until they make you (Muhammad-pbuh]) 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)
Allah describes those who do not submit to Him, as disbelievers. Having knowledge, certainty and acceptance is not enough; you must also have submission with no haraj (discontent).
Allah says: “The command (or the judgement) is for none but Allah. He has commanded that you worship none but Him (i.e. His Monotheism), that is the (true) straight religion, but most men know not.” (Yoosuf, 12: 40)
Condition 5: As-Sidq - Truthfulness
With our Shahadah it needs honesty, in opposition to hypocrisy and dishonesty. There cannot be any lying when it comes to our testimony of faith.
The Prophet (pbuh) said, "No one bears testimony to there being no one worth of worship save Allah, sincerely from his heart, except that Allah makes the Hell-fire forbidden for him." (Recorded by al-Bukhari and Muslim.)
We are all familiar with those who say the testimony of faith yet they are not saying it honestly. They do not believe in it but they are simply saying it in order to protect themselves or to get some gain from doing so; they are the hypocrites. Allah has described them in the opening of the Qur'aan with the following words,
"And of mankind are some who say, 'We believe in Allah and the Last Day,' when they believe not. They think to beguile Allah and those who believe, and they beguile none save themselves, but they perceive not. In their hearts is a disease, and Allah increases their disease. A painful doom is theirs because they lie" (al-Baqarah 2: 8-10).
Condition 6: Al-Ikhlaas - Sincerity
Sincerity is needed in any deed, none greater so than the Shahadah itself. As Allah says:
“And they were commanded not, but that they should sincerely (with Ikhlaas) worship Allah, and worship none but Him Alone (abstaining from ascribing partners to Him), and perform As-Salaat and give Zakaat: and that is the right religion.” (al-Bayyinah, 98: 5)
Also the Messenger Muhammad (pbuh) said: "The one who says ‘there is none worthy of worship but Allah and Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah’ seeking sincerely to see the face of Allah, Allah will forbid him from Hell-fire." (Al-Bukhari and Muslim)
And also, Abu Hurayrah (ra) asked the Messenger Muhammad (pbuh): "who is the most blessed person to receive your intercession?" He said: "the one who says Laa ilaaha ill-Allah sincerely from his heart.’ (Al-Bukhari)
Condition 7: Al-Mahabbah - Love
The believers should love the shahadah they have taken, they should love it in accordance to how Allah requires, they should love the implications and requirements of the Shahadah and they should love those who act and strive for the sake of this Shahadah. All emotions and feelings should be based on this Shahadah.
The Messenger Muhammad (pbuh) also said: "The most powerful knot of Eemaan is to love for the sake of Allah and to hate for the sake of Allah." (Ahmad, Aadaab us-Suhbah)
Allah says: “And of mankind are some who take (for worship) others besides Allah as rivals (to Allah). They love them as they love Allah. But those who believe love Allah more (than anything else). If only those who do wrong could see, when they will see the torment, all power belongs to Allah and that Allah is Severe in punishment.” (al-Baqarah, 2: 165)
Therefore a Muslim must love all Muslims especially those who are active in protecting Islam from the attacks of the kuffar.
Condition 8: Al-Boughd - Hate
Not only should one love, but one must also hate all the acts which are hated by Allah. One must hate Shaytaan, disbelievers (kuffar), those who fight against Islam and Muslims. One must also hate all prohibited acts i.e. drinking alcohol, drugs, free-mixing between men and women, music, ribaa (interest), swearing etc.
The Messenger Muhammad (pbuh) also said: "The most powerful knot of Eemaan is to love for the sake of Allah and to hate for the sake of Allah." (Ahmad, Aadaab us-Suhbah)
In conclusion, the Muslims must fulfil all these conditions in order to complete their obligation of the Shahadah and in order to enter paradise. The Perfection of these conditions will purify the Shahadah.
May Allah give us the ability to fulfil and adhere to these conditions and may Allah enter us all in to the gardens of paradise where rivers flow. Ameen.
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