What is the meaning of the Hadeeths which point out that anyone who testifies that none is truly worthy of worship but Allaah will enter Paradise?

All perfect praise be to Allaah, The Lord of the Worlds. I testify that there is none worthy of worship except Allaah, and that Muhammad is His slave and Messenger.

There are many Hadeeths about the Two Testimonies of Faith; some reflect generality and others have specific restrictions. One should not use the general Hadeeths as evidence without heeding the detailed ones. Among the general Hadeeths are, for example, the Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam , told us that anyone whose last words are, “None is truly worthy of worship but Allaah,” will enter Paradise. [Al-Haakim: Saheeh (Authentic) chain of narrators; An-Nawawi: Saheeh] In another general Hadeeth, on the authority of Abu Tharr the Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, said that anyone who dies without associating anything in worship with Allaah The Almighty will enter Paradise. [Al-Bukhari and Muslim]

However, there are other Hadeeths that are more detailed and explain the aforementioned general ones. The Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, said that anyone who testifies that none is truly worthy of worship but Allaah and disbelieves in everything that is worshipped besides Allaah The Almighty, his life and wealth become inviolable and his account is with Allaah The Almighty. [Muslim]

According to Shaykh ‘Abd Allaah ibn Muhammad ibn ‘Abd Al-Wahhaab one must disbelieve in anything worshipped besides Allaah The Almighty in addition to declaring the Testimony of Faith. He mentioned that if someone declares the Testimony of Faith without disbelieving in everything that is worshipped besides Allaah The Almighty, his life and wealth are violable because he fails to reject polytheism and disclaim it as the Testimony of Faith does.

In another detailed Hadeeth, the Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, said that anyone who testifies that none is truly worthy of worship but Allaah Alone having no partner with Him, that Muhammad is His slave and Messenger, that ‘Eesaa (Jesus) is His slave and Messenger and His Word which He directed to Maryam (Mary) and a soul (created at a command) from Him, that Paradise is true and Hell is true; Allaah will make him enter Paradise according to the amount of his deeds. [Al-Bukhari and Muslim]

Shaykh ‘Abd Ar-Rahmaan ibn Hasan stated that this Hadeeth indicates that anyone who declares the Testimony of faith must be aware of its meaning and must act according to what it entails including disassociation from polytheism. According to the consensus of the scholars, anyone who declares this testimony without disassociating himself from polytheism, will not benefit from it. He also mentioned that one should know the implications of this testimony.

Knowledge of its meaning is one of its implications. The Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, mentioned that anyone who dies knowing that none is truly worthy of worship but Allaah The Almighty will enter Paradise. [Muslim] The Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, ordered Abu Hurayrah to give glad tidings to everyone who testifies that none is truly worthy of worship but Allaah The Almighty, while his heart is assured with it that he will enter Paradise. [Muslim]

Sincerity is another implication of this testimony. The Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, said that anyone who says that none is truly worthy of worship but Allaah, seeking nothing except His reward, will not enter Hell. [Al-Bukhari and Muslim]

Truthfulness is another of its implications. The Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, mentioned that his intercession will be for those who sincerely testify that none is truly worthy of worship but Allaah while what is in his heart and what is on his tongue are effectively identical. [Ahmad]

Acceptance of it is another of its implications because the polytheists denied it. Allaah The Almighty Says (what means): {Indeed they, when it was said to them, "None is truly worthy of worship but Allaah," were arrogant.} [Quran 37:35]

Submission is another implication of this testimony; Allaah The Almighty Says (what means):

· {And return [in repentance] to your Lord and submit to Him.} [Quran 39:54]

· {But no, by your Lord, they will not [truly] believe until they make you, [O Muhammad], judge concerning that over which they dispute among themselves and then find within themselves no discomfort from what you have judged and submit in [full, willing] submission.} [Quran 4:65]

Loving this testimony and those who declare it is another of its implications. Allaah The Almighty Says (what means): {But those who believe are stronger in love for Allaah.} [Quran 2:165] The Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, said that anyone who loves, hates, gives and withholds for the sake of Allaah The Almighty has perfected His Faith. [Abu Daawood, As-Suyooti: Saheeh]

The Shaykh went on to say that it is important to know the right of this testimony. The Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, said that Allaah The Almighty ordered him to fight people until they testify that none is truly worthy of worship but Allaah and that Muhammad is His slave and Messenger, and to perform prayers, and pay Zakah [Obligatory charity]; and if they do this, their account is with Allaah The Almighty and their life and wealth are secured unless they commit a sin that necessitates capital punishment or the payment of a fine. [Al-Bukhari and Muslim]

Shaykh ‘Abd Ar-Rahmaan mentioned the consensus of scholars concerning the fact that anyone who testifies that none is truly worthy of worship but Allaah without acting according to it or believing in its meanings, must be fought until he embraces Islam.

Abu Al-‘Abbaas Al-Qurtubi stated that in addition to the declaration of the Two Testimonies of Faith, the heart must believe in them with certitude. Otherwise, it would be said that the one who does acts of hypocrisy which render him an apostate is a believer because he declares the Testimony of Faith besides being a hypocrite.

There is so much more that could be said about the implications of the Testimony of Faith.

Allaah Knows best.