(Series on Zikrullah – Part One)
In this world, keys tend to be very small. Yet, one small key can open the door to an entire home, business, or even a gigantic factory. In the very same way, the kalimah “Laa ilaaha illallah” is concise in words and light on the tongue, yet it is the key to salvation in this world and the key to Jannah in the next world.
The very instant a disbeliever recites this kalimah, accepting it with his heart, he enters the fold of Islam and receives his ‘passport’ to Jannah. Hence, it is reported in the hadeeth that in the initial days of Islam, Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) would invite the people to Islam saying, “O people! Say ‘Laa ilaaha illallaah’ and you will attain success!” (Musnad Ahmad #16023)
However, just as the kalimah “Laa ilaaha illallah” is required to commence one’s imaan, making zikr of this kalimah is also essential to refresh and strengthen one’s imaan. Hence, Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) once instructed the Sahaabah (radhiyallahu ‘anhum) saying, “Renew (and strengthen) your imaan.” The Sahaabah (radhiyallahu ‘anhum) enquired, “How do we renew (and strengthen) our imaan?” Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) responded, “Recite ‘Laa ilaaha illallah’ in abundance.” (Musnad Ahmad #8710)
In another hadeeth, Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) mentioned that the best form of zikr is “Laa ilaaha illallah”. (Sunan Tirmizi #3383)
In this regard, it is reported that once Nabi Moosa (‘alaihis salaam) requested Allah Ta‘ala to grant him a (special) form of zikr to recite. Allah Ta‘ala said to him, “O Moosa! (Recite) ‘Laa ilaaha illallah’.” Nabi Moosa (‘alaihis salaam) responded that all the servants of Allah Ta‘ala recite “Laa ilaaha illallah”, hence he wanted a special zikr that would be exclusive to him alone. To this, Allah Ta‘ala said, “O Moosa! If the seven heavens and the seven earths were to be placed in one pan of the scale, and (the kalimah) ‘Laa ilaaha illallah’ was to be placed in the other pan, ‘Laa ilaaha illallah’ would outweigh them.” (As-Sunanul Kubraa – Nasaai #10602)
In one hadeeth, Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) said, “No good deed can surpass ‘Laa ilaaha illallah’, and it does not leave any sin.” (Sunan Ibni Maajah #3797)
Shaikhul Hadeeth, Moulana Muhammad Zakariyya Kandhelwi (rahimahullah) explains under this hadeeth that the meaning of ‘not leaving any sin’ is that if a disbeliever recites it and embraces Islam, then all his previous sins will be forgiven. As for the believer who recites it, then on account of the recitation of the kalimah having the effect of polishing the heart, it will motivate him to make istighfaar and taubah, due to which his sins will be forgiven. (Fazaail-e-Aa’maal – Fazaail Zikr pg. 110)
The ‘Ulama recommend that a person recite the kalimah “Laa ilaaha illallah” one hundred times daily. In this blessed month of Ramadhaan in specific, Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) has encouraged us to increase the recitation of the kalimah “Laa ilaaha illallah”, and hence together with our other azkaar and recitation of the Quraan Majeed, we should ensure that we do not miss out our daily zikr of “Laa ilaaha illallah”.
May Allah Ta‘ala allow us to moisten our tongues with this kalimah and make us pass away with it on our lips, aameen.