In the Arabic language ‘La ilaha illallah’ is made up of two sets of words, the first one being ‘La ilaha’ and the second one ‘illallah’. The first part of the Shahadah requires negation [nafee] and the second part requires affirmation [ithbaat] - for you must reject something before accepting anything else. So what are the obligations of ‘La ilaha illallah’ - what do we have to reject in order to accept Allah(swt) as our One and Only Lord?
There are four main things, which we must reject for ‘La ilaha illallah’ to be accepted from us. These consist of the following:
1) Aaliha
Aaliha is the plural form of the word ilah and ilah is the name given to any object of worship: the worship of an idol such as Hubal (worshipped by the people of Quraish at the time of the Prophet (sallallahu alaihi wa sallam)), the worship of a grave as we see today in the Asian sub-continent and other parts of the world, a Saint and finally ones internal desires can also be described as an ilah. For Allah(swt) to be worshiped Alone, all other ilah’s such as idols, graves, saints and other similar ilah’s- all must be rejected. Regarding this Allah(swt) said in the Quran:
“…Can you verily, bear witness that besides Allah there are other Aaliha? Say: “I bear no (such) witness!” Say: “But in truth He (Allah) is the only one ilah. And truly, I am innocent of what you join in worship with Him.” (al Ana’m 6:19)
And
“… And set not up with Allah any other ilah lest you should be thrown into Hell, blameworthy and rejected (from Allah’s Mercy)”. (al-Israa 17:22)
And:
”And your Lord has decreed that you worship none but Him”. (al Israa 17:23)
Also:
“And your ilah is one ilah (Allah), la ilaha illa Huwa (there is no ilah except for Him), the most Gracious, the Most Merciful.” (al Baqarah 2:163)
Also:
“Worship Allah and join none with Him in worship.” Surah 4 (an Nisaa’ 4:36)
2) Arbab
Arbab comes from Ruboobiyyah and is the plural of Rab which means Lord. Arbab and Aaliha are both inter-related, therefore if there is Arbab then there is Aaliha. For example, if anyone says he is Al-Qaadi (The judge), Al-Hakam (The legislater), Al-Wakeel (The disposer of affairs) or claims to give life and death then he can be classified as an Arbab because he has taken an attribute which is specific for Allah(swt) Alone. Allah(swt) says in the Qur'an;
“They (Jews and Christians) took their rabbis and their monks to be their Arbab (lords) besides Allah (by obeying them in things which they made lawful or unlawful according to their own desires without being ordered by Allah).” (at Tawbah 9:31)
Other examples include: if you ask a peer or saint to make dua for you to have a child or get better from an illness expecting his dua to give you shifa (cure you) without expecting the shifa to come from Allah(swt) then you have taken another Rab alongside Allah(swt). Only Allah(swt) should be asked and your dua (prayer) should only be directed to Allah(swt).
Also, if you go to a court in any country (including man-made courts in so called Muslim countries (judging with British or French Laws), magistrates, county or any such courts) and they judge you in your dispute using Kuffar (man-made) laws rather than what Allah(swt) has revealed (Shari’ah- Islamic Law) then you would not be judged and the judging will not be according to what Allah(swt) has revealed so this will be like taking others besides Allah as your Rab (this is Shirk). All kinds of Arbab should be rejected for Allah to be worshipped Alone.
3) Andad
Andad in Arabic means ‘equal to’ and in shari’ah, specifically ‘something made equal to Allah(swt)’. This could be in any form such as ones wealth, family, community, leadership, etc. For example if Allah(swt) has ordered us to do something (i.e. in the Qur'an or the Sunnah) but instead of obeying His order you obey your father’s, mother’s, or leader’s order which contradicts Islam, then you have made an Andad with Allah(swt) because you have rejected Allah(swt)’s command- to follow something or someone else.
To love something is natural but if you love this thing more or equal to your love for Allah(swt) then it becomes a partner which you worship alongside Allah(swt). For He has told us in the Qur'an:
“Say: If your fathers, your sons, your brothers, your wives, your kindred, the wealth that you have gained, the commerce in which you fear a decline, and the dwellings in which you delight … are dearer to you than Allah and His Messenger, and Jihad in His cause then wait until Allah brings about His Decision (torment). And Allah guides not the people who are Al-Fasiqun (the rebellious, disobedient to Allah).” (at Tawbah 9:24)
Allah(swt) also says:
“And of mankind are some who take others beside Allah as Andaadan (rivals). They love them as they love Allah. But those who believe, love Allah more. If only, those who do wrong could see, when they will see the torment, that all power belongs to Allah and that Allah is severe in punishment.” (al Baqarah 2:165)
Love for all things must come after our love for Allah(swt) and His Messenger (sallallahu alaihi wa sallam). All kinds of Andad have to be rejected for Allah(swt) to be worshipped Alone.
4) Taghut:
The word ‘Taghut’ has been derived from the words ‘Tagha’ or ‘Tugyan’. Its literal meaning is ‘when something exceeds or goes over its limit’. In general the word Taghut covers a wide range of meanings. From the Shari’ah point of view Taghut is anything which is worshipped other than Allah(swt), i.e. false deities. This may include Satan, devils, idols, stones, sun, stars, angels, or even human beings. Likewise saints, graves, rulers and leaders, other ruling sytems besides Islam may also be falsely worshipped and made into Taghut. (Meanings of the word ‘Taghut’ taken from “Tafsir ibn Katheer” and the “Noble Qur'an” by Mohammad Muhsin Khan)
It is very important to understand what Taghut is in order to reject it, for if one does not know its meaning then how would you keep yourself away from it. Once you understand the meaning, it then becomes necessary to know how to reject the Taghut. Allah(swt) says in the Qur'an regarding Taghut;
“There is no compulsion in religion. Verily, the right path has become distinct from the wrong path. Whoever disbelieves (does Kufr) in Taghut and believes in Allah, then he has grasped the most trustworthy handhold that will never break. And Allah is All-Hearer All-Knower.” (al Baqarah 2:256)
And:
“Allah is the Wali (Protector or Guardian) of those who believe. He brings them out from darknesses into the light. But for those who disbelieve, their Auliya (supporters and helpers) are Taghut, they bring them out from the light into darknesses. Those are the dwellers of the fire, they will abide therein forever.” (al-Baqarah 2:257)
And:
“And verily, we have sent among every Ummah (nation) a Messenger (proclaiming) “Worship Allah (Alone) and avoid (or keep away from) Taghut.” (an Nahl 16:36)
And:
“Have you seen those who claim that they believe in that which has been sent down to you, and that which was sent down before you, and they wish to go for judgement (in their disputes) to the Taghut while they have been ordered to reject them. But shaytan (satan) wishes to lead them far astray.” (an Nisaa’ 4:60)
And:
“Those who avoid At-Taghut by not worshipping them and turn to Allah (in repentance), for them are glad tidings; so announce the good news to My slaves.” (az Zumar 39:17)
Also:
“Those who believe, fight in the path of Allah, and those who disbelieve fight in the path of Taghut.” (an Nisaa’ 4:76)
And:
“Have you not seen those who were given a portion of the scripture? They believe in Al-Jibt and At-Taghut and say to the disbelievers that they are better guided as regards the way than the believers (Muslims).” (an Nisaa’ 4:51)
Also:
“Say (O Muhammad (sallallahu ‘alaihi wa sallam) to the people of the scripture): “Shall I inform you of some thing worse than that, regarding the recompense from Allah: those (Jews) who incurred the Curse of Allah and His wrath, those of whom (some) He transformed into monkeys and swines, those who worshipped Taghut; such are worse in rank (on the day of Resurrection in the Hell-fire).” (al Maai’dah 5:60)
In the above Ayat, Allah(swt) has described to us the straight path which would lead one to paradise. This straight path is to reject (in totality) the Taghut before ‘La ilaha illallah’ can be accepted. In other words before you can say ‘I believe in Allah’ (illallah) you must reject and disbelieve in the Taghut (La illaha).
If a person says ‘La ilaha illallah’ and he has not yet rejected the Taghut, then he is going against the above mentioned Ayah of Allah(swt) in which He said: “Whoever rejects Taghut and believes in Allah, then he has grasped the most trustworthy handhold that will never break”. In this Ayah Allah(swt) has used the Arabic word ‘Astamsaka’ instead of ‘Masaka’. ‘Masaka’ in Arabic means to hold something with one hand or in one hand but in this Ayah ‘Astamsaka’ is symbolically used, and means ‘to hold something with both hands’ or ‘to get a tight grip of something with both hands’. To make it simpler, if we say that you are holding something in your right hand then it must mean that your left hand is empty, so you can hold another object in your left hand. In the same way if we say that some one is holding ‘La ilaha illallah’ in one hand and Taghut in the other hand then his belief (iman) is not correct and he is outside the fold of Islam. This is why Allah(swt) used the word ‘Astamsaka’ in the above Ayah to make it clear to us that we have to hold ‘La ilaha illallah’ with both our hands and not in just one hand.
Thus, we must do what Allah(swt) has told us- “Reject the Taghut and hold ‘La ilaha illallah’ with both hands”. The plural of Taghut is ‘Tawagheet’. There are many different types of Tawagheet but the main among them are the following five:
1. Satan the accursed who calls people to worship other than Allah(swt). The proof is Allah(swt)’s statement in the Qur'an:
“Did I not ordain for you, O children of Adam, that you should not worship shaytan(satan). Verily he is a plain enemy to you.” (Ya-Seen 36:60)
2. The tyrant who changes the laws of Allah(swt) [Shari’ah]. The evidence is the statement of Allah(swt):
“You do not worship besides Him but only names which you have named- you and your fathers- for which Allah has sent down no authority. The Hukm (legislation, judgement, command) is for none but Allah. He has commanded that you worship none but Him; that is the (true) straight religion, but most men know not.” (Yoosuf 12:40)
And:
“Indeed your Lord is Allah, who created the heavens and the earth in six days, and then rose over (Istawa) the Throne. He brings the night as a cover over the day, seeking it rapidly, and (He created) the sun, the moon, the stars subjected to His Amr (command). Surely, His is the creation and Amr (commandment). Blessed is Allah, the Lord of Alamin.” (al A’raaf 7:54)
3. A person who rules by laws other than what Allah(swt) has revealed. Allah(swt) says:
“… And whoever does not judge by what Allah has revealed, such are the Kafirun (disbelievers).” (al Maai’dah 5:54)
Also:
“Have you seen those (hypocrites) who claim that they believe in that which has been sent down to you, and that which was sent down before you, and they wish to go for judgement (in their disputes) to the Taghut (false judges) while they have been ordered to reject them. But shaytan (satan) wishes to lead them far astray.” (an Nisaa’ 4:60)
4. Whoever claims to share Allah(swt)’s knowledge of Ghaib (unseen, future, etc) or takes any name, attribute or action belonging to Allah(swt) Alone. Evidence for this is the saying of Allah(swt):
“(He Alone) is the All-Knower of the Ghaib (the unseen) and He reveals to none His Ghaib except to a Messenger (from mankind) whom He has chosen. Then He makes a band of watching guards (angels) to march before him and behind him.” (al-Jinn 72:26-27)
Also:
“And with Him are the keys of the Ghaib; none knows them but He. And He knows whatever there is in the land and in the sea. Not a leaf falls but he knows it. There is not a grain in the darkness of the earth nor anything fresh or dry but is written in a clear record.” (al-Ana’m 6:59)
5. A person who is worshipped with his consent, in lieu of Allah(swt). The proof is the saying of Allah(swt) in the Qur'an:
“And if any of them should say: ‘Verily I am an ilah (a god) besides Him (Allah),’ such a one We should recompense with Hell. Thus We recompense the Zalimun (wrong-doers and Polytheists).” (al Anbiyaa’ 21:29)
In conclusion to the above it is essential to understand that a person cannot be a Muslim or a true believer unless he makes Kufr (rejects, denies and condemns) the Taghut. The evidence for this is the saying of the Most High, Allah(swt):
“There is no compulsion in religion. Verily, the right path has become distinct from the wrong path. Whoever disbelieves (does Kufr) in Taghut and believes in Allah, then he has grasped the most trustworthy handhold that will never break. And Allah is All-Hearer All-Knower.” (al Baqarah 2:256)
Once a person rejects the Taghut, it is only then that he will enter inside the fold of Islam and become a Muslim.
