31 / The Virtues of the Declaration of Monotheism: There Is No Deity Worthy of Worship but Allah

The preceding discussion addressed a number of prophetic texts demonstrating the merit of the four phrases: “Glory be to Allah,” “praise be to Allah,” “there is no deity worthy of worship but Allah,” and “Allah is the Greatest.” We shall now discuss the virtues of the declaration of monotheism, “There is no deity worthy of worship but Allah,” which is the best, noblest, and greatest of these four phrases. For its sake, creation was brought into being, the messengers were sent, and the Books were revealed. Through it, people were divided into believers and unbelievers, the blessed inhabitants of Paradise and the wretched inhabitants of Hell. It is the firmest handhold and the declaration of piety. It is the greatest pillar of the religion and the foremost branch of faith. It is the means of attaining Paradise and deliverance from Hell. It is the declaration of faith, the key to the Abode of Bliss, and the root, foundation, and chief concern of the religion. The virtues of this declaration and its standing in the religion surpass all that those who describe it can express and those who know it can comprehend: “Allah bears witness that none is worthy of worship but Him, as do the angels and those endowed with knowledge. He upholds justice. None is worthy of worship but Him, the Almighty, the All-Wise.” 1.

This majestic declaration possesses immense virtues, noble benefits, and abundant merits that no one could ever fully enumerate. Among the merits ascribed to it in the Noble Quran is that Allah, Exalted is He, made it the very essence of the messengers’ call and the core of their messages. Allah Most High says: “We never sent any messenger before you without revealing to him that none is worthy of worship but Me, so worship Me.” 2. He also says: “We certainly sent a messenger to every nation