Fiqh al-Adiyah wa-al-Adhkar - Abd al-Razzaq ibn Abd al-Muhsin al-Badr - (1/172)

— Another virtue of this declaration is that it is the best of good deeds. Allah Most High says: “Whoever comes with a good deed will have something better than it.” 1

It is reported from Ibn Masūd, Ibn Abbās, Abū Hurayrah, and others that “the good deed” means: “There is no deity worthy of worship but Allah.” 2 Regarding Allah’s words, “Whoever comes with a good deed will have something better than it,” Ikrimah—may Allah have mercy on him—said: “It means saying, ‘There is no deity worthy of worship but Allah.’ He said, ‘He will receive good from it, for nothing is better than “There is no deity worthy of worship but Allah.”’” 3

It is established in the Musnad and elsewhere that Abū Dharr—may Allah be pleased with him—said: “I said, ‘O Messenger of Allah, teach me a deed that will bring me closer to Paradise and keep me away from the Fire.’ He replied, ‘Whenever you commit an evil deed, follow it with a good deed, for it will be counted tenfold.’ I asked, ‘O Messenger of Allah, is “There is no deity worthy of worship but Allah” among the good deeds?’ He replied, ‘Yes; it is the best of good deeds.’” 4

These, then, are some of the virtues of this magnificent declaration as mentioned in the Noble Quran. We shall continue by discussing some of its virtues as mentioned in the hadiths of the Messenger of Allah—may Allah bless him and grant him peace. Success rests with Allah alone.

(1) Surah al-Naml, verse 89; Surah al-Qasas, verse 84. (2) See: al-Tabarānī, *al-Duā* (3/1497–1498). (3) Cited by Ibn al-Bannā in *Fadl al-Tahlīl wa-Thawābuhu al-Jazīl* (*The Merit of Tahlīl and Its Abundant Reward*), p. 74. (4) *al-Musnad* (5/169).

ـ ومن فضائل هذه الكلمة: أنَّها أفضل الحسنات، قال الله تعالى: ﴿مَن جَاءَ بِالحَسَنَةِ فَلَهُ خَيْرٌ مِنْهَا﴾ ١. وقد ورد عن ابن مسعود، وابن عباس، وأبي هريرة، وغيرهم: أنَّ المراد بالحسنة: "لا إله إلا الله"٢، وعن عكرمة ﵀ في قول الله ﷿: ﴿مَن جَاءَ بِالحَسَنَةِ فَلَهُ خَيْرٌ مِنْهَا﴾ قال: "قول: لا إله إلا الله. قال: له منها خير؛ لأنَّه لا شيء خير من لا إله إلا الله"٣. وقد ثبت في المسند وغيره عن أبي ذر ﵁ قال: قلت: يا رسول الله عَلِّمني عملاً يُقرّبني من الجنة ويُباعدني من النار. فقال: "إذا عملتَ سيّئةً فاعمل حسنةً فإنَّها عشر أمثالها". قلت: يا رسول الله، أفَمِنَ الحسنات لا إله إلا الله؟ قال: "نعم هي أحسن الحسنات"٤. فهذه بعض فضائل هذه الكلمة العظيمة، من خلال ما ورد في القرآن الكريم، وسوف نستكمل ذكر بعض فضائلها من خلال ما وَرَد من ذلك في حديث رسول الله ﷺ والتوفيق بيد الله وحده.

١ سورة النمل، الآية: (٨٩) ، القصص، الآية: (٨٤) . ٢ انظر: الدعاء للطبراني (٣/١٤٩٧،١٤٩٨) . ٣ أورده ابن البنا في "فضل التهليل وثوابه الجزيل" (ص:٧٤) . ٤ المسند (٥/١٦٩) .