Allah—meaning that none is rightfully worshipped but Allah, exalted and glorified is He.

Allah’s divinity (ulūhiyyah) is a branch of His lordship (rubūbiyyah), for whoever renders worship to Allah has already acknowledged that He is the Lord. The one who is worshipped must, by necessity, be the Lord, and he must also possess perfect attributes. Hence those who deny Allah’s attributes suffer a grave deficiency in servitude, for they end up worshipping a being devoid of qualities—in effect, worshipping nothing at all.

The Lord must be perfect in every attribute so that He may be worshipped in accordance with those attributes. For this reason the Almighty said, “To Allah belong the Most Beautiful Names, so call upon Him by them” (Al-Aʿrāf 7:180). “Call upon Him” here means: worship Him and seek your needs by making His Names your means. Thus the term “supplication” in this verse covers both the supplication of petition and the supplication that consists of worship itself.

In summary, he said: “That you bear witness that there is no deity but Allah”—that is, none among the creation is divine: not a near-stationed angel nor a sent prophet; neither sun nor moon, tree nor stone; neither land nor sea, nor any saint, companion, or martyr. There is no god except Allah alone.

It is this very statement with which Allah sent all the messengers. The Most High said, “We sent no messenger before you but We revealed to him that there is no deity but Me, so worship Me” (Al-Anbiyāʾ 21:25). And He said, “We certainly raised in every nation a messenger [proclaiming], ‘Worship Allah and shun the false gods’” (Al-Naḥl 16:36)—that is, stay far away from polytheism.

Whoever fulfils the reality of this word, uttering it from the heart while committing himself to the faith and righteous deeds it entails, will by it be admitted to Paradise. The Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, said, “Whoever’s last words in this world are ‘There is no deity but Allah’ will enter…"