Whoever understands the difference between tawhid al-rububiyya (affirming Allah’s lordship) and tawhid al-uluhiyya (affirming His sole right to be worshiped) and unites the two in both creed and practice has truly realized the meaning of “la ilaha illa Allah.” Such a person deserves the reward promised to those who utter it, and it will benefit him at some point in his lifetime, as the prophetic hadiths state. This is a weighty subject about which numerous books and treatises have been composed because of its importance and the seriousness of its implications. For further study, consult Purification of Belief from the Stains of Atheism by Imam al-Sanani (from which we have drawn most of what we wrote), Tajrid al-Tawhid by al-Maqrizi, Hujjat Allah al-Baligha, and the works of the two shaykhs of Islam, Ibn Taymiyya and Ibn al-Qayyim. (1) Know that this testimony joins two qualities for him ﷺ, and a person’s faith in him is not complete unless both are affirmed. The first: he is a servant of Allah, just like all other servants. In this respect he is one of them. Allah says, “Say: I am only a human being like you.” The Prophet said, “I am only a human being like you; I forget as you forget, so when I forget, remind me.” (1) He also said, “Do not over-praise me as the Christians over-praised Jesus son of Mary. I am only a servant, so say: the servant of Allah and His messenger.” (2) Accordingly, it is impermissible for a Muslim who utters this testimony to raise him ﷺ above the rank in which Allah has placed him, for he does not approve of that. He said, “I am Muhammad son of Abdullah, Allah’s servant and His messenger. By Allah, I do not wish you to elevate me above the position Allah has granted me.” (3) Nor may he be praised except with what Allah has praised him or what is authentically reported about him. –––––– (1 & 2) Reported by al-Bukhari and Muslim. (3) Reported by Ahmad in al-Musnad 3/153, 241, 249 with a sound chain according to the criteria of Muslim.