The phrase and its pronunciation
لَا إِلَهَ إِلَّا اللَّهُLā ilāha illā-llāh
There is no god but God
Meaning
Negating divinity for all besides God and affirming it for God alone.
When to say it
- In the Shahada on entering Islam.
- In dhikr, the adhan and prayer.
- Said to the dying so it may be their last words.
- In distress and supplication.
How to reply
No special reply.
The evidence
فَٱعۡلَمۡ أَنَّهُۥ لَآ إِلَٰهَ إِلَّا ٱللَّهُ وَٱسۡتَغۡفِرۡ لِذَنۢبِكَ وَلِلۡمُؤۡمِنِينَ وَٱلۡمُؤۡمِنَٰتِۗ وَٱللَّهُ يَعۡلَمُ مُتَقَلَّبَكُمۡ وَمَثۡوَىٰكُمۡSache donc qu’il n’est de divinité digne d’être adorée qu’Allah et implore le pardon de tes péchés, ainsi que ceux des croyants et des croyantes. Allah connaît aussi bien vos activités diurnes que le lieu de votre repos nocturne.
مَنْ مَاتَ وَهُوَ يَعْلَمُ أَنَّهُ لَا إِلَهَ إِلَّا اللَّهُ دَخَلَ الْجَنَّةَWhoever dies knowing that there is no god but God will enter Paradise.
Questions fréquentes
Is it the complete Shahada?
No; the Shahada has two parts: “There is no god but God” and “Muhammad is the Messenger of God.”
Les textes et traductions sont en cours de révision par des savants.