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La Ellah Ela Allah–A way of life for Muslims
This is an extract from
"Milestone" by Sayed Qutb
"La llaha illa Allah, Muhammad
Rasul Allah" -"There is no god except
Allah" - is the first part of the Islamic declaration
of faith, meaning that there is no one to be worshipped
except God; "Muhammad Rasul Allah" -
"Muhammad is the Messenger of God"- is the
second part, meaning that this worship is to be carried
out according to the teachings of the Prophet - peace be
upon him.
A believing Muslim is one whose heart has been penetrated
completely with this declaration, as the other pillars of
Islam and articles of faith are derivatives of it.
Thus, belief in angels, God's Books, God's Messengers, the
life hereafter, al-Qadr (the measurement of good and
evil), praying (al-Salat), fasting (al-Siyam), almsgiving
(al-Zakat) and pilgrimage (al-Hajj), and the limits set by
God of permissible and forbidden things, human affairs,
laws, Islamic moral teachings, and so on, are all based on
the foundation of worship of God, and the source of all
these teachings is Prophet Muhammad (pbuh).
Allah (swt) says:
(Whoever obeys the Prophet obeys God) [Qur’an
4:80]
The declaration of faith provides the foundation for a
complete system of life for the Muslim community in all
its details.
Thus, a Muslim community must sustain a practical
interpretation of the declaration of faith and all its
characteristics; and the society which does not translate
this declaration into practice is not a true Muslim
society.
This way of life cannot come into being without securing
this foundation first.
If the system of life is constructed on some other
foundation, or if other sources are mixed with this
foundation, then that community cannot be considered
Islamic.
Allah (swt) says:
(The command belongs to God alone. He commands you not
to worship anyone except Him. This is the right way of
life.) [Qur’an 12:40]
This concise and decisive declaration of faith guides
Muslims in the basic questions of their religion and in
its practical movement.
First, it guides to the nature of the Muslim community;
second, it shows the method of constructing such a
community; third, it tells how to confront ignorant, and
disbelieving societies; and fourth, it determines the
method by which Islam changes human life.
The distinctive feature of a Muslim community is that all
its affairs are based on worship of God alone. The
declaration of faith expresses this principle and
determines its character; in beliefs, in devotional acts,
and in rules and regulations.
A person who does not believe in the oneness of God does
not worship God alone.
Allah (swt) says:
(Allah commands you not to take two gods. God is only
One; hence fear Me. Whatever is in the heavens and the
earth belongs to Him and follows His way. Will you the
fear anyone other than God?) [Qur’an 16:52]
Anyone who performs devotional acts before someone other
than Allah does not worship God alone.
(Say, my Salat (prayers), my acts of devotion, my life
and my death, are for the Sustainer of the Worlds; He has
no associate. I have been commanded this, and I am the
foremost to be among the submitters.) [Qur’an 6:163]
Also anyone who derives laws from a source other than God,
in a way other than what he taught us through Prophet
Muhammad (pbuh) does not worship God alone.
(Are there associates of God who have made permissible
for them in their religion that which God has not
permitted?) [Qur’an 42:21]
(Whatever the Prophet gives you, accept it, and
whatever he prohibits you, refrain from it.) [Qur’an
59:7]
In the Muslim society, the beliefs, ideas, devotional and
religious acts, the social system and its laws, should be
based on submission to God alone.
It is necessary, therefore, before thinking of
establishing the Islamic social system and organizing a
Muslim community, that one should give attention to
purifying the hearts of people from the worship of anyone
other than God.
Only those whose hearts are so purified will be true
Muslims, and only these people can start a true Muslim
community. Anyone who wants to live an Islamic life will
automatically enter into this community, and his belief,
acts of worship and the laws which he follows, will also
be purified for God alone. In other words, he will be an
embodiment of "La ilaha illa Allah, Muhammadar Rasul
Allah".
This was the basis on which the foundation of the first
Muslim community was established which eventually
developed into the first Muslim nation.
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