Reward for the Monotheists and Gnostics

Abu `Imran al-`Ijli said: Muhammad ibn Sinan said: Abu al-`Ala al-Khaffaf said: `Atiyyah al-`Awfi said, on the authority of Abu Sa’id al-Khudri, he said that The Messenger of Allah (sw) said: “Neither I nor anyone before me has said anything (with such worth) like: `There is no god but Allah’ [La ilaha illa Allah].”

Messenger of Allah (sw) said: “The best act of worship [`ibadah] is to say: `There is no god but Allah’.”

“There is nothing greater in reward than testifying that: 'There is no god but Allah, because nothing equals Allah, the Mighty and High, and nobody shares His Power.'"

“Verily, Allah, Blessed and Exalted be He, has given the believer a guarantee.” I asked, “What is it?” He replied, “If a believer professes his (Allah’s) divinity, Muhammad’s (sw) prophethood, and `Ali’s (as) Imamate, and carries out his duties, He guarantees him eternal life in His Presence [jiwar].” I said: “By Allah! This is a blessing with which none of the blessings bestowed upon the children of Adam can compare!” Abu 'Abdillah (AS) replied, “Do little, and you will enjoy much.”

Messenger of Allah (sw) said: “Whoever dies without ascribing a partner to Allah, will enter Heaven regardless of whether he has done good or evil.”

Allah, Blessed and Exalted, said: "I am the most entitled of being feared and that My servant does not associate anything with Me, and I am the most entitled, if My servant does not associate anything with Me, to admit him into Paradise." And he (as) said: "Indeed, Allah, Blessed and Exalted, has sworn by His might and majesty that He will never punish the people of His monotheism with the Fire."

“Verily, Allah, Blessed and Exalted be He, has forbidden Hellfire to the bodies of the monotheists.”

“Two events are inevitable: The one who died witnessing that there is no god but Allah (He is One and He has no partner with Him) will enter Paradise, and the one who died associating partners with Allah will enter Hellfire.”

“'Every stubborn tyrant' (14:15) are those who refuse to say 'There is no god but Allah.'”

Jibra’il (as) came to Rasulullah (sw) and said: “O Muhammad! Blessed is any member of your Ummah who professes that 'There is no god but Allah, Alone, Alone, Alone.'"

Messenger of Allah (sw) said: ”Jibra’il came to me while I was in between al-Safa and al-Marwah and said: `O Muhammad! Blessed is any member of your Ummah who professes that `There is not god but Allah, Unique’ with sincerity.”

A Muslim servant has only to say the words `There is no god but Allah,’ and they ascend (to Allah), breaking through physical barriers. As they do so, they obliterate his sins as they pass them by, stopping only when they reach his good deeds.

“The statement `There is no god but Allah’ is the price of Heaven.”

`Imran ibn Abu `Ata’ said: `Ata’ related on the authority of Ibn `Abbas that the Prophet (sw) said: There is no statement more loved to Allah, the Mighty and High, than `There is no god but Allah.’ There is not a single servant (of Allah) who pronounces these words but that his sins are dispersed under his feet like the leaves of a tree are scattered beneath it.

Qudamah ibn Muhraz al-Ashja’I related to me that Makhramah ibn Bukayr ibn `Abd Allah ibn al-Ashajj, on the authority of his father, on the authority of Abu Harb ibn Zayd ibn Khalid al-Juhani related to me that I bear witness on my father, Zayd ibn Kahlid, that I heard him say: The Messenger of Allah (sw) sent me on my way saying, “Give glad tidings to the people that whoever says, `There is no god but Allah, Alone, who has no partners’ will have Heaven as his reward.”

“O son of the Messenger of Allah! What are the virtuous words?” He replied, “The virtuous words are bearing witness that `there is no god but Allah.’ And the virtuous deed is giving the (zakat of) Fitrah."

Messenger of Allah (sw) said: “The reward for one upon whom Allah the Great and Almighty has blessed with monotheism is nothing but paradise.”

Messenger of Allah (sw) said: “Verily, 'There is no god but Allah' is a glorious and noble saying about Allah, the Mighty and High. Whoever says it sincerely deserves Paradise, and whoever says it falsely, his wealth and blood will be protected, but his final abode will be the Hellfire.”

Messenger of Allah (sw) said: “Anyone who professes that `There is no god but Allah’, during an hour of the night or the day, will have all his evil deeds erased from his book (of reckoning).”

"Verily, Allah the Great and Almighty has a pillar of ruby, the top of which is under the Throne, and the bottom of which is on the back of the fish which swims in the Seventh lowest Earth. When a servant of Allah says `there is no god but Allah’, the Throne trembles, and both the pillar and fish move. So Allah, the Blessed and the Most High says: `O Throne of Mine! Remain calm!’ Then it replies, `How shall I remain calm, when you have not forgiven the one who uttered those words?’ Then Allah, Blessed and Exalted be He, announces: `Bear witness, O inhabitants of My Heavens, that indeed I have pardoned the one who has uttered these words!’"

`Ali ibn Musa al-Rida (AS) related to me in the year 194 (AH) that: My father Musa ibn Ja’far (AS) related to me that: My father Ja’far ibn Muhammad (AS) related to me that: My father Muhammad ibn `Ali (AS) related to me that: My father `Ali ibn al-Husayn related to me that: My father al-Husayn ibn `Ali (AS) related to me that: My father `Ali ibn Abu Talib (AS) related to that me that: The Messenger of Allah (sw): “Allah, Glorified be He, said: `There is no god but Allah’ is My Fortress. Whoever enters it is saved from My Chastisement.”

I was with `Ali ibn Musa al-Rida (AS) when he was setting off for his journey from Naysabur and was riding a grey coloured mule, while Muhammad ibn Rafi, Ahmad ibn Harb, Yahya ibn Yahya, Ishaq ibn Rahawayh, and a number of other scholars were holding on to the bridle of his mule in Marba’ah. Thus, they all requested: “With respect to your pure forefathers, relate to us a tradition that you have heard from your father.” He leaned his head out of the camel-borne sedan, and he was wearing a woven fabric gown with two designs. He said: My father, the Pious Servant (of Allah) [al-`Abd al-Saleh], Musa ibn Ja’far, related to me that; My father, Ja’far ibn Muhammad related to me that: My father, Abu Ja’far Muhammad ibn `Ali al-Baqir (Opener of the Knowledge of the Prophets) related to me that: My father, `Ali ibn al-Husayn the Master of Servants of Allah related to me that: My father, the Master of the youth of Heaven al-Husayn related that: The Prophet said: Allah, Glorified be He, said: “Verily, I am Allah, and there is no god but Me; therefore, serve Me. Whoever bears true witness that `There is no god but Allah’ shall enter my Fortress, and whoever enters My Fortress is safe from My Chastisement.”

When Abu al-Hasan al-Risa (AS) reached Naysabur, and intended to go from there to al-Ma’mum, some traditionists met him. They asked him, “O son of the Messenger of Allah! You are going from us without relating any Hadith to us so that we can derive benefit from you.” He was sitting in a camel-borne sedan, so he leaned his head out, and replied: I heard my father, Musa ibn Ja’far say: I heard my father Ja’far ibn Muhammad say: I heard my father Muhammad ibn `Ali say: I heard my father `Ali ibn Husayn say: I heard my father Husayn ibn `Ali ibn Abu Talib say: I heard my father the Commander of the faithful `Ali ibn Abu Talib (AS) say: I heard the Messenger of Allah (sw) say: I heard Jibra’il say: I heard Allah, Exalted be His Glory, say, `There is no god but Allah’ is my Fortress. Whoever enters My Fortress is safe from My Chastisement.” When the camel passed by, he (AS) called out to us, “That is subject to conditions. And I am among its conditions.”
The Compiler of this book explains: Among the conditions (of the statement; there is no god but Allah) is the acknowledgment that Al-Rida (AS) is an Imam appointed by Allah, the Mighty and High, over the people [`ibad], and the one to whom obedience is due.

“Come here, O Abu Dharr!” So I walked with him for some time. He said: Verily, the ones with much will be the ones with less. On the Day of Resurrection with the exception of those Allah has favoured. His Favour will spread to them from right to left, and from front to back. It will fill them with good. Abu Dharr says: I continued to walk with him for a while. Then he (sw) said: “Sit down here. He made me sit down in some low ground around which was stones.” He said to me, “Sit down until I return to you.” He (Abu Dharr) said: He went to a stony area until I could no longer see him. His delay was prolonged. Then I heard him coming, while saying, “Even if he fornicated and eve if he stole?” He said: When he came back, I immediately asked him, “O Prophet of Allah! May Allah make me your ransom! Who are you talking to in the stony area for I did not hear anyone answer you?” He replied, “It was Jibra’il who appeared to me in that stony area and said: `Glad tidings to your Ummah that anyone who dies without associating anything with Allah, the Mighty and High, will enter Heaven.” He (sw) added, “I asked Jibra’il: `Even if he fornicated and even if he stole?’ He replied: `Yes, and even if he drank wine.’”
The Compiler of this book says: What he means by this is that he will succeed in repentance so that he may enter Paradise.

“When a man lies on his back, contemplates the sky and the stars, and says: By Allah! Verily, you have a Lord who is your Creator. O Allah! Forgive me!’ Then Allah, the Mighty and High, looks down upon him with mercy, and forgives him.”
The Compiler of this book says: Allah, the Mighty and High, has already said: Or look they not into the Kingdom of the Heavens and the Earth and whatever things Allah created. What is meant by this is either: `Have they not contemplated the Kingdom of the Heaven and the Earth, and the wonders of their creation?’ or `Have they not contemplated these things like people of reason, and reflected upon them?’ If they did, they would know that Allah, the Mighty and High, made the Heavens and the Earth with greatness: they are supported without pillars, and they are tranquilized without any tool. He created the Heavens and the Earth so that people could ponder upon their Creator, their Master, and their Manager. He created them so that people would know that He does not resemble anything, including what the unbelievers have taken as gods other than Allah, the Mighty and High. Matter does not have to power to hold the tiniest of particles in air without a pillar or tool Through such comparisons people recognize that Allah is the Creator of the Heavens, the Earth, and of all bodies. They also recognize that nothing in Allah’s Realm or Kingdom resembles Him. He is the Owner of the Heavens and the Earth. It is He who has power over them. He has created the Heavens and the Earth so that people can contemplate them and witness that they are the creations of Allah, the Mighty and High. In so doing, they realize that Allah, the Mighty and High, is their Master. They realize that Allah has power over them since they form part of His Belongings, and His Creation. They are part and parcel of His Omnipotence, Authority, and Ownership. It is through the vision of the Heavens and the Earth, and the creation of Allah, that people realize that Allah has power over them since Allah, the Mighty, and High, does not create but what He owns, and what He has power over. His Word: And whatever things Allah created, refer to various types of creation. Through introspection, people can reason that since Allah is their Creator, He is more worth of Lordship than the recently created celestial bodies.

Whoever sincerely says: `there is no god but Allah,’ will enter Heaven. If the person is sincere, the profession `there is no god but Allah’ will refrain him from whatever Allah, the Mighty and High, has forbidden.”

The Messenger of Allah (sw) said: “Whoever sincerely says: `There is no god but Allah’ will enter Heaven. If the person is sincere, the profession `there is no god but Allah’ will refrain him from whatever Allah, the Mighty and High, has forbidden.”

I was with the Messenger of Allah (sw) and he said to me, “O Mu`adh! Do you know what is the right of Allah, the Mighty and High, upon His Servants?”, repeating it three times. I answered,” Allah and His Messenger know best.” The Messenger of Allah said: “The right of Allah, the Mighty and High, upon His Servants is that they should not associate anything with Him.” After that he asked, “Do you know what the right of the servants is upon Allah, the Mighty and High, when they respect His Right?” I answered, “Allah and His Messenger know best.” He (sw) said: “That He should not chastise them.” Or he (sw) said: “That He should not place them in Hell.”

Ja`far ibn Muhammad (AS) from his forefathers that: `Ali (AS) reported the following regarding the Word of Allah, the Mighty and High: “Is the reward of goodness aught but goodness:” I heard the Messenger of Allah (sw) say, “Allah, the Mighty and High, has said: `The one whom I have blessed with belief in Divine Unity will have nothing but Heaven as his reward.”

The Messenger of Allah (sw) said: “He who dies knowing that Allah is the Truth [Haqq] will enter Heaven.”

The Messenger of Allah (sw) said: “I swear by Him who has sent me with the Truth as a bearer of glad tidings! Allah will never punish those who believe in His Unity. Verily, those who believe in Divine Unity will be granted the right to intercede (on the Day of Judgement), and their intercession will be accepted.“
After that he (sw) added, “On the Day of Judgement, Allah, Blessed and Exalted be He, will order that a group of evil doers from this world be cast into Hell. They will plead to Him, O our Lord! How can You cast us into Hell when we used to accept Your Unity? How can You burn our tongues in the fire when they used to profess Your Unity? How can You burn our hearts in the fire when they believed that `There is no god, but You’? How can You burn our faces when we placed our foreheads on the dust in prostration for You? How can You burn our hands when we lifted them up in prayers to You?“
Allah, Mighty be His Glory, will say, “O My Servants! You committed evil deeds in the world. Hence, you have earned the punishment of Hell-fire.” They will then plead, “O our Lord! Are our mistakes greater than Your forgiveness? Or is Your forgiveness greater than our mistakes?” Then Allah, the Mighty and High, will reply, “My Forgiveness, of course.” They will ask, “What is greater? Your Mercy or our sins?” So He, the Mighty and High, will answer, “My Mercy, of course.” They will then ask, What is greater? Our belief in Your Unity or our sins?” He, the Mighty and High, will reply, “Your acceptance of My Unity is greater, of course.” Then they will say, “O Our Lord! Then let You Forgiveness and Mercy encompass us as it encompasses everything.”
Hence, Allah, Mighty be His Glory, will say, O My Angels! I swear by My Dignity and Glory! I have not created anyone more beloved to Me that the ones who embrace My Unity professing that here is no god but Me. Since I refuse to cast those who believe in My Unity into Hell, enter Ye, O My Servants, in Heaven!

The Messenger of Allah (sw) said: “He who dies without associating anything with Allah, whether he did good or evil, will enter Heaven.”

“He who says, `there is no god but Allah’ one hundred times will be the best of the people in deeds on that day, unless someone says it more often than he does.”

The Messenger of Allah (sw) said: Allah Mighty be His Glory said to Musa (AS), “O Musa! If everything that exists in all the heavens, their inhabitants, and the seven earths, were places in one side of the scale, and `there is no god but Allah’ was placed in the other side, then `there is not god but Allah’ would tip the scale.”

”In a day, whoever says “I bear witness that there is no god but Allah, the One and Only, who has no partners; the God [ilah], the One [wahid], the Unique [ahad], on whom all depend, who has not taken a partner nor son,” Allah, the Majestic and Glorious, will record 45 thousand thousand (45 million) good deeds for him, and He will forgive him 45 thousand thousand evil deeds, and He will raise his position in Heaven by 45 thousand thousand places, and He will be like a person who recited the Quran twelve times, and Allah will build a house for him in Heaven.”