Hadeeth ‘Ubaadah; ‘Whoever Bears Witness to Laa Ilaaha Ila Allaah’

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On the authority of ‘Ubaadah bin Saamit [May Allaah be Pleased with him] who said that the Messenger of Allaah [May Allaah be Pleased with him] said, “Whoever bears witness that there is no God worthy of worship except Allaah, he does not have partners with him (i.e. does not do Shirk) and that Muhammad is His Slave and His Messenger, that ‘Esaa is the Slave of Allaah and His Messenger and that he is the word of Allaah that was breathed into Maryam, that Jannah is real, then this person will enter Jannah because of (what he believed and) his deeds.”

Al-Qurtoobee [May Allaah have Mercy on him] said in al-Mufahham ‘ala Saheeh Muslim:

It is not sufficient that one bears witness to the Shahaadah with his tongue and that they testify to it, rather they must believe this in their hearts and implement it therein. This is where many groups have erred such as the Murji’ah (those who believe that doing good or bad deeds has no impact on the level of the faith of a person).

They (the Murji’ah) believe that merely affirming the Shahaadah upon the tongue is sufficient for one to be declared as a believer.

However, this Hadeeth proves that such a belief is wrong, moreover this false belief leads in the spread of corruption through the Sharee’ah as it dictates that hypocrisy (doing actions of a believer but actually disbelieves in Islaam in the beliefs they hold) is acceptable. Those (hypocrites) who merely testify with their tongue will be therefore considered as having Eemaan despite their hearts nullifying it. 

Imaam an-Nawawee [May Allaah have Mercy on him] said:

This Hadeeth is one of the greatest Ahadeeth which discuss the issue of ‘Aqeedah. This is because the Prophet [Peace and Blessings of Allaah be Upon him] clearly outlined those who are included within Islaam and those taken out of it; the disbelief that results from having differences of opinions in ‘Aqeedah and being mistaken in it.

Concise words of the Prophet of a situation that applies to all of them.[Fath al-Majeed Sharh Kitaab at-Tawheed (Pg 23-24)]