The Declaration of Faith Intercedes in the Sight of Allah (s.w.t.)

بِسۡمِ ٱللهِ ٱلرَّحۡمَـٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ 

Shaykh ‘Utsman Nuri Tufbas wrote, in “Islam, Spirit, & Form”, that the declaration of faith serves as a great intercessor for its servants in the sight of Allah (s.w.t.).  It effectively serves until the servant is redeemed. 

“There is no god but Allah” means constant awareness of it, and feeling it deep in the heart.  The declaration, “There is no god but Allah”, that is pronounced truly, and sincerely, is superior to all other forms of worship.  The messages and invitations of all prophets are encapsulated in this declaration.  It is the backbone of all true religion.  Allah (s.w.t.) Says: 

سُوۡرَةُ الاٴنبیَاء

وَمَآ أَرۡسَلۡنَا مِن قَبۡلِكَ مِن رَّسُولٍ إِلَّا نُوحِىٓ إِلَيۡهِ أَنَّهُ ۥ لَآ إِلَـٰهَ إِلَّآ أَنَا۟ فَٱعۡبُدُونِ (٢٥) 

And We sent no messenger before you, but We Inspired him, (saying), “There is no God save Me (Allah), so worship Me.” (Surah al-Anbiya’:25) 

As recorded in Swahih al-Bukhari, Sayyidina Abu Hurayrah ‘Abd ar-Rahman ibn Sakhr ad-Dawsi az-Zahrani al-Azdi (r.a.) narrated, “I, once, asked the Messenger of Allah (s.a.w.), ‘Who will most benefit from your intercession on the Day of Judgement?’ 

He answered, ‘I was expecting that you would be the first to ask me this as I knew your interest in my tradition.  The one who will most benefit from my intercession is the one who says ‘There is no deity, but Allah truly and sincerely from his heart ...’” 

Sayyidina al-Bara’ah ibn ‘Azib (r.a.) reported that during the battle of Uhud, someone whose face was covered with a helmet came to the presence of the Prophet (s.a.w.) to embrace Islam, but when he witnessed the intensity of the battle, he asked the Prophet (s.a.w.), “O Messenger of Allah!  Shall I join the battle first, or pronounce my faith in Allah?” 

The Prophet (s.a.w.) told him, “Pronounce your faith first, and then join the battle!” 

Sayyidina ‘Amr ibn Tsabit Uhayrim (r.a.) did as the Prophet (s.a.w.) told him, and fought courageously.  The Prophet (s.a.w.) said, when he saw his body among the martyrs, “He worked little, but gained a lot!”