There is no god but God: a natural declaration that frees the heart

1- Not a passing phrase

Some may hear it as if it were a religious slogan.

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Words said in prayer… or in the call to prayer.

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But in Islam, this sentence is the foundation upon which everything stands.

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The Prophet ﷺ said: “The best of what I and the prophets before me have said is: There is no god but God alone, without partner. To Him belongs the dominion, and to Him belongs all praise, and He is over all things capable.” (Hasan, reported by al-Tirmidhi).

So why was it the best statement spoken by all the prophets?

2- The meaning is not merely: “God exists”

Many people believe in the existence of a Creator.

Yet they still:

Call upon others besides Him

Attach themselves to intermediaries

Fear multiple powers

Distribute worship among different directions

Therefore, the precise meaning is not only: “There is no creator but God.”

Rather, the deeper meaning is:

No one deserves to be worshiped in truth except God.

Meaning:

No one deserves that your heart submit to him

Or that you direct worship toward him

Or that you grant him your absolute fear

Or your absolute hope

Except God alone.

3- Why is this distinction so important?

Because the problem throughout history was not belief in the existence of a god…

But the distribution of worship.

People did not usually say: There is no Creator.

Rather, they said:

We approach Him through an intermediary.

Or through a symbol.

Or through another power.

So “There is no god but God” came to settle the matter:

Worship is not divided.

It is not fragmented.

It is not distributed.

Either it is for God alone…

Or it is not pure monotheism.

4- Monotheism in very simple terms

Monotheism means three clear truths:

1- God alone is the Creator and Sustainer.

2- God alone is worshiped, and none is associated with Him.

3- God possesses the attributes of perfection that do not resemble the attributes of His creation.

He is not part of the universe.

Nor is the universe part of Him.

Nor does He need a helper or partner.

As stated in the Qur’an: “There is nothing like unto Him, and He is the All-Hearing, the All-Seeing.” (42:11)

This places a clear boundary between:

The Creator… and the creation.

5- What does “There is no god” negate?

It negates that anything in existence

Deserves worship.

Not a human being.

Not a prophet.

Not a saint.

Not a stone.

Not a cosmic force.

Not a spirit.

All of these are created beings.

Then comes:

“Except God”

Affirming worship for God alone.

A complete negation… followed by a complete affirmation.

6- Why does this free the human being?

Because the human being by nature worships.

If he does not worship God…

He worships something else:

Money

Power

Fame

A symbol

Or even his own desires

“There is no god but God”

Frees your heart from all of that.

It makes you attach yourself to One only.

Powerful.

Self-sufficient.

Everlasting.

7- Not a complicated philosophy

The idea is extremely simple:

One God.

Perfect.

Without partner.

No intermediary between you and Him.

He hears your prayer directly.

You do not need a complex network of powers.

Nor a distribution of roles among multiple gods.

Complete clarity.

9- A very clear summary

“There is no god but God” means:

No one is worshiped except God.

No one is feared with worshipful fear except God.

No one is hoped in with worshipful hope except God.

No one is relied upon with worshipful reliance except God.

One God.

Clear.

Independent.

Without partner.

10- Not merely a phrase… but a declaration

A declaration of liberation from every form of servitude to other than God.

A declaration of return to the origin.

A declaration of pure monotheism.

After a journey of questions…

About multiplicity…

About the supreme reference…

About clarity of definition…

This sentence comes as a final answer.

And the sincere question remains for every human being:

If God is one without partner…

Is it right to divide worship between Him and others?

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