Conditions of the acceptance of the Shahaadatayn
It seems that by “kalimah” you mean the Kalimat al-Tawheed (lit. Word of Divine Unity), which is the Shahaadatayn, “Laa ilaaha ill-Allaah Muhammadun Rasool-Allaah (There is no god except Allaah, and Muhammad is the Messenger of Allaah).” This is also what the khateeb was referring to.
There are a number of conditions attached to the Shahaadatayn, which are as follows:
(1) Knowledge
This means knowing the meaning of the Shahaadah, both the negation (There is no god) and the affirmation (except Allaah), knowledge as opposed to ignorance of this.
Allaah says (interpretation of the meaning):
“So know (O Muhammad) that Laa ilaaha ill -Allaah (none has the right to be worshipped but Allaah)…”
[Muhammad 47:19]
“except for those who bear witness to the truth knowingly [i.e., that there is no god except Allaah, and they know” [al-Zukhruf 43:86] – they know in their hearts the meanings of the words that their mouths speak.
It is reported in al-Saheeh that ‘Uthmaan ibn ‘Affaan (may Allaah be pleased with him) said: The Messenger of Allaah
(peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: “Whoever dies knowing that there is no god except Allaah will enter Paradise.” (2) Certainty
This is certainty as opposed to doubt, whereby the person who says this [the Shahaadah] is absolutely certain about the meaning of these words, because faith does not count unless it is based on certain knowledge, not on knowledge based on speculation, let alone doubt.
Allaah says (interpretation of the meaning):
“Only those are the believers who have believed in Allaah and His Messenger, and afterward doubt not but strive with their wealth and their lives for the Cause of Allaah. Those! They are the truthful”
[al-Hujuraat 49:15]
A condition of their being truthful in their belief in Allaah and His Messenger is that they should not doubt. The one who doubts is a hypocrite – Allaah forbid.
It is reported in al-Saheeh that Abu Hurayrah (may Allaah be pleased with him) said: The Messenger of Allaah
(peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: “Bear witness that there is no god except Allaah and that I am the Messenger of Allaah, for no person meets Allaah with these two (words), not doubting in them, and is kept away from Paradise.” (3) Acceptance
This means that one accepts with one’s heart and with one’s words that which is implied by this kalimah. Allaah says concerning the one who accepts it (interpretation of the meaning):
“Save the chosen slaves of Allaah (i.e. the true believers of Islamic Monotheism).
For them there will be a known provision (in Paradise),
Fruits; and they shall be honoured,
In the Gardens of Delight (Paradise)…
[al-Saaffaat 37:40-43]
“Whoever brings a good deed (i.e. belief in the Oneness of Allaah along with every deed of righteousness), will have better than its worth; and they will be safe from the terror on that Day”
[al-Naml 27:89]
It was narrated in al-Saheeh from Abu Moosa (may Allaah be pleased with him) that the Prophet
(peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: “The likeness of the guidance and knowledge with which Allaah has sent me is a great deal of rain which falls on the land. Some of the land is fertile: it absorbs the water and brings forth a lot of grass and vegetation. Other parts of the land are infertile, but they hold the water and Allaah benefits the people thereby, so that they drink it, and water their animals and irrigate their lands with it. A third part of the land is plains which do not hold the water and where no plants grow. This is like the person who understands the religion of Allaah and benefits from the Message with which Allaah sent me, so he learns and teaches others (what he has learned), and the person who does not pay attention or accept the guidance of Allaah with which I was sent.”
(4) Submission
This means submitting to what is implied by the Shahaadatayn, as opposed to ignoring or neglecting it.
Allaah says (interpretation of the meaning):
“And turn in repentance and in obedience with true Faith (Islamic Monotheism) to your Lord and submit to Him (in Islam)”
[al-Zumar 39:54]
“And who can be better in religion than one who submits his face (himself) to Allaah (i.e. follows Allaah’s religion of Islamic Monotheism); and he is a Muhsin (a good-doer
[al-Nisaa’ 4:125]
“And whosoever submits his face (himself) to Allaah, while he is a Muhsin (good-doer, i.e. performs good deeds totally for Allaah’s sake without any show-off or to gain praise or fame and does them in accordance with the Sunnah of Allaah’s Messenger Muhammad), then he has grasped the most trustworthy handhold [Laa ilaaha ill-Allaah (none has the right to be worshipped but Allaah)]. And to Allaah return all matters for decision”
[Luqmaan 31:22]
“submits his face” means, he submits fully. “While he is a muhsin (good-doer)” means he affirms the Unity of Allaah.
(5) Truthfulness, true belief
This means, meaning what you say, as opposed to lying. This means saying it from the heart, where the heart agrees with the words being uttered.
Allaah says (interpretation of the meaning):
“Alif Laam Meem.
[These letters are one of the miracles of the Qur’aan, and none but Allaah (Alone) knows their meanings.]
Do people think that they will be left alone because they say: ‘We believe,’ and will not be tested.
And We indeed tested those who were before them. And Allaah will certainly make (it) known (the truth of) those who are true, and will certainly make (it) known (the falsehood of) those who are liars, (although Allaah knows all that before putting them to test)…
[al-‘Ankaboot 29:1-3]
In al-Saheehayn it was narrated from Mu’aadh ibn Jabal (may Allaah be pleased with him) that the Prophet
(peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: “There is no one who bears witness that there is no god except Allaah and that Muhammad is the Messenger of Allaah, truly from his heart, but Allaah will protect him from the Fire.”
(6) Sincerity
This means purity of action with a sound intention, free from any contamination of shirk. Allaah says (interpretation of the meaning):
“Surely, the religion (i.e. the worship and the obedience) is for Allaah only”
[al-Zumar 39:3]
“And they were commanded not, but that they should worship Allaah, and worship none but Him Alone (abstaining from ascribing partners to Him)…”
[al-Bayyinah 98:5]
In al-Saheeh it is narrated from Abu Hurayrah that the Prophet
(peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: “The people who will be most deserving of my intercession will be those who say Laa ilaaha ill-Allaah sincerely from their hearts or their souls.” (7) Love
This means love for this word and for what it implies, and its people, those who act upon it and adhere to its conditions; and hatred of whatever goes against it.
Allaah says (interpretation of the meaning):
“And of mankind are some who take (for worship) others besides Allaah as rivals (to Allaah). They love them as they love Allaah. But those who believe, love Allaah more (than anything else).”
[al-Baqarah 2:165]
The sign that a person loves his Lord is that he gives priority to what Allaah loves even if it goes against his own desires, and he hates what Allaah hates, even if it is something to which he is inclined.. He takes as friends those who are friends of Allaah and His Messenger and he takes as enemies those who are the enemies of Allaah and His Messenger. He follows His Messenger
(peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him), follows in his footsteps and accepts his guidance .All of these signs are conditions of this love, and it cannot be imagined that this love can exist without any of these conditions.The Messenger of Allaah
(peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: “There are three things which if a person finds them, he has found the sweetness of faith: when Allaah and His Messenger are dearer to him than all else; when he loves a person for no other reason than for the sake of Allaah; and when he hates to return to kufr after Allaah has saved him from it as he would hate to be thrown into fire.” (Narrated from the hadeeth of Anas ibn Maalik).
Some scholars added an eighth condition, which is the rejection of all things that are worshipped instead of Allaah (al-kufr bi’l-taaghoot or rejection of false gods). The Prophet
(peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: “Whoever says Laa ilaaha ill-Allaah and rejects everything that is worshipped instead of Allaah, his property and his blood will be sacred [i.e., it is forbidden to seize his property or shed his blood] and his reckoning will be with Allaah.” (Narrated by Muslim). In order for his property and his blood to be protected, he must, in addition to saying Laa ilaaha ill-Allaah, also reject whatever is worshipped instead of Allaah, no matter who or what it is.Summarized from Ma’aarij al-Qubool by Muhammad ibn Sa’eed al-Qahtaani, pp. 119-122
