Dars-e-Hadith by Mufti Zahid Hussain | Dars 3 | Ramadan 1445

The Kalima Shahada serves as the key to Jannah, but its efficacy depends on the "teeth" of the key, which represent the entirety of Islamic belief and practice. Faith is not merely the verbal declaration of la ilaha illallah Muhammadur Rasulullah, but requires adherence to the middle path, avoiding both deficiency and bid'ah (innovation). Good deeds performed by a believer are multiplied by Allah from ten to seven hundred times or more, while evil deeds are recorded as a single sin. The sign of true iman (faith) is the internal experience of joy upon performing a good deed and distress upon committing a bad one.

The Kalima and the Path of Faith

• The nature of the Kalima — the statement la ilaha illallah Muhammadur Rasulullah is the key to Jannah, but it requires the "teeth" of the key—the complete set of Islamic beliefs and practices—to function ▸0:03.
• Theological implications of la ilaha illallah — this declaration includes the belief that Allah is one, free from faults, transcendent, beyond time and space, and free from lying, deceiving, or committing zulm (injustice) ▸1:44.
• Theological implications of Muhammadur Rasulullah — this includes the belief that the Prophet is khatamun nabiyyin (the final prophet), sayyidul mursalin (the master of all prophets), and the most honorable; any disrespect toward him constitutes kufr ▸3:01.
• Knowledge of the Prophet — the Prophet was granted vast knowledge by Allah, including ilme ma kana wa ma yakun (knowledge of what has happened and what will happen) ▸3:01.
• The middle path — Islam is a moderate religion, and the Prophet demonstrated the "straight path" to his companions, warning against paths where shaytan sits ▸4:16.
• Bid'ah — adding beliefs or practices that contradict the Qur'an and hadith constitutes bid'ah sayyi'ah (bad innovation) and dalalah (misguidance), which prevents the key of the Kalima from working ▸4:16.
• Interpretations of the "teeth" — some scholars interpret the "teeth" as the fundamentals of faith, while others identify them specifically as the pillars of Islam: salah, siyam, zakah, and hajj ▸4:16.
• The structure of faith — the shahada acts as the middle pole of the tent of faith, without which the other pillars cannot hold the structure of religion (▸4:16, ▸5:53).

Rewards and Sins

• Multiplication of good deeds — when a believer beautifies their Islam through good actions, Allah records each good deed as ten to seven hundred times its value (▸5:53, ▸7:14).
• The number seven hundred — the use of the number seven and its multiples in the Arabic language often signifies exaggeration or an open-ended abundance rather than a specific, limited count ▸7:14.
• Recording of sins — every evil deed committed by a believer is recorded as only one sin in the book of deeds ▸8:43.

Signs of Faith

• The definition of iman — faith consists of belief in Allah, His angels, His books, His messengers, the Last Day, the decree of good and evil from Allah, and the resurrection after death ▸10:12.
• The sign of iman — the indicator that one possesses true faith is feeling pleasure and happiness when performing a good deed, and feeling discomfort and distress when committing a bad deed ▸10:12.

Words the reader recites

• Dua for the conclusion of the gathering — the following is recited at the end of the session ▸11:44

  ﷻ Dua· Concluding prayer

  Allahumma salli ala sayyidina wa maulana Muhammadin. Wa alihi wa sahbihi wa sallim salatan wa salaman alayka ya sayyidi ya Rasulullah.

  O Allah, send blessings upon our master and guardian Muhammad, and upon his family and companions, and send peace and salutations upon you, O my master, O Messenger of Allah.