Whoever Says Laa ilaaha ill-Allah Will Enter Paradise:

Whoever Says Laa ilaaha ill-Allah Will Enter Paradise:
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The hadeeth indicates that the one who says Laa ilaaha ill-Allah by heart is a true believer; however during his life span one is tempted by his whims and desires, so he does some acts of disobedience or acts of major sins such as stealing, telling lies, false evidences etc.

The belief of Ahl al-Sunnah wa'l-Jamaa'ah is that the destiny of the true believer, even if he commits a major sin, is Paradise. Punishment of Hell to a Muslim before entry to Paradise is up to Allah. If He wills, He will punish him, and if He wills, He will forgive him initially or later.

The evidence for that is the verse in which Allah says (interpretation of the meaning):

“Verily, Allah forgives not that partners should be set up with Him (in worship), but He forgives except that (anything else) to whom He wills” (An-Nisa’ 4:48)

So all those who committed sins – even if they were involved in major sins, but if the sins were less than kufr, they will not be prevent him from entering Paradise. The destiny of the one who uttered “Laa ilaaha ill-Allah” by full confidence in heart (of its meaning), is Paradise.

However he may be punished to Hell for the sins that he committed for any period of time, and then later sent to heaven. Also Allah may forgive him due to any one (or multiple) of his good deed which is valued so high in the library of Allah that He sends him to Heaven due to His being extreme merciful. So the matter rests with Allah, when He will send him to Heaven, initially or later.

As for the mushrikeen (unbelievers) or hypocrites, they did not really say “Laa ilaaha ill-Allah” from heart, because of their disbelief or hypocrisy which led them to kufr. It is the opposite of sincerity, and sincerity is essential for saying Laa ilaaha ill-Allah.

If a person says Laa ilaaha ill-Allah, and still he believes that there is no God at all, or he believes that there is another god or gods along with Allah who controls the universe, then such people are not sincere in their saying and therefore does not fall to those people who have said.

“Whoever bears witness that there is no god except Allah or says Laa ilaaha ill-Allah, will enter Paradise.”

Unless the Shahaadatayn {testimony of Allah alone as God and prophet Mohammad (Peace Be Upon Him) as His messenger} must be spoken with sincerity by heart, no body can be a Muslim. Munaafiqeen (hypocrites) at the time of prophet used to do all acts as Muslims do, but without faith in heart. Listen, what Allah says concerning the munaafiqeen.

“And when they [the hypocrites] stand up for As-Salaah (the prayer), they stand with laziness and to be seen of men, and they do not remember Allah but little” (An-Nisa’ 4:142)

In the same passage, Allah says:

“Verily, the hypocrites will be in the lowest depth (grade) of the Fire; no helper will you find for them” (An-Nisa’ 4:145)

Allah further says about them:

“When the hypocrites come to you (O Muhammad), they say: ‘We bear witness that you are indeed the Messenger of Allah…..’” (Al-Munafaqoon 63:1)

However this is merely verbal testimony, not by heart as Allah continues in the same verse:

“…. Allah knows that you are indeed His Messenger, and Allah bears witness that the hypocrites are liars indeed” (Al-Munafaqoon 63:1)

It means they are lying when they say, “We bear witness that you are indeed the Messenger of Allah”. For they mention Allah and bear witness to His Messenger, but their hearts are devoid of that which is uttered by their lips.

Another evidence from Quran that Muslims will be sent to Heaven at the end of day, is cleared from following verse:

“Perhaps (often) will those who disbelieve wish that they were Muslims” (Al-Hijr 15:2)

“Often” will be those people who were disbeliever or hypocrite during their life time. As per tafseer of Ibne-Kaseer from different narrations on above verse, this will happen, may be on two occasions.

One on the Day of Judgment when Munafqeen and Unbelievers will see that Muslims are not being sent to Hell and being saved by Allah due to different reasons (His mercy, intercession by prophet, pious people etc).

Secondly when Muslims will be in Hell along with them and then sent out from Hell to Heaven.

It is to be remembered that Muslims may be sent to Hell due to their excess of bad deeds. During this time of joint punishment, Munafqeen and Unbelievers will be taunting them, may be like this “there is no difference between you and us in punishment, so what is benefit of you being a Muslim”

This will get invoked Allah’s mercy, and then in stages he will get all those Muslims out from Hell, and lastly all those who have faith even to the weight of an atom. When this will happen, Munafqeen and Unbelievers will have a desperate wishing, at least “they were Muslims” which mean to have said by heart, “Laa ilaaha ill-Allah”.