I heard the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) say: `I know a word which no one says, sincerely from the heart, but he will be forbidden to the Fire.” `Umar bin al-Khattab (رضي الله عنه) said to him: I will tell you what it is: it is the word of al-ikhlas by means of which Allah, may He be blessed and exalted, caused Muhammad (ﷺ) and his companions to prevail and it is the word of taqwa that the Prophet (ﷺ) of Allah urged his uncle Abu Talib to say when he was dying, the testimony that there is no god but Allah.
Hadith Text and Context
I heard the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) say: `I know a word which no one says, sincerely from the heart, but he will be forbidden to the Fire.` `Umar bin al-Khattab (رضي الله عنه) said to him: I will tell you what it is: it is the word of al-ikhlas by means of which Allah, may He be blessed and exalted, caused Muhammad (ﷺ) and his companions to prevail and it is the word of taqwa that the Prophet (ﷺ) of Allah urged his uncle Abu Talib to say when he was dying, the testimony that there is no god but Allah.
Scholarly Commentary on the Word of Sincerity
The word referenced in this noble hadith from Musnad Uthman ibn Affan (Musnad Ahmad 447) is the kalimat al-ikhlas - the declaration of divine unity: "La ilaha illa Allah" (There is no deity worthy of worship except Allah). This testimony constitutes the foundation of Islamic faith and the gateway to Paradise.
The condition of "sincerely from the heart" (mukhlisan bihi qalbahu) indicates that mere verbal utterance without true belief and acceptance is insufficient. The heart must bear witness to what the tongue proclaims, free from doubt and shirk (associating partners with Allah).
The Nature of Sincere Declaration
True ikhlas (sincerity) requires the fulfillment of seven conditions: knowledge (ilm) of its meaning, certainty (yaqin) without doubt, acceptance (qabul) without rejection, submission (inqiyad) to its requirements, truthfulness (sidq) in speech, purity (ikhlas) of intention, and love (mahabba) for Allah and His Messenger.
Umar ibn al-Khattab's immediate recognition of this word demonstrates the companions' profound understanding of Islamic essentials. His reference to it being "the word of taqwa" connects sincere declaration with God-consciousness, which is the fruit of proper belief.
Historical and Theological Significance
The mention of Abu Talib's deathbed incident serves as a powerful reminder that acceptance of tawhid (divine unity) must occur before death overtakes one. Despite the Prophet's earnest desire for his uncle's salvation, Abu Talib's refusal to utter the shahadah demonstrates that familial relations cannot override the requirement of sincere faith.
This hadith emphasizes the transformative power of kalimat at-tawhid when uttered with true conviction. It serves as the ultimate protection from Hellfire and the means by which early Muslims achieved victory, both spiritually and physically.