The testification of Tawhid has many benefits, it is not possible to enumerate them all, and so we shall only mention some here:
i) It is the Statement of Taqwa
As was stated by Umar, may Allah be pleased with him, and other Companions
ii) It is a Statement of Sincerity
It is the testification of truth, the call of truth, absolution from shirk, victory from this life, and it was for it that the creation was created.
Allah, Exalted is He, says, “I only created jinn and mankind to worship Me.” (Surah al-Dhariyat 51:56)
iii) It is because of this statement that Messengers were sent and Books were revealed
“We sent no messenger before you without revealing to him: ‘There is none worthy of worship save Me, so worship Me.’”
(Surah Al-Anbiya 21:25)
“He sends down angels with the Spirit of His Command to any of His slaves He wills: ‘Give warning that there is none worthy of worship save Me, so have taqwa of Me!”
(Surah al-Nahl 16:2)
This latter verse is the first verse in a succession of verses in which Allah recounts His blessings to His servants in this ‘Surah of Blessings’ – Surah al-Nahl. It is for this reason that ibn Uyaynah said, “Allah has not granted His servants a favour greater than the fact the He acquainted them with, “None has the right to be worshipped save Allah.” This statement, for the inhabitants of Paradise, is like cool water for the inhabitants of this world. It is because of it that the Abode of Reward was prepared as was the Abode of Punishment in the Hereafter.
iv) Whoever says it and dies upon it will be living in the Abode of Reward and whoever rejects it will be living in the Abode of Punishment
v) It is the key to the call of the Messengers, and it was because of it that Allah spoke to Musa directly
vii) It is the Key to Paradise
viii) It is the Price for Paradise
It is reported that the Prophet, SallAllahu Alayhi Wa Sallam, said,
“Whoever says it as his last words shall enter Paradise.”
[Recorded in Abu Dawud no.3116]
ix) It is Safety from the Fire
Muslim records that the Prophet, SallAllahu Alayhi Wa Sallam, once heard the caller to prayer saying, ‘I bear witness that none has the right to be worshipped save Allah,’ upon which he said, “He has come out of the Fire!”
[Recorded in Muslim no.382]
x) It Leads to Forgiveness
xi) It is the Best of Good Deeds
Abu Dharr, RadhiAllahu Anhu, said that he asked the Messenger of Allah, SallAllahu Alayhi Wa Sallam, “Teach me a deed that would draw me closer to Paradise and distance me from the Fire.’ He replied,
“When you commit a sin, perform a good deed for its reward is ten-fold.”
I asked, ‘Messenger of Allah, is ‘none has the right to be worshipped save Allah’ one of the good deeds? He replied,
“It is the best of good deeds.”
[Recorded in Ahmad no.21487 with the words ‘…it will wipe it out’ in place of ‘…for it is rewarded ten-fold’]
xii) It Effaces Sins
Ibn Majah records on the authority of Umm Hani, the daughter of Abu Talib, that the Prophet, SallAllahu Alayhi Wa Sallam, said,
“The testification that ‘none has the right to be worshipped save Allah’ does not leave a sin and neither does any deed precede it.”
[Recorded in Ibn Majah no.3797]
One of the salaf was seen in a dream after his death and he was asked about his condition to which he replied, “None has the right to be worshipped save Allah” has left nothing!”
xii) It Revives Faith in the Heart
Ahmad records that the Prophet, SallAllahu Alayhi Wa Sallam, said to his Companions,
“Renew your faith.”
They asked, ‘How can we renew our faith?’ He replied,
“Say, ‘None has the right to be worshipped save Allah”
[Recorded in Ahmad no.8710]