SUBMISSION IS THE FOURTH

 FAJR REMINDER: SUBMISSION IS THE FOURTH

By: Umm Affān

Muḥarram 6, 1448 (21-June-2026)

The fourth condition of Lā ilāha ill-Allāh (i.e. none is worthy of worship except Allāh) is Inqiyād (submission, obedience, and complete compliance with what it necessitates). This is an essential requirement of true Faith. Allāh (ﷻ) praises those who sincerely submit themselves to Him and makes such submission a hallmark of genuine belief. He (ﷻ) says: “And who can be better in religion than one who submits his face (himself) to Allāh (i.e. follows Allāh's Religion of Islāmic Monotheism).” [Sūrah An-Nisā' (4): 125]

Indeed, the very essence of Islām is to surrender oneself completely to Allāh by devoting every act of worship to Him Alone, obeying His Commands, and remaining free from every form of Shirk. This is the path that Allāh (ﷻ) has commanded us to follow. He says: “And turn in repentance and in obedience with true Faith (Islāmic Monotheism) to your Lord and submit to Him, (in Islām), before the torment comes upon you, then you will not be helped.” [Sūrah Az-Zumar (39): 54]

Let's reflect on our father, Prophet Ibrāhīm (‘Alayhi Salām), who stands as one of the greatest examples of complete submission to Allāh. He obeyed his Lord without hesitation, whether it was abandoning his homeland for the sake of preserving his religion, leaving his family in the barren valley of Makkah, or preparing to sacrifice his beloved son after receiving Allāh's Command in a dream. 

His unwavering obedience, sincerity, and devotion earned him the noble description of Qānit—one who is devotedly obedient and wholly submissive to Allāh. Allāh (ﷻ) says: “Verily, Ibrāhīm was an Ummah (a leader having all the good righteous qualities), or a nation, obedient to Allāh (i.e. to worship none but Allāh), Ḥanīfa (i.e. to worship none but Allāh), and he was not one of those who were Al-Mushrikūn (polytheists, idolaters, disbelievers in the Oneness of Allāh, and those who joined partners with Allāh).” [Sūrah An-Naḥl (16): 120]

Furthermore, the testimony of Lā ilāha ill-Allāh is not merely a statement to be uttered. It must be firmly established in the heart through sincere love, fear, and hope in Allāh; affirmed by the tongue with honesty and conviction; and manifested through righteous deeds that fulfil its obligations. A believer must submit to the requirements of this testimony by performing the acts of worship that Allāh has prescribed with sincerity, seeking His Pleasure Alone, and following the Sunnah of His Messenger (ﷺ). 

Allāh (ﷻ) says: “And whosoever submits his face (himself) to Allāh [i.e. (follow Allāh’s Religion of Islāmic Monotheism), worships Allāh (Alone) with sincere Faith], while he is a Muḥsin (good-doer) i.e. performs good deeds totally for Allāh’s Sake without any show-off or to gain praise or fame, etc., and does them in accordance with the Sunnah of Allāh’s Messenger Muḥammad), then he has grasped the most trustworthy hand-hold [Lā ilāha ill-Allāh (none has the right to be worshipped but Allāh)].” [Sūrah Luqman (31): 22]

Dear brethren! Let us wholeheartedly surrender ourselves to Allāh in every aspect of our lives, just as the Prophets and the righteous believers did. We must give precedence to Allāh's Commands over our personal desires, place our complete trust in His Perfect Wisdom in every situation, and remain firmly established upon Tawḥīd with sincerity, steadfastness, and unwavering obedience until we meet Him.

I beseech Allāh (ﷻ) to make us among the true Muslims who sincerely submit to Him in belief, speech, and action. Aameen.