What is the most accurate translation of “لا إله إلا الله”?
Question
I have heard different translations of “لا إله إلا الله”. There is nothing worthy of worship except Allah, There is nothing worthy of worship except the one worthy of worship, There is no god except Allah. What is the most accurate translation of “لا إله إلا الله”?
Answer
Assalāmuʿalaykum Wa Raḥmatullāhi Wa Barakātuh
It should be noted that when translating Arabic into English, the translation will never be as accurate as it ought to be.
Nevertheless, the most commonly-used literal translation, in line with the Arabic dictionaries, would be:
“There is no deity except Allāh”.
And Allah subhanahu wa ta’ala knows best.
Answered by: Mufti Ismail Moosa