The Islamic testimony of faith, its two parts, and its role as the first Pillar of Islam.
The Shahadah is the Islamic testimony of faith, and the first of the Five Pillars. In Arabic it is:
Ash-hadu an la ilaha illallah, wa ash-hadu anna Muhammadan rasulullah
which means: “I bear witness that there is no god but Allah, and I bear witness that Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah.”
It has two parts. The first is a statement of Tawheed — a denial of any other god (“there is no god”) followed by an affirmation of the one true God (“but Allah”). The second is an affirmation that Muhammad (peace be upon him) is God’s messenger, which is why Muslims follow his example (the Sunnah) alongside the Qur’an.
Sincerely saying the Shahadah, understanding its meaning, is how a person formally enters Islam. It is also recited within the daily prayers, making it a statement Muslims return to many times each day.
Key points
- The Shahadah is the Islamic testimony of faith: "There is no god but Allah, and Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah."
- It has two parts: a statement of God's oneness, and an affirmation of Muhammad's prophethood.
- Sincerely declaring it, with understanding, is how a person formally enters Islam.
- It is recited within the daily prayers as well as on its own.
Hadith
Islam is based on (the following) five (principles): 1. To testify that none has the right to be worshipped but Allah and Muhammad is Allah's Messenger...
Sahih al-Bukhari, no. 8 (Book 2, Hadith 1) .
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