An article about the basic statement of faith encapsulates the most important Muslim beliefs.
Shahadah: the statement of faith
Last updated 2009-08-23
Shahadah
"There is no God but Allah, and Muhammad is his messenger."
This is the basic statement of the Islamic faith: anyone who cannot recite this wholeheartedly is not a Muslim.
When a Muslim recites this they proclaim:
- That Allah is the only God, and that Muhammad is his prophet
- That they personally accept this as true
- That they will obey all the commitments of Islam in their life
The Shahadah is the first of the Five Pillars of Islam.
Becoming a Muslim
Reciting this statement three times in front of witnesses is all that anyone need do to become a Muslim.
A Muslim is expected to recite this statement out loud, with total sincerity, fully understanding what it means.
The Arabic can be transliterated into the Roman alphabet like this:
Ashhadu Alla Ilaha Illa Allah Wa Ashhadu Anna Muhammad Rasulu Allah
Transliteration of the shahadah from the Arabic
The Shahadah is written in Arabic on the flag of Saudi Arabia, the state that contains Islam's holiest places.
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