The Importance of the Shahada in Islam

Learn all about this sacred Islamic proclamation

Co-authored by Ali Garbacz

Last Updated: March 15, 2023 References

What is the Shahada?

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Transliteration & Translation

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Shahada Performances

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5 Pillars of Islam

The Shahada (ٱلشَّهَادَةُ) is a sacred part of Islam and one of the fundamental pillars that make up the entire religion. Muslims speak the words from the Shahada daily to reaffirm their belief in God and their faith, and the Shahada is the gateway that allows someone to convert to Islam. Keep reading to learn about the Shahada, its meaning, and its significance in the Islamic religion.

Things You Should Know

The Shahada is the first of the 5 pillars of Islam and is the most sacred statement in Islam.
The Shahada is a declaration of faith that states that there is only one God (Allah), and that Muhammad is the messenger of God.
Muslims recite the Shahada during the five daily prayers.
People who wish to convert to Islam must recite the Shahada.

Section 1 of 4:

What is the Shahada?

The Shahada (ٱلشَّهَادَةُ) is the proclamation of faith in the Islamic religion. The Shahada (or shahadah) is a declaration of faith in one God (Allah) and his messenger Muhammad. It’s the most sacred statement in Islam, and a person must recite it with a full understanding of its meaning and mindfulness. The Shahada is also the first of the five pillars of Islam. These pillars are the five core beliefs and practices of the Islamic religion.^{[1]
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Section 2 of 4:

Shahada Transliteration & Translation

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The first part of the Shahada proclaims a belief in one God, Allah. This is the center of Islam around which everything else revolves. When Muslims recite the Shahada during the five daily prayers, they’re continuously reminded of this foundational belief.^{[2]
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- Arabic transcription: أشهد أن لا إله إلا الله^{[3]
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- Transliteration: Ashhadu ala ilaha illallah.
- Translation: I testify that there is no god but God (Allah).
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The Shahada’s second part declares belief in the messenger Muhammad. This part requires Muslims to testify to their belief in the Prophet Muhammad as Allah’s messenger. Muslims also accept other prophets, such as Abraham, Moses, and Jesus, but recognize Muhammad as the final prophet of Islam. This part of the Shahada is also meant to remind Muslims that Muhammad is only a profit, not an equal to Allah.^{[4]
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- Arabic transcription: أشهد أن محمد رسول الله الله^{[5]
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- Transliteration: Ash hadu anna Muhammadan Rasulu-Allah.
- Translation: I testify that Muhammad is the messenger of God.

Section 3 of 4:

When is the Shahada performed?

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The Shahada is recited during adhan (أَذَان, the call to prayer). The adhan (also “azan” or “athan”) is the announcement made to let Muslims know that it’s time to pray. The announcer, or mu'adhdhin (مُؤَذّن), stands in the minaret of a mosque or another high place and calls the announcement 15 minutes before each of the 5 daily prayers. Each line of the Shahada is repeated twice at the beginning of this call.^{[6]
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- The adhan starts with the announcer calling out Allahu Akbar (ٱللهُ أَكْبَر, “Allah is the greatest.”) four times.
- After that they say the first part of the Shahada—Ashhadu ala ilaha illallah (أشهد أن لا إله إلا الله, I testify that there is no god but God)—twice.
- They continue by then saying the second part of the Shahada—Ash hadu anna Muhammadan Rasulu-Allah (أشهد أن محمد رسول الله, I testify that Muhammad is the messenger of God.)—twice.
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Muslims recite the Shahada during the salah (صلاة, daily prayers). There are 5 daily prayers Muslims must recite: a dawn prayer, midday prayer, afternoon prayer, dusk prayer, and night prayer. Each prayer consists of a set of prescribed movements and iterations, called rak’ah (ركعة), that Muslims must perform. The dawn prayer has 2 rak’ah, the dusk prayer has 3, and the midday, afternoon, and night prayers have 4. The Shahada appears in the second rak’ah, in a piece called the Tashahhud (تَشَهُّد).^{[7]
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A person converting to Islam must recite the Shahada. All you have to do to convert to Islam is say the Shahada. Saying the Shahada means you’re committing yourself to Islam for life. There are also other things you must do to become a Muslim, including:^{[8]
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- Believe that the Holy Qur’an is the literal word of God, revealed by Him.
- Believe that Judgment Day is true and will come.
- Believe in the prophets that God sent, the books He revealed, and in His angels.
- Not worship anything or anyone except God.
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The Shahada is the first and last thing a Muslim hears. The Shahada is whispered to infants born into the Islamic religion. They’re also the last words a Muslim would ideally hear before they die. This is incredibly symbolic of a Muslim’s lifelong commitment to God and Islam.^{[9]
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Section 4 of 4:

5 Pillars of Islam

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Profession of Faith (Shahada, الشَهادة). This is the profession of faith that’s repeated with every prayer. The Shahada proclaims the belief in God’s oneness and the prophethood of Muhammad. This is a person’s first step on their lifelong journey as a Muslim.^{[10]
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Prayer (salat, الصلاة). These are the ritual prayers that Muslims perform 5 times a day, just as Muhammad did. Muslims perform these prayers at dawn, midday, afternoon, dusk, and night. Prayers are performed while standing, kneeling, bowing, and prostrating before God. This is when Muslims state their intentions to worship, and they can pray with others in the community or by themselves.^{[11]
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Alms (zakat, الزكاة). The term “zakat” literally translates as “purification.” This is a donation made to help less fortunate members of the community and ensure justice in society. This acts as a reminder to Muslims to use their wealth unselfishly and to care for others who don’t have as much. The amount of this donation is usually about 2.5% of a person’s annual accumulated wealth.^{[12]
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- In some countries, the government collects and distributes zakat. In other places, Muslims donate through local mosques and Muslim associations.
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Fasting (sawm, الصوم). This is the daily fast Muslims perform during the month of Ramadan (رَمَضَان). During daylight fasting hours, Muslims abstain from food, water, sexual activity, and evil thoughts. Ramadan is all about practicing patience and commitment, and the fast is a way for Muslims to discipline their body and spirit. It’s also a reminder of the social injustice that still occurs for people who can’t eat every day.^{[13]
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- Ramadan is also a time to come together as a community since many Muslims gather with friends and family to eat and celebrate once daylight hours are over.
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Pilgrimage (Hajj, الحج). The Hajj is a pilgrimage to the Ka’bah (ٱلْكَعْبَة) in Mecca and is performed during the last lunar month of the Muslim year (Dhu’l-Hijjah, ذُو ٱلْحِجَّة). Every Muslim is required to make this journey at least once in their lifetime, so long as they’re in good health and have the financial means. The Hajj shows that Muslims of all races, ethnic groups, and cultures are equal in God’s presence, and everyone wears the same white garment as they walk, pray, and eat together.^{[14]
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