The Shahādah — Testimony of Faith
The Five Pillars · First of the Five Pillars
To testify that there is no god but God and that Muḥammad is His messenger is the first pillar of Islam and the gateway to the faith.
At a glance
| Arabic | الشهادة |
|---|---|
| Text | “There is no god but God; Muḥammad is the messenger of God.” |
| Role | Entry into Islam; the creed in one sentence |
The shahādah is the briefest possible statement of Islamic belief: lā ilāha illā Allāh, Muḥammadun rasūl Allāh — “there is no god but God; Muḥammad is the messenger of God.” Its first clause affirms tawḥīd, the oneness of God; its second affirms the prophethood of Muḥammad ﷺ and, with it, the truth of the revelation he brought.
Sincere pronouncement of the shahādah, with understanding and assent, is what makes a person a Muslim. It is whispered to newborns and to the dying, recited in every prayer, and called out in the summons to worship. In its two short clauses the whole of the creed is folded: God, and the way to God.
Related in Chronicle
Curated reference on Islamic belief and thought. On matters where traditions differ, positions are attributed rather than adjudicated; verify points of doctrine with qualified scholars.