Shahada

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The Shahadah (Arabic: ٱلشَّهَادَة,  audio (info • help)) is the first pillar of Islam. It is the saying: "Lā ʾIlāha ʾIllā Allah, Muḥammadun Rasūl Allah", meaning "There no god but Allah, Muhammad is the messenger of Allah".

Verse 3:18 of the Quran states: "God bears witness that there is no other god besides Him, and so do the angels and those who possess knowledge."

Rendering

• Arabic text:

• أَشْهَدُ أَنْ لَا إِلَٰهَ إِلَّا ٱللَّٰهُ
• وَأَشْهَدُ أَنَّ مُحَمَّدًا رَسُولُ ٱللَّٰهِ

• English rendering:

• I bear witness that there is no god but Allah
• And I bear witness that Muhammad is the messenger of Allah

In addition to the first two testimonies, Shia Muslims may also recite the third testimony of:

• Arabic text:

• وَأَشْهَدُ أَنَّ عَلِيًّا وَلِيُّ ٱللَّٰهِ

• English rendering:

• And I bear witness that Ali is the vicegerent of Allah

A single honest recitation of the shahadah in Arabic is all that is required for a person to become a Muslim according to most traditional schools of Islam.

Other websites

• LivingHalal.com Islamic audio glossary
• AbdurRahman.org
• Audio
  • Basic Form
  • Longer Form