Shahada

The Shahada or Shahadah (“testimony”) is an Islamic oath and creed. It is the first of the Five Pillars of Islam. It is inscribed on the flag of Saudi Arabia.

The Shahada says (in English translation): “I bear witness that there is no deity but Allah (God), and I bear witness that Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah.”

In the first part of the Shahada, a person says they believe that there is one God.

In the second part, a person says that they believe Prophet Muhammad is God’s messenger. The second part does two things. It reminds people of the importance of Muhammad. But it also reminds people that Muhammad is only a messenger (so Allah alone is God).

When someone wants to convert to Islam, reciting the Shahadah starts their life as a Muslim. Shahada is also said at many other times, like during adhan and salat.