Shahadah ( الشهادة)-Declaration of faith
Islam is built on five fundamental pillars, and the first and most important pillar is the Shahadah. It is a simple yet powerful declaration of faith that forms the foundation of a Muslim’s belief.
What is the Declaration?
“أَشْهَدُ أَنْ لَا إِلَٰهَ إِلَّا ٱللَّٰهُ وَأَشْهَدُ أَنَّ مُحَمَّدًا رَسُولُ ٱللَّٰهِ”
“Ashhadu an la ilaha illallah, wa ashhadu anna Muhammadan rasulullah.”
Meaning, “I bear witness that there is no god but Allah, and I bear witness that Muhammad is the messenger of Allah.”
Accepting the Shahadah is the first step to becoming a Muslim. It’s more than just saying the words—it’s a sincere belief that shapes a person’s life. This declaration represents complete devotion and obedience to Allah (SWT).
The Shahadah is called “the twin testimony of faith” because it has two main parts:
- 1. There is no god except Allah (SWT)-This statement confirms that Allah (SWT) is the only one worthy of worship, rejecting any partners or children attributed to Him. Allah (SWT) is One, Eternal, and Unique. Anyone who sincerely recites the Shahadah becomes a Muslim, recognizing Allah’s (SWT) exclusive right to be worshipped. This belief is the foundation of Islam, taught by all the Prophets and Messengers sent by Allah (SWT).
Allah (SWT) is the Lord, Creator, Sustainer, Sovereign, and Provider. He alone controls all things in this world and the Hereafter. The Quran affirms this:
“He is the Originator of the heavens and the earth. How can He have children when He has no wife? He created all things and He is the All-Knower of everything. Such is Allah, your Lord! There is no deity but Him, the Creator of all things. So worship Him alone, and He is the Trustee over all things.” (Surah Al-An’am, 6:101-102)
Allah (SWT) is the Almighty, the Creator and Sustainer of the universe—there is none like Him, and none can ever be compared to Him.
The Shahadah is called “the twin testimony of faith” because it has two main parts:
- 2. Muhammad (PBUH) is the Messenger of Allah (SWT) – The second part of the Shahadah affirms that Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) is the Messenger of Allah (SWT). Allah (SWT) chose Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) to deliver His final message to all of humanity—transcending time, place, tribe, and nation. To be a true Muslim, one must not only believe in Allah (SWT) but also love and follow His Messenger, emulating his teachings and example.
Allah (SWT) commands in the Quran:
“Say (O Muhammad to mankind): ‘If you love Allah, then follow me; Allah will love you and forgive your sins. And Allah is Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful.” (Surah Aal-i-Imran, 3:31)
Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) was given the final revelation and is known as the Seal of the Prophets—the last and most beloved Prophet of Allah (SWT). His life, character, and teachings are the perfect example for all Muslims. It is the duty of every believer to study and follow his Sunnah and Hadith to become better Muslims.
Simply saying the Shahadah is not enough to be a true Muslim. A person must understand its meaning, follow Allah’s (SWT) commands, and live by the teachings of His Messenger (ﷺ). True faith means believing deeply, practicing sincerely, and staying committed to obedience—this is what it means to truly follow Islam.
Islam has six Kalimas that summarize essential Islamic beliefs.
A Kalima (Arabic: كلمة) in Islam is a statement or declaration that expresses the fundamental beliefs of a Muslim. The word “Kalima” means “word” or “statement.” It is a concise way to affirm faith in Allah (SWT) and Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ).
First Kalima (Tayyibah) – The Word of Purity
Second Kalima (Shahadah) – The Testimony of Faith
Third Kalima (Tamjeed) – The Word of Glorification
Fourth Kalima (Tauheed) – The Word of Oneness
Fifth Kalima (Astaghfar) – The Word of Seeking Forgiveness
Sixth Kalima (Radd-e-Kufr) – The Word of Rejecting Disbelief
1. Kalima Tayyibah - The Word of Purity
لَا إِلٰهَ إِلَّا اللّٰهُ مُحَمَّدٌ رَسُولُ اللّٰهِ
Transliteration: La ilaha illallah Muhammadur Rasulullah
Meaning: “There is no god but Allah, and Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah.”
2. Second Kalima Shahadah - The Testimony of Faith
أَشْهَدُ أَنْ لَا إِلٰهَ إِلَّا اللّٰهُ وَحْدَهُ لَا شَرِيكَ لَهُ وَأَشْهَدُ أَنَّ مُحَمَّدًا عَبْدُهُ وَرَسُولُهُ
Transliteration: Ashhadu an la ilaha illallah wahdahu la sharika lahu wa ashhadu anna Muhammadan abduhu wa Rasuluhu
Meaning: “I bear witness that there is no god but Allah, He is One and has no partner, and I bear witness that Muhammad is His servant and Messenger.”
3. Kalima Tamjeed - The Word of Glorification
سُبْحَانَ اللّٰهِ وَالْحَمْدُ لِلّٰهِ وَلَا إِلٰهَ إِلَّا اللّٰهُ وَاللّٰهُ أَكْبَرُ، وَلَا حَوْلَ وَلَا قُوَّةَ إِلَّا بِاللّٰهِ الْعَلِيِّ الْعَظِيمِ
Transliteration: Subhanallahi walhamdulillahi wala ilaha illallahu wallahu akbar. Wala hawla wala quwwata illa billahil aliyyil azeem.
Meaning: “Glory be to Allah, all praise is for Allah, there is no god but Allah, and Allah is the Greatest. There is no power and no strength except with Allah, the Most High, the Most Great.”
4. Kalima Tauheed - The Word of Oneness
لَا إِلٰهَ إِلَّا اللّٰهُ وَحْدَهُ لَا شَرِيكَ لَهُ لَهُ الْمُلْكُ وَلَهُ الْحَمْدُ يُحْيِي وَيُمِيتُ وَهُوَ حَيٌّ لَا يَمُوتُ أَبَدًا أَبَدًا ذُو الْجَلَالِ وَالْإِكْرَامِ بِيَدِهِ الْخَيْرُ وَهُوَ عَلَىٰ كُلِّ شَيْءٍ قَدِيرٌ
Transliteration: La ilaha illallahu wahdahu la sharika lahu, lahul mulku wa lahul hamdu, yuhyi wa yumit, wa huwa hayyun la yamutu abadan abada, dhul jalali wal ikram, biyadihil khair, wa huwa ‘ala kulli shay’in qadeer.
Meaning: “There is no god but Allah. He is One, has no partner. His is the kingdom, and all praise is for Him. He gives life and causes death. He is Living and never dies. He is the Owner of Majesty and Honor. In His hand is all good, and He has power over all things.”
5. Kalima Astaghfar - The Word of Seeking Forgiveness
أَسْتَغْفِرُ اللّٰهَ رَبِّي مِنْ كُلِّ ذَنْبٍ وَأَتُوبُ إِلَيْهِ
Transliteration: Astaghfirullaha rabbi min kulli dhanbin wa atubu ilayh.
Meaning: “I seek forgiveness from Allah, my Lord, from every sin I committed, and I turn to Him in repentance.”
6. Kalima Radd-e-Kufr - The Word of Rejecting Disbelief
اَللّٰهُمَّ إِنِّي أَعُوذُ بِكَ مِنْ أَنْ أُشْرِكَ بِكَ شَيْئًا وَأَنَا أَعْلَمُ بِهِ وَأَسْتَغْفِرُكَ لِمَا لَا أَعْلَمُ بِهِ تُبْتُ عَنْهُ وَتَبَرَّأْتُ مِنَ الْكُفْرِ وَالشِّرْكِ وَالْكَذِبِ وَالْغِيبَةِ وَالْبِدْعَةِ وَالنَّمِيمَةِ وَالْفَوَاحِشِ وَالْبُهْتَانِ وَالْمَعَاصِي كُلِّهَا وَأَسْلَمْتُ وَأَقُولُ لَا إِلٰهَ إِلَّا اللّٰهُ مُحَمَّدٌ رَسُولُ اللّٰهِ
Transliteration: Allahumma inni a’udhu bika min an ushrika bika shay’an wa ana a’lamu bihi, wa astaghfiruka lima la a’lamu bihi, tubtu anhu wa tabarratu min al-kufri wash-shirki wal-kidhbi wal-ghibati wal-bid’ati wan-namimati wal-fawahishi wal-buhtani wal-ma’asi kulliha, wa aslamtu wa aqulu la ilaha illallah Muhammadur Rasulullah.
Meaning: “O Allah, I seek refuge in You from knowingly associating anything with You, and I seek Your forgiveness for what I do not know. I repent from it and declare myself free from disbelief, polytheism, lies, backbiting, innovation, slander, immorality, and all disobedience. I have submitted and declare that there is no god but Allah, and Muhammad is His Messenger.”
Steps to Become a Muslim:
To become a Muslim, a person must sincerely declare and believe in the Shahadah, the testimony of faith. If you don’t know Arabic, you can say it in transliteration and understand its meaning in English::
“أَشْهَدُ أَنْ لَا إِلَٰهَ إِلَّا ٱللَّٰهُ وَأَشْهَدُ أَنَّ مُحَمَّدًا رَسُولُ ٱللَّٰهِ”
Transliteration – “Ashhadu an la ilaha illallah, wa ashhadu anna Muhammadan rasulullah.”
Meaning- “I bear witness that there is no god but Allah, and I bear witness that Muhammad is the messenger of Allah.”
Understand the Shahadah:
Know and believe that Allah (SWT) is the only one worthy of worship.
Accept that Muhammad (ﷺ) is the final messenger of Allah.
Declare the Shahadah Sincerely:
Say the Shahadah out loud with full conviction and understanding.
The declaration must come from the heart, without any doubt.
Have a Genuine Intention (Niyyah):
Accept Islam willingly, not under pressure or compulsion.
Embrace the faith out of love and devotion to Allah (SWT).
Repent from Past Sins:
Regret any past wrongdoing and commit to living according to Islamic teachings.
All previous sins are forgiven upon accepting Islam.
Start Practicing Islam:
Perform the five daily prayers (Salah).
Follow Islamic teachings and strive to live a righteous life.
Continue learning about Islam, including the Quran and Sunnah.
Connect with the Muslim Community:
Seek guidance and support from fellow Muslims.
Attend the mosque regularly and participate in community activities.
Becoming a Muslim is a life-changing decision that brings inner peace and a sense of purpose. It marks the start of a lifelong journey of faith, worship, and obedience to Allah (SWT).
Doubts About Islam or Religion? Discover the Miracles of the Quran!
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