The Shahada: Testimony of Faith

Definition

The Shahada (الشهادة) is the Islamic declaration of faith: 'Ash-hadu an la ilaha illa Allah, wa ash-hadu anna Muhammadan rasul Allah' (I bear witness that there is no god but Allah, and I bear witness that Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah). It is the first and most fundamental pillar of Islam, the gateway through which a person enters the faith.

Conditions of the Shahada

Scholars have identified seven conditions that must be fulfilled for the Shahada to be valid: Knowledge (al-Ilm): Understanding what it means and what it negates. Certainty (al-Yaqin): Free of doubt. Acceptance (al-Qabul): Accepting all its implications. Submission (al-Inqiyad): Acting upon it. Truthfulness (as-Sidq): Saying it with sincerity. Sincerity (al-Ikhlas): Purely for Allah's sake. Love (al-Mahabbah): Loving what it necessitates.

Two Parts

The first part, 'la ilaha illa Allah,' is a negation and affirmation: it negates divinity from everything other than Allah and affirms it for Allah alone. This is the essence of Tawhid. The second part, 'Muhammadan rasul Allah,' affirms the prophethood of Muhammad, meaning one must obey his commands, believe his reports, avoid what he prohibited, and worship Allah only as he taught.

Significance

The Shahada is recited in the adhan, in the tashahhud of prayer, and at the moment of death. The Prophet said: 'Whoever's last words are la ilaha illa Allah will enter Paradise' (Abu Dawud 3116). It is the statement upon which the entire religion rests.