The first pillar of Islam is the Shahada, the assertion of faith. The Shahada (shahadah) is the Arabic term for the declaration of faith in one God (Allah) and His messenger. There are two shahadas: “I bear witness that there is no God but God (Allah – i.e. there is none worthy of worship but Allah), and Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah.” It is the most sacred statement in Islam, and must be recited with full understanding and mindfulness of it’s meaning. This set statement is normally recited in Arabic: lā ʾilāha ʾilla-llāhu muḥammadu rrasūlu-llāh (لَا إِلٰهَ إِلَّا الله مُحَمَّدٌ رَسُولُ الله) “There is no god but God (and) Prophet Muhammad(pbuh) is the messenger of God.” It is essential to utter it to become a Muslim and to convert to Islam.
Why is the Shahada important ?
The belief in one Allah is the central tenet of the Islamic faith, around which all else revolves. Muslims are continuously reminded of this foundational belief, in the recital of the Shahada (shahadah) during each of the five daily prayers, as well as many more pivotal moments of a Muslim’s life
The second part of the Shahada requires Muslims to acknowledge and testify to the belief in the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) as Allah’s messenger. This serves as a reminder to Muslims of the importance of the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him), but also as a reminder to never associate partners with Allah, for He is just a messenger, and Allah remains one God alone.
The first shahada promotes the essential unity of the faith, proclaiming that there is no god but God. The Tawhid, which is the prayer that states “no god but God” is a major component of the Islamic faith, for it asserts the monotheistic aspect of Islam, promoting unity of God as the source of existence. The second shahada demonstrates God’s essential mercy. This prayer proclaims Prophet Muhammad(pbuh) as the last prophet, and it uses Prophet Muhammad as the prime example of guidance for all Muslims. Prophet Muhammad was the recipient of the Quran’s guidance himself and now is bearer of this guidance for the rest of the Muslim community throughout history.