See Shahada (India) for the Indian town.

The shahadah ( ) (Turkish: Şehadet) is the Islamic creed. In Arabic it means "to testify" or "to bear witness". The shahadah is the declaration of belief in the oneness of God (Allah in Arabic) and in Muhammad as his messenger. Recitation of the shahadah is considered one of the Five Pillars of Islam by Sunni Muslims. By sincerely stating the shahadah aloud, preferably in front of two witnesses (though this is NOT required), one is considered to have officially declared oneself a convert to Islam.

• Arabic text:
  • لآ اِلَـهَ اِلاَّ لله محمد رسول الله
• Romanization:
• English translations:
  • There is no god but Allah; Muhammad is the messenger of Allah.

Some Shi'a Muslims add `Alīyun wali Allah (Ali is the vicegerent of God) at the end of the shahada. This is not compulsory for Shi'a; it is a matter of personal choice, although most Ayatollahs say it is preferable to add it.

Honest recitation of the shahādah once, in Arabic, in front of two Muslim witnesses, is all that is required for a person to become a Muslim according to most traditional schools.

History

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One of the earliest surviving translations of the Shahadah into a foreign language is in Greek, from the reign of al-Walid I (86-96 AH, 705-715 CE): (Ouk estitheos ei mē ho theos monos; Maameapostolos theou).^* "There is no god if not the single God; Muhammad is God's apostle", i.e. Allah is being translated as "the single God".

Conditions of the Shahadah

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Inclusive of Sincerity, there are seven critical conditions of the Shahadah:

• Al-`Ilm (Knowledge of the meaning of the shahadah, its negation and affirmation)
• Al-Yaqeen (Certainty – perfect knowledge of it that counter-acts suspicion and doubt)
• Al-Ikhlaas (Sincerity which negates shirk)
• Al-Sidq (Truthfulness that permits neither falsehood nor hypocrisy)
• Al-Mahabbah (Love of the shahadah and its meaning, and being happy with it)
• Al-Inqiad (Submission to its rightful requirements, which are the duties that must be performed with sincerity to God (alone) seeking His pleasure)
• Al-Qubool (Acceptance that contradicts rejection).

Flags

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Several national flags display the Shahadah:

• The flag of Saudi Arabia, on a green background.
• The unrecognized state of Somaliland.
• From 1990 to 1992, the Islamic State of Afghanistan.
• From 1997 to 2001, the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan, under the rule of the Taliban.
• Per the 2004 draft constitution for Afghanistan, white script centered on a red background.

Differences

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It is considered correct to refer to previous figures such as prophets like Jesus (in Arabic, Isa) as Messengers (rasul), and a few groups (notably certain Sufi mystics) amend the declaration to mention prior prophets whose names are found in the Qur'an.

Sometimes اشهد ان 'ašhadu 'an = "I witness that" is prefixed to each half of the Shahadah.

Sometimes و wa = "and" is prefixed to the first word of the second half of the Shahada.

Some of the relatively small minority, labelled the "Quran Alone Muslims" consider the second part of the Shahadah incorrect and say it should not include Muhammad's name.

Some Indonesian Muslims pray "Allah il Allah" when appealing for God's help. This is an altered form of the first part of the Shahada.