Shahada Meaning
I bear witness that there is no god but Allah, and that Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah. The meaning, Arabic, when to say it, and its source in the Quran and Sunnah.
أَشْهَدُ أَنْ لَا إِلَٰهَ إِلَّا اللَّهُ وَأَشْهَدُ أَنَّ مُحَمَّدًا رَسُولُ اللَّهِ
- Transliteration
- Ashhadu an lā ilāha illa-llāh, wa ashhadu anna Muḥammadan rasūlu-llāh
- Meaning
- I bear witness that there is no god but Allah, and that Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah
The Shahada (“testimony”) is the Muslim declaration of faith: “I bear witness that there is no god but Allah, and I bear witness that Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah.”
The first pillar of Islam
The Prophet ﷺ said Islam is built on five: testifying that there is no god but Allah and that Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah, establishing prayer, giving zakat, Hajj, and fasting Ramadan (Sahih al-Bukhari 8).
The two parts
- Lā ilāha illa-llāh: no one deserves worship except Allah. See La ilaha illallah.
- Muḥammadun rasūlu-llāh: Muhammad ﷺ is His Messenger (Quran 48:29).
Learn more
New to Islam? Start with what is Islam and how to pray.
Quran and hadith references link to quran.com and sunnah.com, where you can read the full text. Reviewed 19 October 2026. Spotted a mistake? Let us know.
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Frequently asked questions
What is the Shahada in English?
“I bear witness that there is no god but Allah, and I bear witness that Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah.”
Why is the Shahada important?
It is the first of the five pillars of Islam (Sahih al-Bukhari 8).