A Simple Guide to ISLAM
The Shahaadah –
The Article of Faith
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THE SHAHAADAH –
THE ARTICLE OF FAITH
The Creed, or article of faith, called
Shahaadah,
literally means
‘witness’ or ‘testimony.’ The first of the five pillars of Islam, its
nomenclature derives from the word ‘
Ashhadu
,’ which means ‘I
declare,’ or ‘I bear witness.’ As an Islamic term, it means testifying
to faith in Islam. The words of the
Shahaada
in Arabic are:
La
ilaha
illa
Allah Muhammad ur-rasul Allah
. This means: There is no god
but Allah and Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah. Its recital is
called the ‘
Kalimah
.’
For Muslims there are certain requirements, which have to be
observed regarding the
Kalimah
of
Shahaadah
. They are as follows:
It has to be repeated aloud, at least once in a lifetime.
It’s meaning has to be fully understood.
It should be believed in “with the heart.”
It should be professed in until death.
When spoken in Arabic and with sincerity, it is a commitment to
obey God and follow the Prophet:
‘I bear witness that there is no god but Allah; I bear
witness that Muhammad is the Messenger of God.’
