shahādah

<em>Shahādah</em>: Islamic profession of faithThe shahādah, the Islamic profession of faith and the opening lines of the call to prayer (adhān), calligraphy on a mosque.

shahādah, the Muslim profession of faith: “There is no god but God; Muhammad is the Prophet of God.” The shahādah is the first of the five Pillars of Islam (arkān al-Islām). It must be recited by every Muslim at least once in a lifetime, aloud, correctly, and purposively, with a full understanding of its meaning and with an assent of the heart.

The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica This article was most recently revised and updated by Adam Zeidan.
Citation Information
Article Title: shahādah
Website Name: Encyclopaedia Britannica
Publisher: Encyclopaedia Britannica, Inc.
Date Published: 23 May 2025
Access Date: November 13, 2026