The profession of faith that forms Islam’s first pillar is called the Shahada.
Its standard wording declares that there is no deity but God and that Muhammad is the Messenger of God. The statement expresses Islamic monotheism and acknowledges Muhammad’s prophetic mission. Muslims recite it in prayer and on many other occasions.
The Shahada is especially important in conversion to Islam. A person traditionally enters the faith by sincerely reciting the declaration with understanding and conviction. Its two-part structure joins belief in God’s oneness with belief in Muhammad as God’s messenger.
The Shahada is sometimes confused with the word tawhid. Tawhid refers more broadly to the doctrine of God’s oneness, while Shahada names the formal declaration of faith. It is also different from salat, which is the ritual prayer and the second pillar.