The Arabic term for Islam’s profession of faith, the first of the Five Pillars, is Shahada.
The Shahada affirms that there is no deity but God and that Muhammad is God’s messenger. Its two-part wording expresses Islamic monotheism and recognition of Muhammad’s prophetic role. The statement is traditionally recited in Arabic, although Muslims may also learn its meaning in other languages.
The word shahada derives from an Arabic root associated with witnessing or bearing testimony. In many explanations of Islam, sincerely declaring the Shahada is the central verbal expression of conversion, together with accepting its meaning.
The Shahada is different from salah, the ritual prayer, and zakat, the obligatory charitable contribution. It is also not the same as the entire Quran; rather, it is a concise statement of faith that summarizes a core Islamic belief.