The shahada

The words

أَشْهَدُ أَنْ لَا إِلَٰهَ إِلَّا ٱللَّٰهُ، وَأَشْهَدُ أَنَّ مُحَمَّدًا رَسُولُ ٱللَّٰهِ

Ashhadu an lā ilāha illa-llāh, wa ashhadu anna Muḥammadan rasūlu-llāh

“I bear witness that there is no god but Allah, and I bear witness that Muhammad ﷺ is the Messenger of Allah.”

ﷺ after the Prophet Muhammad’s name means “may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him.” See the glossary

How it is said

Before you say it, mean it. The intention (niyyah) is in your heart, not words you say aloud. Understand what you are declaring, believe it, and say it truthfully.

1. Understand itKnow what the words mean before you say them.
2. Believe itHold them sincerely, in your heart.
3. Say itSay the words aloud, meaning them.

The shahada is between you and Allah. When you say it sincerely, believing it in your heart, you are Muslim, even if no one else is there. Saying it at a masjid isn’t required, but it’s a good way to meet the Muslims near you, who can help as you learn.

Many people say their shahada at a local masjid, with an imam and a few people there to welcome them. Most masjids are glad to help. Call or visit and tell them you would like to take your shahada, or simply learn more first.

Many people make ghusl, washing the whole body, when they take their shahada, as a fresh start. Your imam can explain how.

A fresh start

When a person becomes Muslim, Allah wipes away the wrongs they did before. They start again with a clean page. The good they did before is not lost: it stays with them.

“Islam wipes out what came before it.” Narrated by Amr ibn al-As, in Sahih Muslim.

“You became Muslim along with the good you did before.” Said to Hakim ibn Hizam, in Sahih al-Bukhari and Sahih Muslim.

Convert or revert?

Convert is someone who comes to Islam from another faith, or from no faith.

Revert is the word many new Muslims prefer. Islam teaches that every person is born with a natural belief in the One God, called fitrah, so becoming Muslim is a return to it.

Both words are widely used, and both are welcome here.

“Every child is born upon the fitrah.” Narrated by Abu Hurairah, in Sahih al-Bukhari and Sahih Muslim.

What it means

It has two parts. The first means worshipping Allah alone. The second means accepting the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ as Allah's final messenger, and following his example in how to worship and how to live.

Tawhid means oneness. It is the central belief in Islam: that Allah is One, with no partners and no equals.

The last prophet is Muhammad ﷺ, and there is no prophet after him.

What to learn first

Almost everyone who comes to Islam feels overwhelmed at some point. There is a lot to learn, and it can't all happen at once, so take one step from this page at a time. Many masjids run classes and circles especially for new Muslims, and they are a good place to meet people who remember exactly how the beginning felt.

1. The five pillars of IslamShahada, salah, zakat, sawm and hajj, and what each one means.Learn →
2. How to make wuduThe washing before prayer, step by step, with video.Watch →
3. How to prayEvery movement of salah, with the Arabic, how to say it, and what it means.Learn →
4. Your first surah: Al-FatihaThe opening of the Quran, recited in every prayer. Listen, then learn it line by line.Listen →
5. The cheat sheetsWudu and prayer, every step and every word, to print and keep.Print →