The Shahada: our testimony
The first pillar: saying the Shahada
The Prophet ﷺ taught that Islam stands on five pillars, like a tent stands on five poles. The very first pillar is the Shahada — the testimony. It is just one short sentence, but it means everything: "There is no god but Allah, and Muhammad is His Messenger." Saying this sentence, and truly believing it in your heart, is how someone becomes a Muslim. Muslims say it every day in their prayers, and try to remember what it means: that we worship only Allah, and we follow the example of His Messenger ﷺ.
أَشْهَدُ أَنْ لَا إِلَٰهَ إِلَّا ٱللَّٰهُ وَأَشْهَدُ أَنَّ مُحَمَّدًا رَسُولُ ٱللَّٰهِ
Ashhadu an la ilaha illallah, wa ashhadu anna Muhammadan rasulullah"I testify there is no god but Allah, and I testify that Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah."
Say it: Read it in two gentle halves: Ashhadu an la ilaha illallah (I testify there is no god but Allah) — wa ashhadu anna Muhammadan rasulullah (and I testify Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah). Let your child echo each half back to you.
شَهَادَة
shahada
testimony — declaring belief that Allah alone is God and Muhammad is His Messenger
What do we say in the Shahada?