Encyclopedia of Islam

Further reading: Franklin Lewis, Rumi Past and Present, 

East and West: The Life, Teaching and Poetry of Jalal-al-

Din Rumi (Boston: Oneworld Publications, 2000); Idries 

Shah, The Sufis (London: Octagon Press, 1977); Jane I. 

Smith, Islam in America (New York: Columbia Univer-

sity Press, 1999); L. F. Rushbrook Williams, ed. Sufis 

Studies: East and West (New York: E.P. Dutton, 1973).

shahada

 

(Arabic: testimony, witnessing)

The  shahada is the first of the F

ive

  p

illars

  of

i

slam

. It is a formulaic “testimony” or “witness” 

of one’s Islamic 

Faith

—that “there is no god but 

God and m

Uhammad

 is his messenger”—and 

affirmation of membership in the community 

(

umma

) of Muslims. Usually pronounced in Ara-

bic (ashhadu an la illah illa Allah wa ashhadu 

Muhammad rasul Allah), this formula proclaims 

belief in the unity of God and in the prophetic 

status of Muhammad. It also expresses a rejection 

of 

idolatry

 and implicitly accepts the missions 

of other prophets (it does not say Muhammad 

is the only messenger). Also known as the “two 

shahadas” and the kalima, it is based on quranic 

themes, but its wording occurs only in a fragmen-

tary form in the q

Uran

 (see Q 2:163, 255 and 

48:29). Variations of the two parts of the formula 

occur separately on late seventh-century Islamic 

coins and building inscriptions, but the familiar 

wording concerning both God and Muhammad 

that is now used in Islamic ritual probably did 

not become firmly established until the early or 

mid-eighth century (by 750).

Muslims are obliged to pronounce the shahada

repeatedly throughout their lives. It is recited when 

a baby is born, in the calls to 

prayer

, and in daily 

prayers. Anyone who wishes to convert to Islam 

must pronounce it sincerely before witnesses. A 

dying person should turn toward m

ecca

 and recite 

it, but if he or she is unable to do so, others may 

recite it instead. The Shia have modified the shahada

K  618  

Shah, Idries

---

by adding “Ali is the friend of God” (Ali wali Allah), 

which affirms their belief in the preeminence of a

li

ibn

 a

bi

 t

alib

 (d. 661) as their first i

mam

, in addition 

to their belief in God and his prophet. The shahada,

especially the first part, is frequently used by Sufis 

in their 

dhikr

 rituals. It is also a frequent subject in 

Islamic 

calligraphy

, where it is drawn in a variety 

of beautiful and elaborate styles. It is frequently dis-

played in Islamic buildings, especially in 

mosqUe

s 

and shrines, but it may also be posted in homes 

and businesses. a

mUlets

 

and

 

talismans

 designed to 

insure God’s blessing and protection also make use 

of the shahada.

The concept of witnessing in Islam encompasses 

several additional aspects. In the Quran’s statements 

about J

Udgment

 d

ay

, evildoers will be condemned 

on the testimonies of virtuous people who bear 

witness against them (for example Q 4:41, 159). 

Witnessing is also required by the 

sharia

 in certain 

cases of civil and criminal law: financial transac-

tions, wills, divorce, and execution for adultery. 

However, the most important meaning of shahada,

aside from being the first pillar of Islam, is that of 

martyrdom

. The idea of giving up one’s life for God 

and religion is considered to be a form of bearing 

“witness” to one’s faith. The Islamic concept was 

influenced by early Christianity, in which the Greek 

term martyr (witness) was used for Christians who 

were tortured and killed by Roman authorities. 

Martyrdom is a doctrine found in both Sunni and 

Shii Islam, but it has achieved an especially rich 

significance within t

Welve

-i

mam

 s

hiism

.

See also 

adhan

; 

crime

 

and

 

pUnishment

; 

FUner

-

ary

 

ritUals

; s

Unnism

.