4 - The Shahadah

• Five Pillars - Five things a Muslim must do as part of their religion
• Fard - Practices a Muslim must follow
• Monotheism - The belief in one God
• Aqiqah - The ceremony welcoming the birth of a baby
• Shahadah -

  • Shahadah is the first and most important pillar of Islam
  • 'I bear witness that there is no god but Allah and Muhammad is the prophet of Allah'
  • There is one God: Allah and Muhammad is his messenger (prophet)
  • These words sum up all you have to believe to be a Muslim
  • It is the central support for the 'House of Islam'
  • By saying these words, a Muslim is showing their commitment to Islam
• Monotheism -

  • The Shahadah states the existence of one God (monotheism)
  • Muslims reject belief in many Gods (polytheism) and also atheism
  • The Shahadah denies the Christian belief in the Trinity
• Muhammad the Messenger -

  • Muhammad is the prophet who brought Allah's message to the world
  • He lived in Mecca in Arabia
  • He prayed in a cave outside Mecca
  • The Angel Gabriel revealed the first message of Allah to Muhammad
• Daily Shahadah -

  • Muslims will say and hear the words of the Shahadah every day
  • It is announced from the minaret in the adhan
  • It is said in the five daily prayers of Salah
  • It is said in their private prayers (Du'ah)
• Birth and Death -

  The Shahadah is recited...

  • When a baby is born - In the aqiqah ceremony, the father whispers the Shahadah into the ear of a new born baby, making them the first words a child hears on coming into the world
  • When a Muslims is about to die - A Muslim who knows they are about to die will try to make these final words they say with their dying breath
  • When a soldier is going into battle - These may be the words on their lips as a commitment to their submission to the will of Allah
• Conversion -

  • When someone becomes a Muslim they recite the Shahadah in front of witnesses
  • Islam teaches all people are born Muslims and made into followers of other faith by their upbringing in their parent's homes
  • When a non-Muslim turns to Islam they are coming home. Converts are called reverts as they 'go back' to what they were born as
  • A person has reverted to Islam the moment they recite the Shahadah