The Pillars of Islam 1. The Shahadah Shahadah This word means ‘creed’ in Arabic. A creed is a statement of belief- just as when Christians say “we believe

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The Pillars of Islam

1. The Shahadah

Shahadah

This word means ‘creed’ in Arabic.

A creed is a statement of belief- just as when Christians say “we believe in the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit”. A creed is therefore a mini-summary of the most important beliefs in that religion.

“There is no God (Allah) but God (Allah), and

Mohammed is his true prophet.”

The Shahadah of Islam is:

What does it mean?

“There is no God (Allah) but God (Allah), and Mohammed is his

true prophet.”

It seems to have two sections.

Muslims believe in only ONE God, and reject all

others as false - this was important when

Mohammed convinced the Makkans to give up

their pagan idols.

This means that Muslims accept that Mohammed did receive the Holy Qur’an from Allah and therefore anything he did or said was Allah’s true will for humanity,

and needs to be followed.

When is it heard?

1.Conversion to Islam

If a person wanted to become a Muslim then saying the Shahadah three times, in full sincerity, and with full understanding of what it means, is necessary.

Q.Why do you think this might be?



Young men who are learning about Islam before they ‘convert’ formally.

2. During the “Adhan”That noise which is so reminiscent of Islamic cities,

the ‘Call to Prayer’ or ‘Adhan’ from mosques, calling people to perform Salah (prayer), contains the Shahadah as part of it.



Allahu Akbar, Allahu Akbar.Allah is the Greatest, Allah is the Greatest.

Ash-hadu alla ilaha illa-llah.

I bear witness that there is none worthy of worship but

Allah.

Ash-hadu anna Muhammadar-Rasulullah.I bear witness that Muhammad is the Messenger of AllahHayya ‘ala-s-Salah, hayya ‘ala-s-Salah. Hasten to the Prayer, hasten to the Prayer.Hayya ‘ala-l-falah, hayya ‘ala-l-falah.Hasten to real success, hasten to real successAllahu Akbar, Allahu Akbar.Allah is the Greatest, Allah is the Greatest.

3.The first and last thing a Muslim should hear.

• When a new baby is born in a Muslim family the Shahadah should be whispered into its ear and honey put on its lips.Q. What do you think the honey might symbolise?

• In addition, when a Muslim dies s/he should try and say the Shahadah, or have it said to them, as their last words. This is very similar to the concept of ‘last rites’ said over dying Roman Catholics.









From the cradle to the grave, and many times in between, the Shahadah is with a Muslim throughout their lifetime.

Its short statement of Islam’s core beliefs make it a very powerful series of words.

It can even be found on the flag of Saudi Arabia (in Arabic) the country which contains the city of Makkah.



Prep:

Documents

The Pillars of Islam 1. The Shahadah Shahadah This word means ‘creed’ in Arabic. A creed is a statement of belief- just as when Christians say “we believe