Importance of Shahadah- The First Pillar of Islam

Shahada or Kalima is the first pillar of Islam. As we all know the first requirement of being a Muslim is to believe and then act based on that belief. Kalima is the first pillar of Islam that is “LA-ILAHA-ILLA-ALLAH, MUHAMMADUR-RASUL-ULLAH.”  Its meaning is there is Not God but Allah; Muhammad (SAW) is the messenger of Allah. For Muslims, the shahadah or Kalima and faith are the most important belief as it sums up what one must believe to be a Muslim. The first pillar of Islam is the fundamental and basic need of human beings as a Muslim. Prophet Muhammad (SAW) said: "I have been ordered to fight against people until they testify that there is no god but Allah and the Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah." (Sahi Bukhari). The above saying clearly indicates that we must have faith in both parts of the first pillar of Islam. Islam was started from Hazrat Adam (A.S) and completed on Prophet Muhammad (SAW) who is the last Messenger of Allah. In Holy Quran, Allah Almighty says: Oh, Muhammad (SAW), “This day have I perfected and fulfilled your religion for you, completed my favor upon you and I have chosen for you Islam as your one and Only Religion.” (Quran, 5:3) In another verse of Holy Quran, Allah Almighty said: “If anyone wishes to have a religion other than Islam, never will it be accepted by him.” (Quran, 3:85). Being a Muslim it’s our responsibility to let the universe know that Islam is for all creations of Allah because this is the only religion of Almighty Allah. He has created this Religion for his whole creation. Kalima or Shahadah is the first pillar of Islam starts with the essential belief in an unseen creator of this universe Allah. We have not seen Allah, yet we are instructed to believe that there is no God but Allah and Muhammad (SAW) is the messenger of Allah. There are two parts of Shahadah or Kalima:

• There is no God but Allah
• Muhammad (SAW) is the messenger of Allah

In the first part, we have faith in the oneness of the creator Allah Almighty and in the second part we believe that Muhammad (SAW) is the last Prophet and messenger of Allah Almighty. Kalima or Shahadah is the essential statement for the Muslims faith anyone who cannot recite this by heart is not a Muslim.