How do I take my shahada?
You say the declaration of faith, sincerely believing it. In Arabic: "Ashhadu an la ilaha illallah, wa ashhadu anna Muhammadan rasulullah." It means: "I bear witness that there is no god but Allah, and I bear witness that Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah." That's it. You can say it alone, but most people say it at a mosque with an imam and witnesses.
What you're declaring
The shahada has two parts:
- There is no god but Allah: you worship only the One God, with no partners.
- Muhammad is His Messenger: you accept him as the final prophet and follow his teaching.
The Prophet Muhammad ﷺ said Islam is built on five pillars, and the first is this testimony (Sahih al-Bukhari 8). The others are prayer, zakat, Hajj and fasting Ramadan.
The words aren't a magic formula. What makes them count is that you understand and believe them, and say them freely, without anyone forcing you. If you're still unsure, take time to learn first. If you believe, you're ready, even if your knowledge is still small.
Step by step at a mosque
- Contact the mosque: call or email and say you'd like to take your shahada. Many have a convert contact.
- Meet the imam: he may ask a few questions to make sure you understand and are choosing freely.
- Repeat after him: he'll say the shahada in short parts, first in Arabic, then often in English.
- Celebrate: people may hug you (same gender), say "takbir" and congratulate you warmly.
- Certificate: ask for one if needed. See Do I need a certificate to prove I'm Muslim?
Pronunciation help
"Ash-ha-du an laa i-laa-ha il-lal-laah, wa ash-ha-du an-na Mu-ham-ma-dar ra-soo-lul-laah." Don't worry about perfect Arabic. The imam will help, and saying it in English is also understood. See Do I need to learn Arabic before I become Muslim?
What comes next
- Ghusl (a full bath). See Do I have to shower after taking my shahada?
- Learn prayer step by step.
- Find a convert circle or Muslim friend to support you.
- The shahada is the declaration of faith.
- Sincere belief plus saying it makes you Muslim.
- A mosque, imam and witnesses help but aren't required.
- Next steps: ghusl, prayer and community.
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