The shahada — the testimony of faith — is: 'Ash-hadu an la ilaha illallah, wa ash-hadu anna Muhammadan rasulullah' ('I bear witness that there is no god but Allah, and I bear witness that Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah'). It has two parts, and both matter.

The first part, la ilaha illallah, means no one and nothing else — not money, status, ancestors, idols, or any created being — deserves worship, obedience as an act of devotion, or ultimate reliance except Allah alone. It is a statement about who has the right to be worshipped, not merely who exists.

The second part affirms that Muhammad ﷺ is Allah's final messenger, sent with guidance for all people. Affirming this means trusting what he ﷺ taught about Allah, worship, and how to live — which is exactly why the Qur'an and his authentic teachings (the Sunnah) are the two sources this whole guide draws from.

This testimony is not a magic formula but a description of a settled conviction of the heart. Saying it sincerely, understanding what it means, is what makes a person Muslim — 'one who submits.'