The testimony of faith — say it, and understand it. One card for each part, with its source at the foot.
The testimony
The Shahada 1
أَشْهَدُ أَنْ لَا إِلَٰهَ إِلَّا اللَّٰهُ وَأَشْهَدُ أَنَّ مُحَمَّدًا رَسُولُ اللَّٰهِ
Ash-hadu an lā ilāha illa-llāh, wa ash-hadu anna Muḥammadan rasūlu-llāh
I bear witness that there is no god but Allah, and I bear witness that Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah.
Islam is built upon this testimony. Say it with belief in the heart.
What it means
The two testimonies 2
لَا إِلَٰهَ إِلَّا اللَّٰهُ — مُحَمَّدٌ رَسُولُ اللَّٰهِ
Lā ilāha illa-llāh — Muḥammadun rasūlu-llāh
'There is no god but Allah': none is worshipped but Him alone, with no partner. 'Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah': he is His servant and final messenger, whose way you now follow.
The first frees worship for God alone; the second makes the Prophet ﷺ your guide to it.
How it is taken
Saying it 3
A sincere testimony, understood and believed, is all it takes to enter Islam — it was the very first thing the Prophet ﷺ told his companions to call people to. No ceremony or witnesses are required, though saying it before others is a beautiful and encouraged start.
If you have not yet said it aloud, you can — now.
First, purify
A fresh start, outwardly too 4
On entering Islam it is recommended to make ghusl — a full bath — marking a clean beginning. After it, learn wudu and the prayer.
See the Wudu Poster and the First Steps booklet in this pack.
A clean slate
Islam wipes out what came before 5
الإِسْلَامُ يَهْدِمُ مَا كَانَ قَبْلَهُ
Al-islāmu yahdimu mā kāna qablah
'Islam demolishes whatever came before it.' Every past sin is forgiven; you begin anew, with a clean record.
A mercy the Prophet ﷺ gave to reassure a new Muslim.