Ashhadu Alla Ilaha Illallah Meaning and Arabic Text

The phrase “ashhadu alla ilaha illallah” is known as the shahada (the testimony). It is an Islamic oath and creed, and one of the Five Pillars of Islam and part of the Adhan. Shahada is a central belief in Islam and is considered the first of the Five Pillars of Islam.

In this article, we will be looking at the meaning of this phrase in English, transliteration, how to write it in Arabic and the correct pronunciation.

Ashhadu Alla Ilaha Illallah Meaning In English

Ashhadu alla ilaha illallah means “I bear witness that there is no god worthy of worship except Allah and that Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah.”

Ashhadu Alla Ilaha Illallah In Arabic text

Here is the Arabic text:

أَشْهَدُ أَنْ لَا إِلَٰهَ إِلَّا ٱللَّٰهُ وَأَشْهَدُ أَنَّ مُحَمَّدًا رَسُولُ ٱللَّٰهِ

Transliteration

The correct transliteration is as “Ash-Ashhadu an laa ilaaha ill-Allah wa anna Muhammadan Rasoolullah”.

RELATED POSTS:

• Hasbiyallahu La Ilaha Illallah Alayhi Tawakkaltu Meaning
• Allahu Akbar Allahu Akbar La Ilaha Illallah Meaning
• Allahu La Ilaha Illa Huwal Hayyul Qayyum Meaning

Explanation

The proper way to pronounce the testimony of Tahweed (the shahaadah) is to say the entire phrase without pausing, as its meaning is completed when one pauses at the end, not in the middle at the word illa (except).

Therefore, you should say “Ashhadu an laa ilaaha ill-Allah wa anna Muhammadan Rasoolullah” in one breath.

Alternatively, you may choose to say “Ashhadu an laa ilaaha ill-Allah,” pause, and then say “Wa ashhadu anna Muhammadan Rasoolullah.”

Shahada means to testify that none has the right to be worshiped but Allah and that Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah.

First part: Ashhadu An La Ilaha Illallah

This testimony is expressed verbally and affirmed in the heart, acknowledging that Allah is the sole deity worthy of worship, free from imperfections.

Worshiping Allah exclusively is inherently linked to recognizing His role in creation, control, and sustenance, as directing worship to Him affirms His status as the creator, sustainer, and controller of all creation.

Therefore, no creature, be it angel, messenger, sun, moon, tree, stone, land, sea, saint, truthful person, or martyr, is deserving of worship.

The exclusive right to be worshipped belongs solely to Allah. This is the message sent by Allah through all the Messengers.

Allah the Exalted said:

‘And We did not send any Messenger before you but We inspired him [to say] ‘None has the right to be worshipped except I, so worship Me (Alone).” Surah Al-Anbiyaa: 25

If an individual truly understands and acts upon this expression; saying it from his heart and sticking to its implications in the matters of Faith and good deeds; he will enter the Paradise.

The Prophet SAW said, “Whoever has his last statement in this world as: Laa ilaaha illa Allah (There is no deity worthy of worship except Allah) will enter the Paradise.”

May Allah make us and you among them.

The significant point which every Muslim must know very well is the truth that there is no God (deity) to be worshipped other than Allah. He-glory be to Him – is the only true God, Who Alone deserves to be worshipped, since He is the Giver of life and Sustainer and Nourisher of mankind and all creation with His unlimited bounties.

Man must worship Allah, Who Alone is worthy of worship.

Second Part: Ashhadu Anna Muhammad Rasulullah

The second part of shahada: Muhammad is Allah’s Messenger”: i.e., you should testify that Muhammad, the son of Abdullah of the Hashim tribe of Quraysh, an Arab is Allah’s Messenger.

The entire message of the Messenger abrogates every other religion preceding it.

So, all religions are null and void with the advent of the Messenger (SAW). Hence, the religion of the Jews is null; likewise the religion of the Christians is null and unacceptable in the sight of Allah according to Allah’s saying:

“And whoever seeks a religion other than Islam, it will never he accepted of him, and in the Hereafter he will be among the losers.” Surah Al-Imran: 85

The shahada comes along with his saying, “and that Muhammad is Allah’s Messenger” because whoever believes that: there is no deity worthy of worship except Allah will give worship to Alone; and whoever affirms that Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah will follow Allah’s Messenger and not his own desires.

Hence, they are both considered as a single pillar among the pillars of Islam since they both return to a single thing: Making worship pure.

Worship cannot be made pure except through the meanings of the two statements of testimony:

Testimony that there is no deity worthy of worship except Allah by which sincerity is attained, and that Muhammad is Allah’s Messenger by which following is achieved.

Wa Ash-hadu anna Muhammadan ‘abduhu wa rasuluh” means that Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessing of Allah be upon him) is the servant and chosen Messenger of Allah.

No one must have two opinions about this matter. In fact the Muslim has to obey the commands of the Prophet (peace and blessing of Allah be upon him), to believe him in what he has said, to practise his teachings, to avoid what he has forbidden, and to worship Allah alone according to the message revealed to him, for all the teachings of the Prophet were in fact revelation and inspirations conveyed to him by Allah.

Conditions Of The Acceptance Of The Shahada

There are seven conditions of bearing witness that there is no god but Allaah, and it does not benefit the one who says it unless he fulfils all of them. They are, in brief:

• Knowledge as opposed to ignorance
• Certainty as opposed to doubt
• Acceptance as opposed to rejection
• Obedience as opposed to disobedience
• Sincerity as opposed to shirk
• Honesty as opposed to lying
• Love as opposed to its opposite, which is hate.

The conditions of bearing witness that Muhammad is the Messenger of Allaah are the same as the conditions of bearing witness that there is no god but Allaah,

We ask Allah the Exalted to make us and you among those who truly implement them in our creed, utterances and deeds.

Places Where to Say Shahada

Said to become a muslim: If anyone has a real desire to be a Muslim and has full conviction and strong belief that Islam is the true religion ordained by Allah for all human-beings, then, one should pronounce the shahadah.

During wudu: It is the Sunnah of Prophet Muhammad to recite Shahada during Wudu. It was narrated that ‘Umar bin Al-Khattab said:

“The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said: ‘Whoever performs Wudu’ and does it well, then says: “Ashhadu an la ilaha ill-Allah was ashhadu anna Muhammadan ‘abduhu wa rasuluh (I bear witness that there is none worthy of worship except Allah, and I bear witness that Muhammad is his slave and Messenger),”

eight gates of Paradise will be opened for him, and he may enter through whichever one he wishes.’”

Sunan An Nasai (632) and Sunan Ibn Majah (470)

During prayer (salat): During salat before the taslim (concluding portion of prayer where you recite salam) you would recite attahiyat.

This dua also contains the testament of faith while you raise the index finger signifying the Tawhid or the oneness of Allah.