Question: What is shahāda?

Answer: The shahāda is the Islamic Creed, the fundamental key of entering Islam.

Question: How is the shahāda pronounced and what does it mean?

Answer: Ash-ha-du… an Lā ilāha …illAllāh …wa Ash-ha-du … anna … Muhammadan … rasūlullāh. These Arabic words can be translated in the following way: I testify that there is no deity but Allah and I testify that Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah.

Question: Does the shahāda differ among Muslims?

Answer: All Muslims believe in the same shahāda, Muslims also acknowledge an extended version in which they testify to the vicegerency and sainthood of Imam Ali (as)  Ash-ha-du… an Lā ilāha …illAllāh …wa Ash-ha-du … anna … Muhammadan … rasūlullāh.  wa Ash-ha-du … anna Aliun waliullah  Translation: I testify that there is no deity but Allah and I testify that Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah and I testify that Ali is the vicegerent and saint of Allah.

Question: How is Imāmah an extension of the Prophet Muhammad’s (s) message?

Answer: After the Prophet Muhammad, the Imāms of the Ahl al-Bayt (as) preserve the authentic interpretation of Islam as intended by the Prophet (s).

Question: What is inner transformation?

Answer: It is changing your whole life and personality in accordance with what Allah wants from us.

Question: What does it mean to follow the Prophet as a role model?

Answer: Among other things, it means to adopt his compassion and love for God’s creation and to acquire inner peace in God.

Question: Why do I have to perform ghusl after converting to Islam?

Answer: It is a ritual purification that enables you to perform ritual practices like prayer or fasting, which are obligatory in Islam.

Question: What can I do to treat the shahāda as a fact rather than just a belief or opinion?

Answer: Consider the Afterlife as more important than this one. That is the first step of knowing God.