The testimony
Islam begins with a simple, profound statement: "There is no god but God (Allah), and Muhammad is the Messenger of God." In Arabic: Lā ilāha illa-llāh, Muḥammadun rasūlu-llāh.
What it means
- Lā ilāha illa-llāh — nothing is worthy of worship except Allah alone; He has no partner.
- Muḥammadun rasūlu-llāh — Muhammad ﷺ is the final Messenger, sent with guidance for all people.
- To accept Islam, a person says this sincerely, understanding and believing it.
You do not need perfect Arabic or perfect knowledge to begin. Sincerity comes first; learning grows over time.
Yaqeen Institute — articles on core belief ↗