Ashhadu an la ilaha illallah meaning, word by word
Ashhadu an la ilaha illallah (Ash-hadu an lā ilāha illallāh, wa ash-hadu anna Muḥammadan ʿabduhu wa rasūluh) means “I bear witness that there is no god but Allah, and I bear witness that Muhammad is His servant and His Messenger.” It is said in the tashahhud, right after the greetings.
أَشْهَدُ أَنْ لَا إِلَهَ إِلَّا اللَّهُ، وَأَشْهَدُ أَنَّ مُحَمَّدًا عَبْدُهُ وَرَسُولُهُ
Word by word
أَشْهَدُAsh-haduI bear witnessأَنْ لَا إِلَهَan lā ilāhathat there is no godإِلَّا اللَّهُillallāhexcept Allahوَأَشْهَدُwa ash-haduand I bear witnessأَنَّ مُحَمَّدًاanna Muḥammadanthat Muhammadعَبْدُهُʿabduhuis His servantوَرَسُولُهُwa rasūluhand His Messenger
| Arabic | Transliteration | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| أَشْهَدُ | Ash-hadu | I bear witness |
| أَنْ لَا إِلَهَ | an lā ilāha | that there is no god |
| إِلَّا اللَّهُ | illallāh | except Allah |
| وَأَشْهَدُ | wa ash-hadu | and I bear witness |
| أَنَّ مُحَمَّدًا | anna Muḥammadan | that Muhammad |
| عَبْدُهُ | ʿabduhu | is His servant |
| وَرَسُولُهُ | wa rasūluh | and His Messenger |
Why it matters
The testimony of faith, renewed in every prayer.
Explaining it to a child
I truly believe that there is no god except Allah, and that Muhammad is Allah's servant and messenger.
Questions
What does Ashhadu an la ilaha illallah mean?
Ashhadu an la ilaha illallah (Ash-hadu an lā ilāha illallāh, wa ash-hadu anna Muḥammadan ʿabduhu wa rasūluh) means “I bear witness that there is no god but Allah, and I bear witness that Muhammad is His servant and His Messenger.” It is said in the tashahhud, right after the greetings.
When do you say Ashhadu an la ilaha illallah?
It is said in the tashahhud, right after the greetings.
How do you pronounce Ashhadu an la ilaha illallah?
It is pronounced Ash-hadu an lā ilāha illallāh, wa ash-hadu anna Muḥammadan ʿabduhu wa rasūluh. In Arabic: أَشْهَدُ أَنْ لَا إِلَهَ إِلَّا اللَّهُ، وَأَشْهَدُ أَنَّ مُحَمَّدًا عَبْدُهُ وَرَسُولُهُ.
Reviewed by a qualified teacher. Other authentic wordings exist.