From the Arabic root sh-h-d, lit. the act of bearing witness or the public declaration of belief. It is among the key principles of Islam. The shah膩da has two parts: the first attests that 鈥榯here is no god but God鈥; the second attests that 鈥楳uhammad is Messenger of Allah鈥 It is the second part that distinguishes Muslims from the followers of other monotheistic religions. When pronouncing the shah膩da, Shi鈥榠 Muslims often add the affirmation of Imam 士Al墨 as the Commander of the Faithful (am墨r al-mu示min墨n).
