“I bear witness that there is no god but Allah, and I bear witness that Muhammad is His messenger.”
(The Muslim Testimony of Faith)
The statement above is a confirmation, acceptance, and commitment to worship only Allah and to acknowledge that Prophet Muhammad is His messenger. Those who wish to convert to Islam must begin with faith in their heart, and then recite this testimony.
“Allah” is the specific name of God. It refers to the name of the Lord of the universe. In Islam, only Allah is worshipped. He is the Creator, the Controller, the Sustainer, and the Giver of all things.
The Muslim World
In 2020, the Muslim population was approximately 1.9 billion people, residing in various regions around the world. These include Middle Eastern countries such as Iraq, Iran, Saudi Arabia, Oman, Syria, and Qatar; Central Asia, such as Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan; South Asia, such as Afghanistan, Pakistan, India, Bangladesh, and the Maldives; Southeast Asia, such as Indonesia, Malaysia, Brunei, Thailand, and Myanmar; and the African continent, such as Egypt, Sudan, Morocco, and Algeria.
Islam
“Muslim” is a term for a person who practices Islam as a way of life. The word Muslim itself means one who submits to Allah. The teachings of Islam guide a Muslim’s life from birth until final breath, beginning with a “heart” that has faith in only one God. This faith is then expressed through physical actions and a strict adherence to daily practices. Muslims must adhere to the Six Articles of Faith and the Five Pillars of Islam.