what is the first pillar of islam called
Shahada Recitation of the shahādah is the most common statement of faith for Muslims. In Sunni Islam, it is counted as the first of the Five Pillars of Islam,[9] while the Shi'i Twelvers and Isma'ilis also have the shahada as among their pillars of faith.[19] It is whispered by the father into the ear of a newborn child,[9] and it is whispered into the ear of a dying person.[20] The five canonical daily prayers each include a recitation of the shahada.[17] Recitation of the shahada in front of witnesses is also the first and only formal step in conversion to Islam.[9] This occasion often attracts more than the two required witnesses and sometimes includes a party-like celebration to welcome the convert into their new faith.[11] In accordance with the central importance played by the notion of intention (Arabic: نیّة‎‎, niyyah) in Islamic doctrine, the recitation of the shahada must reflect understanding of its import and heartfelt sincerity.[21][22] Intention is what differentiates acts of devotion from mundane acts and a simple reading of the shahada from invoking it as a ritual activity.[21][22]