The Shahada is the Islamic declaration of faith and the first of the Five Pillars of Islam. It is a simple creed that states, "There is no god but Allah, and Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah". The Shahada is a statement of both ritual and worship, and it is a fundamental expression of Islamic beliefs. It is recited during the five daily prayers and is the most sacred statement in Islam. The Shahada is also the gateway that allows someone to convert to Islam, and people who wish to convert to Islam must recite it. The Shahada is found on Islamic flags and appears as an architectural element in Islamic buildings around the world.