Saying it: the Shema, the creeds and the shahada

A sentence to say aloud

All three faiths begin with God, and all three say it aloud, not only in the heart. The sentence is short enough to learn as a child and deep enough to last a lifetime.

Judaism, in its own words

The Shema is the sentence Jews say morning and evening. It is the opening of Deuteronomy 6:4-9, and it asks for love: of God with the whole heart, soul and might.

The Mishnah, the early rabbinic book of teaching, begins its tractate on blessings and prayer, Berakhot, with when to say the Shema, in the evening and in the morning. So the whole book of prayer begins from it. Jewish teachers describe saying it as accepting "the yoke of Heaven": a daily choosing of God.

The passage goes on to ask that these words be taught to children and written on the doorposts of the house (Deuteronomy 6:7-9). You can read more on the One God page and in Jewish prayer.

Christianity, in its own words

Christians have creeds: short statements said together in church. The Nicene Creed, set out in the fourth century, is said by Orthodox, Catholic, Anglican and many Protestant churches. In the public-domain English of the Schaff collection, it begins: "I believe in one God, the Father Almighty, Maker of heaven and earth, and of all things visible and invisible." Its Trinitarian sentence continues: "And I believe in the Holy Ghost, the Lord and Giver of Life; who proceeds from the Father ... who with the Father and the Son together is worshipped and glorified." Western churches add "and the Son" after "proceeds from the Father"; Orthodox churches do not.

The Apostles' Creed, used in the western churches, begins: "I believe in God the Father, Almighty, Maker of heaven and earth." It grew from an early baptismal creed and took its present form later.

The New Testament already holds short confessions. Paul writes:

If you will confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.

Romans 10:9 · WEB (British Edition)

And when a teacher of the law asked Jesus which commandment was first, the Gospel of Mark has him answer with the Shema, as in the box above. See also Christian prayer and the page on the Holy Spirit and the Holy Trinity.

Islam, in its own words

The shahada is the statement of faith that opens the five pillars, as Sunni Muslims count them. In usual English: "I bear witness that there is no god but Allah, and I bear witness that Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah." A fair gloss is that none deserves worship but Allah.

A Muslim says it with understanding and sincerity. The call to prayer, which contains it, is traditionally the first thing whispered into a newborn's ear, and it is said again in every prayer.

In its second half, the shahada names the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ (peace be upon him) as Allah's messenger. The Qur'an also offers a witness-statement of its own:

Allah (Himself) is Witness that there is no Allah save Him. And the angels and the men of learning (too are witness)

Qur'an 3:18 · Pickthall

Read more on the shahada page.

What they share

All three begin with one God, and say it aloud. The Gospel of Mark has Jesus quoting the Shema as the first commandment. The Qur'an invites the People of the Scripture to meet on common ground:

Say: O People of the Scripture! Come to an agreement between us and you: that we shall worship none but Allah

Qur'an 3:64 · Pickthall

In each case the sentence is said to mean something: a love, a witness, a confession of trust.

Keep reading

Next: turning to God at set times. Or go back to the overview.