Introduction
Shahadah, or Kalma, is the core testimony of every Muslim. In the Shia Jaffary school of thought, the testimony of faith includes the Wilayah (divine authority) of Imam Ali (a.s) as an integral part of our belief system.
The 3 Pillars of Shia Kalma
The full testimony often recited by Shia Muslims is:
لَا إِلَٰهَ إِلَّا ٱللَّٰهُ مُحَمَّدٌ رَسُولُ ٱللَّٰهِ عَلِيٌّ وَلِيُّ ٱللَّٰهِ
"There is no god but Allah, Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah, Ali is the Vali (Friend/Guardian) of Allah."
Wilayah and its Significance
The addition of "Aliun Wali Allah" is not considered part of the mandatory original Shahadah for Islam itself (which only requires the first two parts), but it is a necessary testimony for becoming a "Mo'min" (True Believer) according to Shia traditions. It recognizes that Allah's authority flows through Prophet Muhammad (s.a.w.w) to Imam Ali (a.s) and his successors.
This is rooted in many Quranic verses and Hadiths, most notably the Event of Ghadir Khumm where the Prophet declared: "Of whomever I am the Master (Mawla), this Ali is also his Master."