Did you know that there is one phrase recited at least 17 billion times a day? It is called the Shahadah, or Declaration of Faith, being one of the 5 pillars of Islam. The Shahadah is said a minimum of 17 times each day in the daily prayers of each of the 1 billion Muslims on Earth. Anybody who says that people don't praise God enough obviously hasn't met a true Muslim!
In Arabic, the basic Shahadah formula is said this way: "Asahadu an la ilaha ill Allah wa ashahadu anna Muhammadar Rasulullah". The English translation is: "I declare there is no god except God, and I declare that Muhammad is the Messenger of God". It is also known as the Muslim Creed. It's basic meaning is that there is only one God, and Muhammad is His last Prophet.
The kalimah, or defining phrase of Islam (part of the Shahadah) is "La illaha ill Allah" translated into English as: "There is no god other than God"
Another interesting fact is that the Holy Qur'an is the most memorized book of any kind in the world. Individuals who have commited the entire Qur'an to memory are called a Hafiz. The word Hafiz is literaly translated as Gaurdian in English. Many people who have memorized the holy scriptures in Arabic don't even know their true meanings. This is because parts of the Qur'an are read poeticaly and when translated into other languages, the content loses it's rhythm and fluidity therefor it is usualy memorized solely in Arabic.
I plan to study the Qur'an and possible someday become a Hafiz before I make my pilgramige to Makkah during my lifetime.
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