The Six Kalimas
The Six Kalimas are essential declarations of faith in Islam. Muslims worldwide learn and recite them as a foundation of belief and worship.
First Kalima: Kalima Tayyab (Word of Purity)
La ilaha illallah Muhammadur Rasulullah "There is no god but Allah, Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah." This is the declaration of faith (Shahada). It affirms Allah's oneness and acceptance of Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) as His final messenger. It is the key to Islam—whoever says it with conviction enters the fold of Islam.
Second Kalima: Kalima Shahadat (Word of Evidence)
Ashhadu an la ilaha illallah wa ashhadu anna Muhammadan abduhu wa Rasuluhu "I bear witness that there is no god but Allah, and I bear witness that Muhammad is His servant and Messenger." This expands the first Kalima with explicit testimony. It is recited during the call to prayer (Adhan) and in the prayer itself. It emphasizes that the Prophet is both servant and messenger of Allah.
Third Kalima: Kalima Tamjeed (Word of Majesty)
Subhanallah walhamdulillah wa la ilaha illallah wallahu akbar wala hawla wala quwwata illa billahil aliyyil azim "Glory be to Allah, and praise be to Allah, and there is no god but Allah, and Allah is the Greatest. And there is no power or strength except with Allah, the Most High, the Most Great." This Kalima glorifies Allah and acknowledges that all power belongs to Him. It is often recited for protection and as a form of dhikr. The Prophet (peace be upon him) said these are the most beloved words to Allah.
Fourth Kalima: Kalima Tauheed (Word of Oneness)
La ilaha illallah wahdahu la sharika lahu lahul mulku wa lahul hamdu yuhyi wa yumitu wa huwa hayyun la yamutu abadan abadan dhul jalali wal ikram biyadihil khayru wahuwa ala kulli shay'in qadir "There is no god but Allah. He is alone and has no partner. His is the dominion and His is the praise. He gives life and causes death. And He is alive. He does not die. Forever and ever. He is the One of Majesty and Generosity. In His hand is all good and He is over all things competent." This Kalima affirms Allah's absolute oneness, sovereignty, and power. It rejects any form of shirk (associating partners with Allah) and describes His perfect attributes.
Fifth Kalima: Kalima Istighfar (Word of Penitence)
Astaghfirullah rabbi min kulli dhambin adhnabtuhu amadan aw khata'an sirran aw alaniyatan wa atubu ilayhi minadh dhambilladhi a'lamu wa minadh dhambilladhi la a'lamu innaka anta allamul ghuyubi wa sattarul uyubi wa ghaffarudh dhunubi wala hawla wala quwwata illa billahil aliyyil azim "I seek forgiveness from Allah, my Lord, from every sin I committed knowingly or unknowingly, secretly or openly, and I turn towards Him from the sin that I know and from the sin that I do not know. Certainly You, You (alone) know the unseen and You conceal faults and You forgive sins. And there is no power or strength except with Allah, the Most High, the Most Great." This comprehensive istighfar covers all types of sins—known and unknown, intentional and unintentional. It acknowledges Allah as the Knower of the unseen, the One who conceals faults, and the Forgiver of sins.
Sixth Kalima: Kalima Radde Kufr (Rejection of Disbelief)
Allahumma inni a'udhu bika min an ushrika bika shay'an wa ana a'lamu bihi wa astaghfiruka lima la a'lamu bihi tubtu anhu wa tabarra'tu min al-kufri wash-shirki wal-kadhibi wal-ghibati wal-bid'ati wan-namimati wal-fawahishi wal-buhtani wal-ma'asi kulliha wa aslamtu wa aqulu ashhadu an la ilaha illallah wa ashhadu anna Muhammadan abduhu wa Rasuluhu "O Allah, I seek refuge in You from associating anything with You knowingly. I seek Your forgiveness for what I do not know. I repent from it and I free myself from disbelief and from ascribing partners to You, from lies and backbiting and innovation and tale-bearing and evil deeds and slander and all disobedience. I submit to Your will and I say: I bear witness that there is no god but Allah and I bear witness that Muhammad is His servant and Messenger." This Kalima is a comprehensive repentance and rejection of all forms of disbelief, shirk, and sin. It seeks refuge in Allah from knowingly committing shirk and asks forgiveness for the unknown. It declares freedom from kufr, shirk, lies, backbiting, innovation, and all disobedience, ending with the testimony of faith.