The Kalimas
Kalimah means a word or declaration. Muslims learn short statements of faith so belief in Allah and His Messenger ﷺ stays on the tongue and in the heart. Many South Asian homes and schools teach a set of six kalimahs as a memory aid for children and beginners.
What the Kalimas are
The first kalimah restates the testimony of faith: there is no god but Allah, and Muhammad ﷺ is His Messenger. The others gather words of praise, tawhid (oneness of Allah), seeking forgiveness, and turning away from shirk.
This grouping of “six Kalimas” is a well-known teaching tradition. The Quran does not present a chapter titled “the six Kalimas,” and this page does not attach unverified hadith claims to the set as a numbered package. Each phrase below is wording Muslims already know from the Quran and authentic remembrance.
1. Kalimah Tayyibah
The Pure Word
لَا إِلٰهَ إِلَّا اللهُ مُحَمَّدٌ رَّسُولُ اللهِ
Lā ilāha illallāh, Muḥammadur Rasūlullāh
There is no god but Allah. Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah.
2. Kalimah Shahadah
The Testimony
أَشْهَدُ أَنْ لَّا إِلٰهَ إِلَّا اللهُ وَأَشْهَدُ أَنَّ مُحَمَّدًا عَبْدُهُ وَرَسُولُهُ
Ashhadu an lā ilāha illallāh, wa ashhadu anna Muḥammadan ʿabduhū wa rasūluh
I bear witness that there is no god but Allah, and I bear witness that Muhammad is His servant and Messenger.
3. Kalimah Tamjeed
Words of Glory
سُبْحَانَ اللهِ وَالْحَمْدُ لِلّٰهِ وَلَا إِلٰهَ إِلَّا اللهُ وَاللهُ أَكْبَرُ، وَلَا حَوْلَ وَلَا قُوَّةَ إِلَّا بِاللهِ الْعَلِيِّ الْعَظِيمِ
Subḥānallāh, wal-ḥamdu lillāh, wa lā ilāha illallāh, wallāhu akbar. Wa lā ḥawla wa lā quwwata illā billāhil-ʿAliyyil-ʿAẓīm
Glory be to Allah, all praise is for Allah, there is no god but Allah, and Allah is the Greatest. There is no power and no strength except with Allah, the Most High, the Magnificent.
These phrases are among the well-known words of remembrance taught from authentic prophetic tradition.4. Kalimah Tawheed
Oneness of Allah
لَا إِلٰهَ إِلَّا اللهُ وَحْدَهُ لَا شَرِيكَ لَهُ، لَهُ الْمُلْكُ وَلَهُ الْحَمْدُ، يُحْيِي وَيُمِيتُ، وَهُوَ حَيٌّ لَا يَمُوتُ، بِيَدِهِ الْخَيْرُ وَهُوَ عَلَىٰ كُلِّ شَيْءٍ قَدِيرٌ
Lā ilāha illallāhu waḥdahū lā sharīka lah, lahul-mulku wa lahul-ḥamd, yuḥyī wa yumīt, wa huwa ḥayyun lā yamūt, bi yadihil-khayr, wa huwa ʿalā kulli shay’in qadīr
There is no god but Allah, alone, without partner. His is the kingdom and His is the praise. He gives life and causes death. He is Ever-Living and does not die. In His hand is all good, and He has power over all things.
5. Kalimah Istighfar
Seeking Forgiveness
أَسْتَغْفِرُ اللهَ رَبِّي مِنْ كُلِّ ذَنْبٍ وَأَتُوبُ إِلَيْهِ
Astaghfirullāha rabbī min kulli dhanbin wa atūbu ilayh
I seek forgiveness from Allah, my Lord, from every sin, and I turn to Him in repentance.
Longer classroom versions are often taught. Beginners can start with this core wording.6. Kalimah Radd-e-Kufr
This kalimah is taught as a declaration that the learner seeks Allah’s protection from shirk and turns away from disbelief. Classroom versions vary in length.
The essential meaning is: I seek Allah’s protection from associating anything with Him, I ask His forgiveness, and I affirm that there is no god but Allah and Muhammad ﷺ is His Messenger.
Important notes
- Learn slowly with a teacher so pronunciation stays correct, especially for children.
- Understanding the meaning matters as much as memorising the words.
- This page does not claim a specific reward-hadith for reciting “the six Kalimas” as a numbered set.
Learn with a teacher
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