The Six Kalimas Are Pillars Of Faith And Unity In Islam
In total there are six Kalimas and they are widely memorized by millions across the globe because they teach fundamental beliefs about Allah and Islam. The Six Kalimas are not merely words they represent a profound commitment to the fundamental tenets of the Islamic faith. As individuals recite and reflect upon these Kalimas, they strengthen their connection with Allah, foster a deeper understanding of their faith, and strive to embody these principles in their actions and interactions. These six statements are educational and often taught to children while they are young.
1. First Kalima - Tayyab (Purity)
The 1st Kalima, known as Kalima Tayyab (The Word of Purity), is the foundation of Islamic faith, declaring the oneness of Allah (Tawheed) and the messengership of Prophet Muhammad (PBUH).
Arabic
لَا إِلَٰهَ إِلَّا ٱللَّٰهُ مُحَمَّدٌ رَّسُولُ ٱللَّٰهِ
Arabic Transliteration
Laa ilaaha illal Lahoo Mohammadur Rasool Ullah
English Translation
”There is none worthy of worship except Allah Almighty and Muhammad (Peace Be Upon Him) is the Messenger of Allah.”
’’ There is no God but Allah Muhammad is the messenger of Allah’’
Benefits
- Foundation of Faith:It is the core declaration of Tawheed (Oneness of Allah) and Risalah (Prophethood), acting as the first of the five pillars of Islam.
- Forgiveness of Sins:Reciting it sincerely with certainty (yaqeen) is a means of having sins forgiven by Allah.
- Entrance to Paradise:It is reported that whoever dies while truly believing and reciting this Kalima will enter Paradise.
- Protection and Purity:Regular recitation reinforces faith, providing spiritual purification and protection against disbelief.
Benefit Based On Hadith
Messenger of Allah(ﷺ) said: “There is no soul that died bearing witness to La ilaha illallah, and that I am the Messenger of Allah, from the heart with certainty, but Allah will forgive it.” Sunan Ibn Majah 3796
It was narrated that Abu Hurairah:
that the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said: ‘urge your dying ones to say La ilaha illallah.” Sunan Ibn Majah 1444
Narrated Ibn ‘Umar: that the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said:
“Islam is based upon five: the testimony of La Ilaha Illallah, and that Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah, the establishment of the Salat, giving the Zakat, fasting (the month of) Ramadan, and performing Hajj to the House.” Jami At-Tirmidhi 2609
2. Second Kalima - Shahadat (Testimony)
The second kalima is called the shahadat or ‘bearing witness to faith’. This encompasses the central doctrine of Tawheed in Islam. The Tawheed is the belief in the unification or oneness of God. It holds that Allah is One (Al-Ahad) and Single (Al-Wahid).The Shahada is mentioned repeatedly in the Quran and Hadith and is the basic theme of Islam.
Arabic
اَشْهَدُ اَنْ لَّآ اِلٰهَ اِلَّا اللهُ وَحْدَہٗ لَاشَرِيْكَ لَہٗ وَاَشْهَدُ اَنَّ مُحَمَّدًا عَبْدُهٗ وَرَسُولُہٗ
Arabic Transliteration
“Ash-hadu an la ilaha illallahu wahdahu la sharika lahu, wa ash-hadu anna Muhammadan abduhu wa rasuluhu”
English Translation
“I bear witness that none is worthy of worship but Allah, the One alone, without partner, and I bear witness that Muhammad is His servant and Messenger”.
Benefit
- Testimony of Faith:It is the second of the six Kalimas, emphasizing the core belief in Tawhid (unity) and Risalah (prophethood).
- Daily Practice:Frequently recited, including during wudu (ablution).
- Spiritual Benefits:It strengthens faith, brings spiritual rewards, and aids in attaining peace.
3. Third Kalima - Tamjeed (Glorification)
The 3rd Kalma (Tamjeed) is a declaration of Allah’s glorification.The main purpose of this supplication is a way for a believer to testify the greatness of Allah, to praise him, to worship him
Arabic
سُبْحَانَ اللهِ وَالْحَمْدُ لِلهِ وَلاَ إِلَهَ إِلاَّ اللهُ وَاللهُ أَكْبَرُ وَلاَ حَوْلَ وَلاَ قُوَّةَ إِلاَّ بِاللهِ الْعَلِيِّ الْعَظِيمِ
Arabic Transliteration
Subhaanallaahi walhamdu lillaahi walaaa ilaaha illallaahu wallaahu akbar. Walaa hawla walaa quwwata illaa billaahil ‘aliyyil ‘azeem.
English Translation
Glory be to ALLAH and praise to ALLAH and there is none worthy of worship but ALLAH, and ALLAH is the Greatest. And there is no might or power except with ALLAH, the Exalted, the Great One
Benefit Based On Hadith
The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said, “Allah the Exalted says: ‘I am as my slave expects me to be, and I am with him when he remembers Me. If he remembers Me inwardly, I will remember him inwardly, and if he remembers Me in an assembly, I will remember him in a better assembly (i.e., in the assembly of angels).”
Surah Baqarah, ayat 152-153: “So remember Me; I will remember you. And be grateful to Me and do not deny Me. O you who have believed, seek help through patience and prayer. Indeed, Allah is with the patient.”
4. Fourth Kalima - Tauheed (Unity)
The fourth kalima is also referred to as Tauheed or Tawheed meaning ‘unification of oneness of God’
Arabic
لَآ اِلٰهَ اِلَّا اللهُ وَحْدَهٗ لَا شَرِيْكَ لَهٗ لَهُ الْمُلْكُ وَ لَهُ الْحَمْدُ يُحْىٖ وَ يُمِيْتُ وَ هُوَحَیٌّ لَّا يَمُوْتُ اَبَدًا اَبَدًاؕ ذُو الْجَلَالِ وَالْاِكْرَامِؕ بِيَدِهِ الْخَيْرُؕ وَهُوَ عَلٰى كُلِّ شیْ ٍٔ قَدِیْرٌؕ
Arabic Transliteration
la ilaha illallah wahdahu la sharika lahu, lahul mulku wa lahul hamdu yuhyi wa yumitu Wahuwa Hayyu-l Laa Yamootu Abadan Abada. Dhul Jalaali Wal Ikraam. Biyadihil Khair. Wahuwa Ala Kulli Shai-in Qadeer
English Translation
(There is) none worthy of worship except Allah. He is only One. (There is) no partners for Him. For Him (is) the kingdom. And for Through Him (is) the Praise. He gives life and causes death. And He (is) Alive. He will not die, never, ever. Possessor of Majesty and Reverence. In His hand (is) the goodness. And He (is) the goodness. And He (is) on everything powerful.
Benefit Based On Hadith
In the Sahih hadith 1340 of Sunan an-Nasai (Darussalam), It was narrated that Abu Az-Zubair said: “Abdullah bin Az-Zubair used to recite the tahlil following every prayer, saying:
La Ilaha Illallah wahdahu la sharika lah, lahul-mulk wa lahul-hamd wa huwa ‘ala kulli shay’in qadir, la hawla wala quwwata illa billahil-‘azim; la ilaha ill-Allahu wa la nabbed illa iyyah, ahlan-ni’mati wal-fadli wath-thana’il-has an; la ilaha ill-Allah, mukhlisina lahud-dina wa law karihal-kafirun (There is none worthy of worship except Allah (SWT) alone, with no partner or associate. His is the Dominion, to Him be all praise, and He is able to do all things; there is no power and no strength except with Allah (SWT) the Almighty. There is none worthy of worship except Allah (SWT), and we worship none but Him, the source of blessing and kindness and the One Who is deserving of all good praise. There is none worthy of worship except Allah (SWT), and we are sincere in faith and devotion to Him even though the disbelievers detest it. ) Then Ibn Az-Zubair said: ‘The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) used to recite the tahlil in this manner following every prayer.
5. Fifth Kalima - Astaghfar (Penitence)
The Fifth Kalima (Astaghfar) The fifth kalima, also referred to as astaghfar, meaning seeking forgivness
Arabic
اَسْتَغْفِرُ اللهِ رَبِّىْ مِنْ كُلِّ ذَنْۢبٍ اَذْنَبْتُهٗ عَمَدًا اَوْ خَطَا ًٔ سِرًّا اَوْ عَلَانِيَةً وَّاَتُوْبُ اِلَيْهِ مِنَ الذَّنْۢبِ الَّذِیْٓ اَعْلَمُ وَ مِنَ الذَّنْۢبِ الَّذِىْ لَآ اَعْلَمُ اِنَّكَ اَنْتَ عَلَّامُ الْغُيُوْبِ وَ سَتَّارُ الْعُيُوْبِ و َغَفَّارُ الذُّنُوْبِ وَ لَا حَوْلَ وَلَا قُوَّةَ اِلَّا بِاللهِ الْعَلِىِّ الْعَظِيْمِؕ
Arabic Transliteration
Astaghfirullah Rabbi Min Kulli Dhambin Adhnabtuhoo ‘Amadan Aw Khata-an Sirran Aw ‘Alaaniyata-wn Wa-atoobu Ilaihi Min-adh Dhambi-l Ladhee A’lamu Wamina-dh Dhambi-l Ladhi Laaa A’lamu Innaka Anta ‘Allaamu-l Ghuyoobi Wasattaaru-l ‘Uyoobi Wa Ghaffaaru-dh Dhunubi Walaa Hawla Walaa Quwwata Illaa Billaahi-l ‘Aliyyil ‘Azeem.
English Translation
“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 (are) the knower of the hidden things and the Concealer (of) the mistakes and the Forgiver (of) the sins. And (there is) no power and no strength except from Allah, the Most High, the Most Great.”
Benefit
“Ask Forgiveness of your Lord and then repent to Him. He will send (rain from) the sky upon you in showers and Increase you in strength [added] to your strength.”
Quran 11:52
“And saying, ‘Seek Forgiveness of your Lord and repent to Him, and He Will Let you enjoy a good provision.”
Quran 11:3
“And say, ‘Relieve us of our burdens.’ We will (hen forgive your sins for you, and We will Increase the doers of good (in goodness and reward).”
Quran 2:58
6. Sixth Kalima - Radde Kufr (Rejecting Disbelief)
The sixth kalma, also referred to as radde kufr or radde-e-kuffer, meaning words of rejecting or disbelief. This Kalima teaches the important Islamic concept of kufr
Arabic
اَللّٰهُمَّ اِنِّیْٓ اَعُوْذُ بِكَ مِنْ اَنْ اُشْرِكَ بِكَ شَيْئًا وَّاَنَآ اَعْلَمُ بِهٖ وَ اَسْتَغْفِرُكَ لِمَا لَآ اَعْلَمُ بِهٖ تُبْتُ عَنْهُ وَ تَبَرَّأْتُ مِنَ الْكُفْرِ وَ الشِّرْكِ وَ الْكِذْبِ وَ الْغِيْبَةِ وَ الْبِدْعَةِ وَ النَّمِيْمَةِ وَ الْفَوَاحِشِ وَ الْبُهْتَانِ وَ الْمَعَاصِىْ كُلِّهَا وَ اَسْلَمْتُ وَ اَقُوْلُ لَآ اِلٰهَ اِلَّا اللهُ مُحَمَّدٌ رَّسُوْلُ اللهِؕ
Arabic Transliteration
Allahumma Inne A’udhu-bika Min An Ushrika Bika Shay-awn Wa-ana A’lamu Bihee Wa-astaghfiruka Limaa Laaa A’lamu Bihee Tubtu ‘Anhu Wata-barraatu Mina-l Kufri Wash-shirki Wal-kidhbi Wal-gheebati Wal-bid’ati Wan-nameemati Wal-fawahishi Wal-buhtaani Wal-m’aasi Kulli-haa Wa-Aslamtu Wa-aqoolu Laaa Ilaaha Illa-llaahu Muhammadur Rasulullah.
English Translation
O Allah! Certainly, I seek protection with You from, that I associate partner with You anything and I know it. And I seek forgiveness from You for that I do not know it. I repented from it and I made myself free from disbelief and polytheism and the falsehood and the back-biting and the innovation and the tell-tales and the bad deeds and the blame and the disobedience, all of them. And I submit and I say (there is) none worthy of worship except Allah, Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah.
Hadith That Mention Kufr
Sunan An-Nasa’i 4113
It was narrated that Abdullah said: “Fighting a believer is Kufr and defaming him is evildoing.”