The 6 Kalimas: Phrases of Faith & Forgiveness for Allah (2024)

Co-authored byCheyenne Main

Last Updated: April 3, 2024Fact Checked

Names of the 6 Kalimas

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1. 1

   Kalma Tayyab (purity) لَا إِلَٰهَ إِلَّا ٱللَّٰهُ مُحَمَّدٌ رَسُولُ ٱللَّٰهِ ^[1]

   • Transliteration: “Laaa Ilaaha Illallahu Muhammadur Rasulullah”
   • English translation: “There is none worthy of worship except Allah and Muhammad is the messenger of God.”
   • When to recite: Repeat this Kalma after every prayer to affirm your faith in Allah. You can also recite it when you’re dying as a sign of good faith as you leave this world.^[2]
2. 2

   Kalma Shahadat (testimony of faith) اَشْهَدُ اَنْ لَّآ اِلٰهَ اِلَّا اللهُ وَحْدَہٗ لَاشَرِيْكَ لَہٗ وَاَشْهَدُ اَنَّ مُحَمَّدًا عَبْدُهٗ وَرَسُولُہٗ^[3]

   • Transliteration: “Ashhadu Alla Ilaha Illallah Wahdahu La Sharika Lahu Lahu Wa-Ash-Hadu Anna Muhammadan Abduhoo Wa Rasooluhu.”
   • English translation: “I bear witness that there is none worthy of worship except Allah, the One alone, without a partner, and I bear witness that Muhammad is His servant and Messenger.”
   • When to recite: Repeat the Kalma every time after performing wudu (ablution) to open the gates of Paradise to you.
     • This Kalma is in the Adhaan (the Call to Prayer), which is recited before every daily prayer.^[4] All those who utter this Kalima are Muslims.^[5]

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3. 3

   Kalma Tamjeed (glorification) سُبْحَان اللهِ وَالْحَمْدُلِلّهِ وَلا إِلهَ إِلّااللّهُ وَاللّهُ أكْبَرُ وَلا حَوْلَ وَلاَ قُوَّةَ إِلَّابِاللّهِ الْعَلِيِّ الْعَظِيْم^[6]

   • Transliteration: “Subhanallah Walhamdulillah Wala Ilaha Illallah Wallahu Akbar Wala Hawla Wala Quwwata Illa Billah Aliyyil Azeem”
   • English translation: “Glory be to Allah and all praise be to Allah, there is none worthy of worship except Allah, and Allah is the Greatest. There is no might or power except from Allah, the Exalted, the Great One.”
   • When to recite: Repeat this supplication to remember the greatness of Allah, fulfill your prayers, increase your wealth, and enter Jannah after death.^[7]

   See Also

   The 6 Kalimas: Pillars of Faith and Unity in Islam6 Kalmas: All Kalimas of Islam with Audio & Translation
4. 4

   Kalma Tauheed (unification of oneness of Allah) 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^[8]

   • 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 the only One. There are no partners for Him. For Him is the Kingdom. And for 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 goodness. And He is the goodness. And He is powerful.”
   • When to recite: Repeat this after you recite your daily prayers to protect yourself from shirk, an unforgivable sin.
5. 5

   Kalma Astaghfar (seeking forgiveness) اَسْتَغْفِرُ اللهِ رَبِّىْ مِنْ كُلِِّ 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 الْعَلِىِِّ الْعَظِيْمِؕ^[9]

   • 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 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.”
   • When to recite: Repeat Kalma Astaghfar as a supplication to seek Allah’s forgiveness for minor and major sins and relieve yourself of any burdens of the past.
6. 6

   Kalma Radde Kufr (rejecting disbelief) 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 كُلِِّهَا وَ اَسْلَمْتُ وَ اَقُوْلُ لَآ اِلٰهَ اِلَّا اللهُ مُحَمَّدٌ رَّسُوْلُ اللهِؕ^[10]

   • 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! I seek refuge in You from that I should ascribe any partner with You knowingly. I seek Your forgiveness for the sin of which I have no knowledge. I repent from it. And becoming disgusted of disbelief and idolatry, lying and backbiting, innovation and slander, lewdness and abomination and all other acts of disobedience, I submit to Your will. I believe and I declare that there is none worthy of worship except Allah and Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah.”
   • When to recite: Repeat Kalma Radde Kufr to protect yourself from committing shirk, rejecting Allah, being arrogant, being a believer “for show,” or being hesitant to claim faith in Allah.

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1. Recite the 6 Kalimas after your daily prayers to affirm your faith. Since some of the Kalimas come from Hadith, not the Holy Quran, it’s best to recite them after you’ve completed your daily prayers. While Salah and Quranic verses must be spoken in Arabic, you can recite the Kalimas in any language.^[11]

   • There’s no specific order you need to recite the Kalimas, and some people choose to recite only one or two. However, others recite them in order from Tayyab to Radde Kufr.
   • Since the Kalimas don’t come from the Holy Quran, a woman can recite them during menstruation.^[12]

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1. 1

   The 6 Kalimas help develop your spiritual enlightenment. These Kalimas are another way to constantly remember Allah, which will earn you Allah’s grace on the Day of Judgement. When you make mistakes or commit sins, asking Allah for forgiveness is an opportunity to increase your relationship with Allah, giving you a path for spiritual growth.^[13]

   • Although some Muslims believe that it’s necessary to memorize all 6 Kalima, it isn’t mandatory.^[14] However, it can help you become closer to Allah.
   • Kalma Astaghfaar is recited to seek forgiveness from Allah for both minor and major sins, while Kalma Radde Kufr protects against disobedience and threats to your faith. Kalma Tauheed protects you against shirk.
2. 2

   Reciting the Kalimas is a way to develop a strong connection with Allah. These Kalimas are an important way to commit yourself to Allah and ask Him to forgive any sins you may have committed. Kalma Tamjeed, specifically, is a dhikr of Allah to glorify and praise Him, which will promise you great rewards in the hereafter.^[15]

   • Kalma Tamjeed is also recited for various blessings and to strengthen one’s connection to Allah.
   • These Kalimas teach fundamental beliefs about Islam and Allah and are often taught to children when they’re young.^[16]
3. 3

   The Kalimas fortify your belief in the supreme nature of Allah. The 6 Kalimas all teach important lessons about the importance of worshiping Allah and asking for forgiveness. The Kalma Shahadat, especially, is the most sacred declaration of faith to Allah, acknowledging Him as one God and the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) as Allah’s messenger.^[17]

   • Kalima is also part of declaring faith in only Allah (with Muhammad as His messenger) when becoming a Muslim and is the first pillar of Islam.^[18]

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