Kalimas
BEGIN WITH UNDERSTANDING
What the Six Kalimas Teach
The Six Kalimas bring together declarations of faith, testimony, glorification, Tawheed, repentance and rejection of disbelief. Learners should understand the broad meaning as well as memorise the words.
Transliteration is a temporary aid. Arabic sounds are best learned by listening carefully and reciting to a qualified teacher who can correct pronunciation.
- Arabic text presented clearly for reading
- Full transliteration for beginner support
- English meaning for understanding
- Live correction available across UK time zones
QUICK NAVIGATION
Choose a Kalima to Read
Use these links to move directly to any Kalima. Each section includes the complete reference text, transliteration and English meaning.
The 1st Kalima — Tayyab
Word of Purity
The 1st Kalima is known as Kalima Tayyab, or the Word of Purity. It is the declaration that none is worthy of worship except Allah and that Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah.
BISMILLAH
بِسْمِ اللهِ الرَّحْمٰنِ الرَّحِيْمِ
لَا إِلَٰهَ إِلَّا ٱللَّٰهُ مُحَمَّدٌ رَسُولُ ٱللَّٰهِ
TRANSLITERATION
La ilaha illallahu muhammadur rasulullah
ENGLISH TRANSLATION
There is none worthy of worship except God (Allah), and Muhammad is the Messenger of God.
BISMILLAH
بِسْمِ اللهِ الرَّحْمٰنِ الرَّحِيْمِ
أَشْهَدُ أَنْ لَا إِلَهَ إِلَّا اللَّهُ وَحْدَهُ لَا شَرِيكَ لَهُ وَأَشْهَدُ أَنَّ مُحَمَّدًا عَبْدُهُ وَرَسُولُهُ
TRANSLITERATION
Ash-hadu an laa ilaaha illal-laahu wahdahoo laa shareeka lahoo wa ash-hadu anna Muhammadan ‘abduhoo wa rasooluh
ENGLISH TRANSLATION
I bear witness that there is no god but Allah, the One alone, without partner, and I bear witness that Muhammad is His servant and Messenger.
The 2nd Kalima — Shahadah
Word of Testimony
The 2nd Kalima is known as Kalimat ash-Shahadah, the Word of Testimony or Evidence. It expresses belief in Allah alone and testifies that Muhammad is His servant and Messenger.
The 3rd Kalima — Tamjeed
Word of Glorification
The 3rd Kalima, Kalima Tamjeed, is a declaration praising Allah’s perfection and greatness.
BISMILLAH
بِسْمِ اللهِ الرَّحْمٰنِ الرَّحِيْمِ
سُبْحَان اللّهِ وَالْحَمْدُ لِلّهِ وَلا إِلهَ إِلّااللّهُ وَاللّهُ أكْبَرُ وَلا حَوْلَ وَلاَ قُوَّةَ إِلَّا بِاللّهِ الْعَلِيِّ الْعَظِيْم
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.
FIRST REVIEW CHECKPOINT
Secure the First Three Before Moving On
A short review routine prevents new learning from replacing what has already been memorised.
01
Listen
Hear the complete line from a reliable reciter or tutor.
02
Repeat
Repeat in short phrases until the mouth becomes familiar.
03
Connect
Join the phrases without rushing or dropping sounds.
04
Recite
Read all three Kalimas from memory and receive correction.
BISMILLAH
بِسْمِ اللهِ الرَّحْمٰنِ الرَّحِيْمِ
لَآ اِلٰهَ اِلَّا اللّهُ 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
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 and has no partner. For Him is the Kingdom and for Him is the Praise. He gives life and causes death. He is Alive and will never die. He is the Possessor of Majesty and Reverence. In His hand is all goodness, and He is powerful over everything.
The 4th Kalima — Tawheed
Word of Divine Unity
The fourth Kalima is also referred to as Tauheed or Tawheed, meaning the oneness of God. Tawheed is the central doctrine that Allah is One (Al-Ahad) and Single (Al-Wahid).
The 5th Kalima — Astaghfar
Word of Penitence
The 5th Kalima is also known as Kalima Astaghfar, the Word of Penitence. It is a supplication for seeking forgiveness from Allah for every sin.
BISMILLAH
بِسْمِ اللهِ الرَّحْمٰنِ الرَّحِيْمِ
أَسْتَغْفِرُ اللّهَ رَبِّي مِنْ كُلِّ ذَنْبٍ أَذْنَبْتُهُ عَمَدًا أَوْ خَطَأً سِرًّا أَوْ عَلَانِيَةً وَأَتُوبُ إِلَيْهِ مِنَ الذَّنْبِ الَّذِي أَعْلَمُ وَمِنَ الذَّنْبِ الَّذِي لَا أَعْلَمُ، إِنَّكَ أَنْتَ عَلَّامُ الْغُيُوبِ وَسَتَّارُ الْعُيُوبِ وَغَفَّارُ الذُّنُوبِ وَلَا حَوْلَ وَلَا قُوَّةَ إِلَّا بِاللهِ الْعَلِيِّ الْعَظِيمِ
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 hidden things, the Concealer of mistakes and the Forgiver of sins. There is no power and no strength except from Allah, the Most High, the Most Great.
BISMILLAH
بِسْمِ اللهِ الرَّحْمٰنِ الرَّحِيْمِ
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 لَا إِلَٰهَ إِلَّا ٱللَّٰهُ مُحَمَّدٌ رَسُولُ ٱللَّٰهِ
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 knowingly ascribing any partner to You. I seek Your forgiveness for the sin of which I have no knowledge. I repent from it and turn away from disbelief, idolatry, lying, backbiting, innovation, slander, lewdness, abomination and all other acts of disobedience. I submit to Your will and declare that there is none worthy of worship except Allah and Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah.
The 6th Kalima — Radd-e-Kufr
Words of Rejecting Disbelief
The sixth Kalima is referred to as Radd-e-Kufr, meaning words of rejecting disbelief. It teaches the learner to seek protection from knowingly or unknowingly associating partners with Allah and to turn away from disbelief and disobedience.