The Six Kalimas: Meaning, Importance, and Spiritual Significance

Though a very spiritual journey, worldly distractions and challenges do not make this an easy road to travel. The Six Kalimas come to stay, thus equipping Muslims with a medium to reiterate their faith and be at peace with themselves. These teachings are a deep affirmation of Allah’s might and a pointer towards a thoughtful life. The significance of The Six Kalimas, their meanings, and how they ground the believer in faith amid life’s bustle is the subject matter of this article. Uncover how these timeless teachings can reshape one’s spiritual journey.

Also read Ayatul Kursi.

1. First Kalima (Tayyab)

لَا إِلَٰهَ إِلَّا ٱللَّٰهُ مُحَمَّدٌ رَسُولُ ٱللَّٰهِ  

“There is no god but Allah, and Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah.”  

The declaration of faith (Shahada) is the first among the five basic pillars of Islam. By that, it states that there is only one God (Allah) and Muhammad is His Prophet (Kalima-Tatheeb).

2. Second Kalima (Shahadat)  

أَشْهَدُ أَنْ لَا إِلَٰهَ إِلَّا ٱللَّٰهُ وَحْدَهُ لَا شَرِيكَ لَهُ وَأَشْهَدُ أَنَّ مُحَمَّدًا عَبْدُهُ وَرَسُولُهُ 

“I bear witness that there is no god but Allah, the One alone, without a partner, and I bear witness that Muhammad is His servant and Messenger.”

This Kalma retells the pledge of faith and at the same time points out to the oneness of Allah and the connection between the prophecy and the movement of Muhammad (Prophet).

3. Third Kalima (Tamjeed)  

سُبْحَانَ ٱللَّٰهِ وَٱلْحَمْدُ لِلَّٰهِ وَلَا إِلَٰهَ إِلَّا ٱللَّٰهُ وَٱللَّٰهُ أَكْبَرُ وَلَا حَوْلَ وَلَا قُوَّةَ إِلَّا بِٱللَّٰهِ ٱلْعَلِيِّ ٱلْعَظِيمِ  

“Glory be to Allah, and all praise be to Allah, and there is no god but Allah, and Allah is the Greatest. And there is no power nor strength except with Allah, the Most High, the Great.” 

It is this Kalma which gives respect to Allah and admits His greatness which lets us feel that Allah is the most perfect and omnipotent.

4. Fourth Kalima (Touheed)  

لَا إِلَٰهَ إِلَّا ٱللَّٰهُ وَحْدَهُ لَا شَرِيكَ لَهُ، لَهُ ٱلْمُلْكُ وَلَهُ ٱلْحَمْدُ، يُحْيِي وَيُمِيتُ وَهُوَ حَيٌّ لَا يَمُوتُ، أَبَدًا أَبَدًا، ذُو ٱلْجَلَالِ وَٱلْإِكْرَامِ، بِيَدِهِ ٱلْخَيْرُ وَهُوَ عَلَىٰ كُلِّ شَيْءٍ قَدِيرٌ  

“There is no god but Allah, alone, without a partner. To Him belongs the Kingdom, and to Him belongs all praise. He gives life and causes death, and He is alive and does not die. Everlasting and Eternal, the Possessor of Majesty and Honor. In His hand is all good, and He has power over everything.”  

This Kalima is the praise of Allah and the acceptance of His (Allah) absolute control over Him. This fact is ultimate sign and result of the belief in Allah’s incomparability as well as providing him with the (unique) aspect of control over the creatures and things.

5. Fifth Kalima (Astaghfar)  

اَسْتَغْفِرُ ٱللَّٰهَ رَبِّي مِنْ كُلِّ ذَنْبٍ أَذْنَبْتُهُ عَمْدًا أَوْ خَطَأً سِرًّا أَوْ عَلَانِيَةً وَأَتُوبُ إِلَيْهِ مِنَ ٱلذَّنْبِ ٱلَّذِي أَعْلَمُ وَمِنَ ٱلذَّنْبِ ٱلَّذِي لَا أَعْلَمُ، إِنَّكَ أَنْتَ عَلَّامُ ٱلْغُيُوبِ وَسَتَّارُ ٱلْعُيُوبِ وَغَفَّارُ ٱلذُّنُوبِ وَلَا حَوْلَ وَلَا قُوَّةَ إِلَّا بِٱللَّٰهِ ٱلْعَلِيِّ ٱلْعَظِيمِ  

“I seek forgiveness from Allah, my Lord, for every sin I committed knowingly or unknowingly, secretly or openly. I turn to Him from the sins I know and the sins I do not know. Indeed, You are the Knower of the unseen, the Concealer of faults, and the Forgiver of sins. And there is no power nor strength except with Allah, the Most High, the Great.”

This Kalima angle stresses giving apologies for our wrongdoings and is consistent with the belief of Allah’s grace and pardon.

6. Sixth Kalima (Radd-e-Kufr)  

اَللَّٰهُمَّ إِنِّي أَعُوذُ بِكَ مِنْ أَنْ أُشْرِكَ بِكَ شَيْئًا وَأَنَا أَعْلَمُ بِهِ وَأَسْتَغْفِرُكَ لِمَا لَا أَعْلَمُ بِهِ تُبْتُ عَنْهُ وَتَبَرَّأْتُ مِنَ ٱلْكُفْرِ وَٱلشِّرْكِ وَٱلْكِذْبِ وَٱلْغِيبَةِ وَٱلْبِدْعَةِ وَٱلنَّمِيمَةِ وَٱلْفَوَاحِشِ وَٱلْبُهْتَانِ وَٱلْمَعَاصِي كُلِّهَا وَأَسْلَمْتُ وَأَقُولُ لَا إِلَٰهَ إِلَّا ٱللَّٰهُ مُحَمَّدٌ رَسُولُ ٱللَّٰهِ  

“O Allah, I seek refuge in You from associating anything with You knowingly. I seek Your forgiveness for what I do unknowingly. I repent from it, and I disassociate myself from disbelief, polytheism, lying, backbiting, innovation, slander, lewdness, false accusation, and all sins. I submit to You, and I declare there is no god but Allah, and Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah.”

This Kalima is the declaration or the act of excluding/disassociating oneself from disbelief and sin, and the affirmation of faith in Allah and His Messenger.

Connection to the Six Articles of Faith (Iman)

The Six Kalimas align with the Six Articles of Faith, which are:

The Kalimas Tawhid (saying the oneness of Allah), Risalah (prophethood), and the rest of the essential beliefs are what they are about by teaching the basics of my Faith.

Importance of the Six Kalimas:

The Muslims underscore their commitment to the core beliefs of Islam and the Six Articles of Faith by knowing and reciting the Six Kalimas.