Islamic Learning
Read, reflect upon and learn the commonly taught six Kalimas with Arabic text, transliteration and English meaning.
A Foundation of Faith
The six Kalimas are widely taught in South Asian Muslim educational traditions as a way of learning important declarations, praises, repentance and supplications. Read each one carefully and take time to understand its meaning.
The declaration of faith and the foundation of Islamic belief.
لَا إِلٰهَ إِلَّا اللّٰهُ مُحَمَّدٌ رَّسُولُ اللّٰهِ
Transliteration
Lā ilāha illallāhu Muḥammadur Rasūlullāh
English Meaning
There is no deity worthy of worship except Allah, and Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah.
A testimony affirming the oneness of Allah and the messengership of Muhammad ﷺ.
أَشْهَدُ أَنْ لَا إِلٰهَ إِلَّا اللّٰهُ وَحْدَهُ لَا شَرِيكَ لَهُ، وَأَشْهَدُ أَنَّ مُحَمَّدًا عَبْدُهُ وَرَسُولُهُ
Transliteration
Ashhadu allā ilāha illallāhu waḥdahū lā sharīka lahū, wa ashhadu anna Muḥammadan ʿabduhū wa rasūluh
English Meaning
I bear witness that there is no deity worthy of worship except Allah alone, without any partner, and I bear witness that Muhammad is His servant and Messenger.
Words of glorification, praise and recognition of Allah’s greatness.
سُبْحَانَ اللّٰهِ وَالْحَمْدُ لِلّٰهِ وَلَا إِلٰهَ إِلَّا اللّٰهُ وَاللّٰهُ أَكْبَرُ، وَلَا حَوْلَ وَلَا قُوَّةَ إِلَّا بِاللّٰهِ الْعَلِيِّ الْعَظِيمِ
Transliteration
Subḥānallāhi wal-ḥamdu lillāhi wa lā ilāha illallāhu wallāhu akbar, wa lā ḥawla wa lā quwwata illā billāhil-ʿaliyyil-ʿaẓīm
English Meaning
Glory be to Allah, all praise belongs to Allah, there is no deity worthy of worship except Allah, and Allah is the Greatest. There is no power and no strength except through Allah, the Most High, the Most Great.
A declaration of Allah’s absolute oneness, sovereignty and power.
لَا إِلٰهَ إِلَّا اللّٰهُ وَحْدَهُ لَا شَرِيكَ لَهُ، لَهُ الْمُلْكُ وَلَهُ الْحَمْدُ، يُحْيِي وَيُمِيتُ، وَهُوَ حَيٌّ لَا يَمُوتُ أَبَدًا أَبَدًا، ذُو الْجَلَالِ وَالْإِكْرَامِ، بِيَدِهِ الْخَيْرُ وَهُوَ عَلَىٰ كُلِّ شَيْءٍ قَدِيرٌ
Transliteration
Lā ilāha illallāhu waḥdahū lā sharīka lahū, lahul-mulku wa lahul-ḥamdu, yuḥyī wa yumītu, wa huwa ḥayyul lā yamūtu abadan abadan, dhul-jalāli wal-ikrām, biyadihil-khayru wa huwa ʿalā kulli shay’in qadīr
English Meaning
There is no deity worthy of worship except Allah alone, without any partner. To Him belongs the kingdom and all praise. He gives life and causes death, and He is Ever-Living and does not die. He is the Possessor of Majesty and Honor. In His hand is all good, and He has power over everything.
A supplication seeking Allah’s forgiveness and turning back to Him.
أَسْتَغْفِرُ اللّٰهَ 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 بِاللّٰهِ الْعَلِيِّ الْعَظِيمِ
Transliteration
Astaghfirullāha rabbī min kulli dhanbin adhnabtuhū ʿamadan aw khaṭa’an sirran aw ʿalāniyah, wa atūbu ilayhi minadh-dhanbilladhī aʿlamu wa minadh-dhanbilladhī lā aʿlamu, innaka anta ʿallāmul-ghuyūbi wa sattārul-ʿuyūbi wa ghaffārudh-dhunūb, wa lā ḥawla wa lā quwwata illā billāhil-ʿaliyyil-ʿaẓīm
English Meaning
I seek forgiveness from Allah, my Lord, for every sin I have committed knowingly or unknowingly, secretly or openly. I repent to Him for 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. There is no power and no strength except through Allah, the Most High, the Most Great.
A supplication seeking protection from shirk and other forms of wrongdoing.
اللّٰهُمَّ إِنِّي أَعُوذُ بِكَ مِنْ أَنْ أُشْرِكَ بِكَ شَيْئًا أَعْلَمُهُ، وَأَسْتَغْفِرُكَ لِمَا لَا أَعْلَمُهُ، وَتُبْتُ عَنْهُ وَتَبَرَّأْتُ مِنَ الْكُفْرِ وَالشِّرْكِ وَالْكَذِبِ وَالْغِيبَةِ وَالْبِدْعَةِ وَالنَّمِيمَةِ وَالْفَوَاحِشِ وَالْبُهْتَانِ وَالْمَعَاصِي كُلِّهَا، وَأَسْلَمْتُ وَأَقُولُ لَا إِلٰهَ إِلَّا اللّٰهُ مُحَمَّدٌ رَّسُولُ اللّٰهِ
Transliteration
Allāhumma innī aʿūdhu bika min an ushrika bika shay’an aʿlamuhū, wa astaghfiruka limā lā aʿlamuhū, wa tubtu ʿanhu wa tabarra’tu minal-kufri wash-shirki wal-kadhibi wal-ghībati wal-bidʿati wan-namīmati wal-fawāḥishi wal-buhtāni wal-maʿāṣī kullihā, wa aslamtu wa aqūlu lā ilāha illallāhu Muḥammadur Rasūlullāh
English Meaning
O Allah, I seek refuge in You from associating anything with You knowingly, and I seek Your forgiveness for what I do not know. I repent from it and disassociate myself from disbelief, associating partners with You, lying, backbiting, innovation, tale-bearing, immoral acts, false accusations and all sins. I submit and say: There is no deity worthy of worship except Allah; Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah.
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