The Islamic Kalima (Kalimat al-Tawheed) refers to the six declarations of faith in Islam,
which encapsulate core beliefs every Muslim affirms. These are rooted in the Qur'an and
Hadith, though not all are explicitly found together in one place in the earliest Islamic sources.
Here's a detailed overview of their origins, meanings, and usage in research and history:
🕋 The Six Kalimas in Islam: Overview
1. First Kalima: Tayyibah (Pure)
ُ اَل ِإ ٰلها ِإ اَل هللاُ ُم اح ام ٌد ار
ِس ْو ُل هللا
"There is no god but Allah, Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah."
oOrigin: Based on Qur'anic verses such as Surah Muhammad (47:19) and Surah
Al-Imran (3:18).
o Significance: Central declaration of faith (Shahada); required for conversion to
Islam.
2. Second Kalima: Shahadah (Testimony)
ُس ْولُه
ُ ع ْب ُدهُ او ار ْ ش اه ُد أ ا ْن اَل إِ ٰلها إِ اَل هللاُ اوأا
ش اه ُد أانا ُم اح امدًا ا ْ أا
"I bear witness that there is no god but Allah, and I bear witness that Muhammad
is His servant and messenger."
oUse: Often recited in daily prayers and upon conversion.
oTheological Basis: Rooted in the Hadith and used to affirm monotheism and
prophethood.
3. Third Kalima: Tamjeed (Glorification)
س ْب احانا هللاِ اوا ْل اح ْم ُد ِ اَلِلِ او اَل إِ ٰلها إِ اَل هللاُ اوهللاُ أ ا ْكبا ُر
ُ
"Glory be to Allah, and all praise is for Allah, and there is no god but Allah, and
Allah is the Greatest."
oSource: Found in multiple Hadiths encouraging frequent dhikr (remembrance).
oSpiritual Purpose: Used in personal devotions and dhikr circles.
4. Fourth Kalima: Tawheed (Oneness)
ذُو ا ْلج ااَل ِل، أ ا ابدًا أ ا ابدًا، ُاي اَل اي ُموتٌّ اوه اُو ح، ُ يُحْ ِيي اويُ ِميت،ُ لاهُ ا ْل ُم ْلكُ اولاهُ ا ْل اح ْمد،ُاَل ِإ ٰلها ِإ اَل هللاُ اوحْ اد ُه اَل ش ِاريكا لاه
ِير ا
ٌ علاى ُك ِ ِّل ش ْايءٍ قد ْ
اوه اُو ا، بِيا ِد ِه ال اخي ُْر،اْلك اْر ِام
ِ ْ او
o Translation Summary: Asserts Allah’s oneness, eternal nature, and
omnipotence.
o Qur'anic Echo: Reflects verses such as Surah Al-Baqarah (2:255 – Ayat al-
Kursi).
5. Fifth Kalima: Istighfar (Seeking Forgiveness)
ً ع ْمدًا أ ا ْو اخ اطأ
ب أ ا ْذنا ْبتُهُ ا ْ أ ا...
ٍ ست ا ْغ ِف ُر هللاا اربِِّي ِم ْن ُك ِ ِّل ذا ْن
o Meaning: "I seek forgiveness from Allah, my Lord, from every sin I committed
deliberately or mistakenly..."
o Spiritual Focus: Emphasis on repentance (tawbah); frequently found in Hadith.
6. Sixth Kalima: Radde Kufr (Rejecting Disbelief)
ش ْيئًا اوأاناا أ ا ْعلا ُم
اللا ُه ام إِنِِّي أاعُوذُ بِكا ِم ْن أا ْن أُش ِْركا بِكا ا...
o Translation Summary: A prayer seeking protection from shirk (associating
partners with Allah) and affirming belief.
o Usage: Helps reinforce monotheistic belief and spiritual purification.
📚 Academic Research Notes
Origins and Compilation:
The six kalimas are not explicitly compiled as a set in the Qur'an or Sahih Hadith
collections. Their standardization into six came much later, particularly within South
Asian Islamic education (madrasa systems).
Scholarly Views:
o Sunni consensus accepts the kalimas' content as theologically sound, even if their
grouping isn't canonical.
o Hadith scholars identify these phrases within broader dhikr traditions and
prophetic sayings.
Use in Pedagogy:
Commonly taught in Deobandi, Barelvi, and other South Asian traditions. Often
memorized in childhood for spiritual and doctrinal formation.
Criticism and Clarification:
o Some scholars argue that focusing solely on the six kalimas misses the broader
practice of dhikr and may not reflect a universal practice across the Muslim
world.
o Not all Islamic schools (e.g., Salafis or non-South Asian traditions) emphasize
them as a fixed set.
🧠 Research Resources
If you're conducting academic research, consult:
1. Classical Tafsir (Qur'anic exegesis): e.g., Tafsir al-Tabari, Tafsir Ibn Kathir.
2. Hadith Collections: Sahih al-Bukhari, Sahih Muslim, Riyadh as-Salihin.
3. Books on Aqeedah (Islamic Creed): Sharh al-Aqeedah al-Tahawiyyah, Kitab al-
Tawheed by Ibn Khuzaymah or Ibn Abdul Wahhab.
4. Islamic Curriculum Texts: Particularly from Darul Uloom systems in South Asia.
