This article was co-authored by Idris Abdul-Zahir and by wikiHow staff writer, Cheyenne Main. Idris Abdul-Zahir is a spiritual leader, civic innovator, and IT executive based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. He currently serves as the Resident Imam and Board Chair of Masjidullah: The Center for Human Excellence, where he has led one of the city’s most active and civically engaged Muslim congregations for over five years. Prior to that, he served as Assistant Imam for two years. Appointed in 2024 to Philadelphia’s first-ever Commission on Muslim Engagement and to Governor Josh Shapiro’s Advisory Commission for African American Affairs, Idris plays a key role in shaping inclusive policy and civic engagement across the state. In the public sector, Idris brings nearly two decades of experience in technology leadership. As Deputy Chief Information Officer, he oversees enterprise IT operations, including service strategy and communications infrastructure, with a focus on equitable digital transformation. Idris Abdul-Zahir is committed to transforming systems, narratives, and lives through faith, service, and inclusive leadership. There are 17 references cited in this article, which can be found at the bottom of the page. This article has been fact-checked, ensuring the accuracy of any cited facts and confirming the authority of its sources. This article has been viewed 20,746 times.

The 6 Kalimas (also called the 6 Traditions or the 6 Phrases) are a form of Islamic worship (dhikr) and declarations of faith[1] . When you recite these 6 Kalimas, you reflect on your commitment to Allah, seek forgiveness from Him, and form a deeper understanding of your faith as a Muslim. Read on to see all 6 Kalimas and learn when and why to recite them.

Names of the 6 Kalimas

The first Kalima is Tayyib (purity), the second is Shahadat (testimony), the third is Tamjeed (glorification), the fourth is Tauheed (unity), the fifth is Astaghfar (penitence), and the sixth is Radde Kufr (rejection of disbelief). Reciting Kalimas strengthens your belief in Allah and guides you to spiritual growth.

Steps
What are the 6 Kalimas? Kalma Tayyab (purity) لَا إِلَٰهَ إِلَّا ٱللَّٰهُ مُحَمَّدٌ رَسُولُ ٱللَّٰهِ [2]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.[3]
Kalma Shahadat (testimony of faith) اَشْهَدُ اَنْ لَّآ اِلٰهَ اِلَّا اللهُ وَحْدَہٗ لَاشَرِيْكَ لَہٗ وَاَشْهَدُ اَنَّ مُحَمَّدًا عَبْدُهٗ وَرَسُولُہٗ[4]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.Advertisement
Kalma Tamjeed (glorification) سُبْحَان اللهِ وَالْحَمْدُلِلّهِ وَلا إِلهَ إِلّااللّهُ وَاللّهُ أكْبَرُ وَلا حَوْلَ وَلاَ قُوَّةَ إِلَّابِاللّهِ الْعَلِيِّ الْعَظِيْم[7]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.[8]
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[9]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.
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[10]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.
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[11]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. Expert Q&A
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Tips
References ↑ Idris Abdul-Zahir. Imam and Islam Expert. Expert Interview
↑ https://myislam.org/first-kalima-tayyab/
↑ https://seekersguidance.org/answers/islamic-belief/is-the-saying-of-the-kalima-upon-ones-death-a-guarantee-of-paradise/
↑ https://myislam.org/second-kalima-shahadat/
↑ https://www.alislam.org/book/salat/adhan-or-muslim-call-to-prayer/
↑ https://www.reviewofreligions.org/22137/the-definition-of-a-true-muslim/
↑ https://myislam.org/third-kalima-tamjeed/
↑ https://www.islamicity.org/98977/the-6-kalimas-pillars-of-faith-and-unity-in-islam/
↑ https://myislam.org/fourth-kalima-tauheed/ ↑ https://myislam.org/fith-kalima-astaghfar/
↑ https://myislam.org/sixth-kalma-radde-kufr/
↑ https://aboutislam.net/counseling/ask-about-islam/must-muslims-pray-arabic/
↑ https://islamqa.org/hanafi/darulifta-deoband/26963/can-women-recite-durood-kalma-s-n-other-daily-duas-in-periods-menses/
↑ https://www.whyislam.org/spiritual-awakening/
↑ https://myislam.org/first-kalima-tayyab/
↑ https://islamqa.org/hanafi/daruliftaa/8518/teaching-the-five-kalimas-to-the-children/
↑ https://myislam.org/first-kalima-tayyab/
↑ https://www.islamic-relief.org.uk/resources/knowledge-base/five-pillars-of-islam/shahada/
↑ Idris Abdul-Zahir. Imam and Islam Expert. Expert Interview
↑ https://mccchicago.org/praying/