Are there five kalimas in Islam, and what do the Qur'an and Sunnah state?
Many Muslims have heard of the concept of five kalimas in Islam and in some areas Muslims are made to learn five statements by heart which are called Kalima Tayyib, Kalima Shahadat, Kalima Tamjeed, Kalima Tawheed, Kalima Radd-ul-Kufr..
But, do you know?
Did Muhammad Teach that Islam is split into five kalimas?
In order to answer this question, we have to differentiate between actual teachings that were given and the name/classifications which may have been formed at a later time.
What is a Kalima in Islam?
The word 'Kalima' is used to mean a word, a sentence or expression.
The statement of belief of Islam is and only consists of:
"La ilaha illallah Muhammadur Rasulullah"
This sentence is equivalent to "There is no deity worthy of worship except Allah, and Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah." This means to believe in the existence of ONE GOD that should only be worshipped in accordanceance with this statement to the last part, stating that we believe Muhammad () is a prophet.
What Muhammad taught his followers were various types of rememberance and supplication that can be read, not a set five kalimas.
The Prophet's Teaching on five Kalimas
There is no authentic narration that establishes that the Prophet Muhammad classified words such as the ones below into five kalimas bearing these commonly accepted names:
- Kalima Tayyib
- Kalima Shahadat
- Kalima Tamjeed
- Kalima Tawheed
- Kalima Radd-ul-Kufr
For this reason these words and their classification should not be attributed directly to the Prophet.
This is an important difference to distinguish. Any utterance consisting of Islamic and rewarding words does not by it, make any specific name or classification that accompanies that utterance, a command from the Prophet.
What about the First and Second Kalima?
The two utterances referred to as the first and second Kalima express the testimony of Islamic belief.
The first commonly reads as:
لَا إِلَٰهَ إِلَّا ٱللَّٰهُ مُحَمَّدٌ رَسُولُ ٱللَّٰهِ
LA ILAHA ILLALLAHU MUHAMMADUR Rasulullah (There is no worthy of worship except Allah. Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah)
The second usually consists of:
اَشْهَدُ اَنْ لَّآ اِلٰهَ اِلَّا اللهُ وَحْدَہٗ لَاشَرِيْكَ لَہٗ وَاَشْهَدُ اَنَّ مُحَمَّدًا عَبْدُهٗ وَرَسُولُہٗ
ASHHADU ALLA ILAHA ILLALLAHU WAHDANU SHARIKA LAH, WA ASHHADU ANNA MUHAMMADAN 'ABD HU WA Rasul UH. (I bear witness that there is no worthy of worship except Allah, who is only with no partners, and I bear witness that Muhammad is His servant and Messenger)
The second version expounds on the testimony of Islam. It should be stressed that neither word should be viewed as having being laid down by the Prophet (sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) as a designated first and second kalima.
What about the third Kalima?
The utterance commonly known as the third Kalima consists of words of remembrance and glory of Allah:
سُبْحَان اللهِ وَالْحَمْدُلِلّهِ وَلا إِلهَ إِلّااللّهُ وَاللّهُ أكْبَرُ وَلا حَوْلَ وَلاَ قُوَّةَ إِلَّابِاللّهِ الْعَلِيِّ الْعَظِيْم
SUBHANALLAHI WAL HAMDULILLAHI WA LA ILAHA ILLALLAHU WALLAHU Akbar, Wa La Hawla Wa La Quwwata Illah Billahil Aliyyul Adheem.
(Glory be to Allah, praise be to Allah, there is no worthy of worship except Allah. Allah is greater, and there is no power nor strength save in Allah, the High, the Mighty.)
These words are that of dhikr, and are praises for Allah. We should remember that the Prophet Muhammad has taught us several words for dhikr appropriate for different occasions. The mere fact that a compilation of words may carry a beneficial meaning or significance does not automatically make it the third kalima as dictated by the Prophet.
For example, there is a narration about the state of the person who gets out of bed at night, where the Prophet said if one recites words of remembrance beginning from 'la ilaaha illallahu wahdahu la sharika lah', then following the verses of praising the greatness of Allah, and then they ask of Allah He will give them what they ask; and if one performs ablution and offers Salat, their prayer will be accepted.
(Source: Sahih al Bukhari vol.2, book 21, no. 256; Sunan ibn Majah vol.1, book 5, hadith 3868)
So, this narration indicates genuine Islamic words to utter during the night. The same does not apply to any compilation of such words necessarily becoming the "third Kalima" prescribed by the Prophet.
What about the fourth Kalima?
The utterance usually referred to as the fourth Kalima consists of common expressions such as:
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 ٍٔ قَدِیْرٌ
LA ILAHA ILLALLAHU WAHDANU SHARIKA LAH, LAHUL Mulku Wal Lahul HAMDU YUHYI WA YUMIT WA HUWA ALA KULLI SHAY Iyun QADIR.
(There is no worthy of worship except Allah. He is only with no partners.
To Him belong the sovereignty and all praise. He causes life and death, and He is powerful over all things.)
The utterances in essence mean: 'Praise be to Allah. There is no one worthy of worship except Allah alone. His is sovereignty, all praise is His. He gives life and he causes death, and He is omnipotent.'
While these are indeed meaningful words of Tawheed and remembrance of Allah, there is no established source from which it may be seen that the Prophet had established these specific words as a 'fourth Kalima'. It is important not to equate any word or set of words from authentic sources and supplications as 'a designated named utterance' by the Prophet unless explicitly defined by him.
What about Kalima Radd-ul-Kufr?
The statement designated as Kalima Radd-ul-Kufr (or the sentence to Refuse) is a declaration in which the person repents to Allah for shirk and asking forgiveness for something that one is not aware of knowing (such as that one did not realise it was Shirk). The declaration goes on to say the affirmation of belief that one has been taught by the Prophet (sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) is the finest declaration ever confessed by anyone.
The statement has significance in that it consists of statements such as: avoiding Shirk; seeking Allah's forgiveness; acknowledging oneself as Allah's servant; acknowledging that Allah is the Creator; affirming belief in the Messengers of Allah. It carries all important Islamic tenets for rejecting disbelief in Islam; however, not all of this must necessarily be the fifth word of Kalima Radd-ul-Kufr. Therefore, Muslims should not automatically assume that this version of the statement was prescribed by the Prophet (sallallahu alaihi wa sallam).
What should Muslims do in such cases? The first rule is to assess each individual situation using the Quran and authentic Sunnah. Does the utterance or declaration truly originate from the Prophet, and if so, did he give it a specific classification or name?
Do the five Kalimas have to be memorised by every Muslim?
No. While some sayings are definitely beneficial to memorize, there is no evidence from the Quran or authentic Sunnah establishing that a Muslim must memorize the five classified kalimas in the prescribed manner above. All a Muslim requires is correct belief (Iman) towards Allah (Subhanahu Wa Ta'ala) and His Messenger (sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) and their core beliefs.
At entrance into Islam the utterance that defines a Muslim is:
لَا إِلَٰهَ إِلَّا ٱللَّٰهُ مُحَمَّدٌ رَسُولُ ٱللَّٰهِ
La ilaaha illallah, Muhammadur Rasulullah.
Other utterances known as duas, for specific instances, should be known and recited appropriately according to the Sunnah. Therefore, it should not be instilled that the concept of five Kalimas as an obligation is a reality-children and new Muslims ought to be taught the true basics of Islamic teachings; and in that context relevant supplications, duas and authentic remembrances are more appropriate.
Why is this distinction so important?
There is nothing wrong with taking in authentic Islamic sentences and recitations as long as they are authentic, and are simply being presented with their common educational labels or numbering. The only mistake is when these labels or numbering which belong to a subsequent arrangement or classification attributed to the time of the Prophet Muhammad. For example a teacher might be making a series of five sentences of Islamic value with the labels as First, Second, Third, Fourth and Fifth because it makes it easy for the students to remember. However, an educational classification does not constitute a religious obligation unless substantiated with a specific text or Hadith.
What should Muslims believe in?
Muslims must accept the Qur'an and the authentic Sunnah of the Prophet Muhammad (sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) as the correct sources of religious guidance and knowledge. Whenever it is said to be the wording or teaching from the Prophet (sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) its source should be verified. Therefore, the best practice is that 'all what is established by the Prophet Muhammad (sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) or commanded in the Qur'an is the religion, anything thereafter is not'
Frequently Asked Questions
Islam mention the five Kalimas in the Quran?
No, Islam's holy book. The Quran mentions all the words to be present as 'Kalima'. Islam does not describe them as a group of 'Five Kalimas'.
Did the Prophet (sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) give names to the Five Kalimas?
There are no authentic verses suggesting that the Prophet (sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) gave any of the Five Kalimas named, e.g., First, Second, Third and the like, any special name.
Are the contents of the Five Kalimas incorrect?
No. As is clear from the translations above, the sentences in most of the Five Kalimas express truthful information, praise, remembrance and du'as to Allah. The critical issue here is whether such statements, as compiled in the Five Kalimas, can be authentic attributed directly to the Prophet (sallallahu alaihi wa sallam).
Is the Kalima of Shahada important in Islam?
Yes. The affirmation: 'There is no worthy of worship except Allah, Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah (sallallahu alaihi wa sallam)' is the most fundamental utterance defining a Muslim.
Should one memorize the du'as of the five kalimas?
Muslims ought to memorize du'as and utterances recommended in the Sunnah and Qur'an. However, they should learn the context in which they are to be recited and from what sources they originate, and not accept blindly all whatever is told.
Conclusion
The commonly taught “Five Kalimas” are not established in the Qur'an and authentic Sunnah as five obligatory statements of Islamic faith with the specific names used today.
At the same time, many of the individual phrases found in these collections contain sound meanings, praise of Allah, declarations of Tawheed, and authentic forms of remembrance.
The important distinction is between the words themselves and the later classification of those words as five Kalimas.
A Muslim should give priority to what is authentically established from the Qur'an and Sunnah and should be careful when attributing a particular practice, name, or religious obligation to the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ.
This is only for Islamic knowledge informations not for hurting others.
Allah knows best.