1st Kalma (Kalma Tayyab): Arabic, Meaning in English and Urdu
The 1st Kalma, also called Kalma Tayyab (Kalimah Tayyibah, “the pure word”), is لَا إِلَٰهَ إِلَّا ٱللَّٰهُ مُحَمَّدٌ رَسُولُ ٱللَّٰهِ, Lā ilāha illallāhu Muḥammadur Rasūlullāh. It means “There is no god but Allah, Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah.”
These few words are the foundation of Islam: belief in the Oneness of Allah (Tawhid) and in Muhammad ﷺ as His final Messenger. This guide gives the 1st Kalma in Arabic, English, Urdu and Hindi, its word-by-word meaning, where it comes from in the Quran, its virtues from authentic hadith, how to pronounce it correctly, and how to teach it to children.
Table of Contents
1st Kalma at a Glance
| Name | 1st Kalma, Kalma Tayyab, Kalimah Tayyibah (“the pure word”) |
|---|---|
| Arabic | لَا إِلَٰهَ إِلَّا ٱللَّٰهُ مُحَمَّدٌ رَسُولُ ٱللَّٰهِ |
| Transliteration | Lā ilāha illallāhu Muḥammadur Rasūlullāh |
| English meaning | There is no god but Allah, Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah |
| Number of Arabic words | 7 |
| Main message | Tawhid (Allah alone is worshipped) and Risalah (Muhammad ﷺ is His Messenger) |
| In the Quran | Both halves appear in the Quran (37:35, 47:19 and 48:29) |
1st Kalma in Arabic, English, Urdu and Hindi
| Language | 1st Kalma |
|---|---|
| Arabic | لَا إِلَٰهَ إِلَّا ٱللَّٰهُ مُحَمَّدٌ رَسُولُ ٱللَّٰهِ |
| Transliteration | Lā ilāha illallāhu Muḥammadur Rasūlullāh |
| English | There is no god but Allah, Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah. |
| Urdu | اللہ کے سوا کوئی معبود نہیں، محمد ﷺ اللہ کے رسول ہیں۔ |
| Hindi | ला इलाहा इल्लल्लाहु मुहम्मदुर रसूलुल्लाह: अल्लाह के सिवा कोई इबादत के लायक़ नहीं, मुहम्मद ﷺ अल्लाह के रसूल हैं। |
Word-by-Word Meaning of the 1st Kalma
| Arabic | Transliteration | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| لَا | Lā | No / there is no |
| إِلَٰهَ | ilāha | god, anything worshipped |
| إِلَّا | illā | except |
| ٱللَّٰهُ | Allāh | Allah, the One God |
| مُحَمَّدٌ | Muḥammadun | Muhammad ﷺ |
| رَسُولُ | rasūlu | the Messenger of |
| ٱللَّٰهِ | Allāh | Allah |
What Does the 1st Kalma Really Mean?
The Kalma has two parts, and each one is a complete belief.
- Lā ilāha illallāh (Tawhid): it begins with a denial, “there is no god”, and then an affirmation, “except Allah”. It rejects everything that people worship besides Allah and affirms that worship belongs to Allah alone.
- Muḥammadur Rasūlullāh (Risalah): it affirms that Muhammad ﷺ is the Messenger of Allah. Believing this means accepting what he taught and following his Sunnah as the way to worship Allah.
Testifying to both is the first of the five pillars of Islam. The Prophet ﷺ said: “Islam is built upon five: testifying that there is no god but Allah and that Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah, establishing the prayer, giving zakat, Hajj and fasting Ramadan.” (Sahih al-Bukhari 8)
Is the 1st Kalma in the Quran?
The full sentence does not appear as a single verse, but both of its halves are in the Quran:
- “There is no god but Allah” (lā ilāha illallāh) appears in Surah As-Saffat (37:35) and Surah Muhammad (47:19): “So know that there is no god except Allah.”
- “Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah” (Muḥammadur Rasūlullāh) appears in Surah Al-Fath (48:29).
Why Is It Called Kalma Tayyab (the Pure Word)?
Tayyibah means good and pure. Allah says: “Have you not considered how Allah presents an example, a good word (kalimatan tayyibatan) is like a good tree, whose root is firmly fixed and its branches reach the sky? It produces its fruit at all times by permission of its Lord.” (Quran 14:24-25). In Tafsir Ibn Kathir, Ibn Abbas explains that the “good word” here is the testimony that there is no god but Allah.
Virtues of the 1st Kalma in Authentic Hadith
- The best remembrance: “The best remembrance is Lā ilāha illallāh, and the best supplication is Al-ḥamdulillāh.” (Jami’ at-Tirmidhi 3383, graded hasan)
- The most excellent branch of faith: faith has over seventy branches, and the most excellent of them is the declaration that there is no god but Allah. (Sahih Muslim 35)
- A promise of Paradise: “Whoever dies knowing that there is no god but Allah will enter Paradise.” (Sahih Muslim 26)
- Protection from the Fire: Allah has forbidden the Fire for whoever says Lā ilāha illallāh, seeking by it the Face of Allah. (Sahih al-Bukhari 425)
- The best last words: “Whoever’s last words are Lā ilāha illallāh will enter Paradise.” (Sunan Abi Dawud 3116, graded sahih by al-Albani)
- Heavier than every sin: in the hadith of the card (al-bitaqah), a man’s ninety-nine scrolls of sins are outweighed by a card bearing the testimony of faith. (Jami’ at-Tirmidhi 2639)
The Conditions of Lā ilāha illallāh
Scholars explain that saying the Kalma benefits a person when it is said with its conditions. They commonly list seven:
- Knowledge (‘ilm) of what it means.
- Certainty (yaqīn), without doubt.
- Acceptance (qabūl) of what it requires.
- Submission (inqiyād) to it in practice.
- Truthfulness (ṣidq), saying it from the heart.
- Sincerity (ikhlāṣ), for Allah alone.
- Love (maḥabbah) for it and for those who live by it.
1st Kalma vs Shahadah (2nd Kalma)
The 1st Kalma is a statement of belief. The Shahadah, taught as the 2nd Kalma, puts the same belief in the form of a testimony: 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, alone without partner, and I bear witness that Muhammad is His servant and Messenger). A person enters Islam by sincerely bearing this witness.
The list of “six Kalimas” is a traditional way of teaching basic beliefs and dhikr, especially in South Asia. It is not a numbered list found in the hadith, but every phrase in it carries a meaning rooted in the Quran and Sunnah. See all six in our 6 Kalimas guide.
How to Pronounce the 1st Kalma Correctly
- Lā: stretch the long “aa” sound (a madd).
- illallāh and Rasūlullāh: the “l” in the name Allah is pronounced heavy (full-mouthed) here, because it comes after an “a” or “u” sound.
- Muḥammad: the “ḥ” is the Arabic letter ح, a breathy sound from the middle of the throat, not a plain “h”; and the “m” is doubled (shaddah).
- Rasūl: keep the “ū” long.
To learn these sounds with a teacher, see our Tajweed e Quran course or start with Noorani Qaida.
How to Teach the 1st Kalma to Children
- Teach it in two halves: first “Lā ilāha illallāh”, then “Muḥammadur Rasūlullāh”.
- Explain the meaning in their own language, in simple words: “We worship only Allah, and Prophet Muhammad ﷺ is His Messenger.”
- Repeat it daily, for example after Fajr or at bedtime, so it becomes natural.
- Connect it to daily life: talk about Allah as the Creator when you see the sky, rain or food.
- Praise their effort and let them recite it to family members.
For one-on-one lessons for kids, see our online Quran classes for kids.
When Do Muslims Say the 1st Kalma?
- As daily dhikr: the Prophet ﷺ called it the best remembrance (Jami’ at-Tirmidhi 3383).
- With the dying: “Prompt those of you who are dying to say Lā ilāha illallāh.” (Sahih Muslim 916)
- When teaching children the basics of their faith.
- As a reminder of Tawhid at any time; it needs no special number or time.
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Frequently Asked Questions About the 1st Kalma
What is the 1st Kalma?
The 1st Kalma (Kalma Tayyab) is "Lā ilāha illallāhu Muḥammadur Rasūlullāh", meaning "There is no god but Allah, Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah."
What is the meaning of the 1st Kalma in English?
"There is no god but Allah, Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah." It declares that only Allah deserves worship and that Muhammad ﷺ is His Messenger.
What is the 1st Kalma in Urdu?
اللہ کے سوا کوئی معبود نہیں، محمد ﷺ اللہ کے رسول ہیں۔
Is the 1st Kalma in the Quran?
Not as one verse, but both halves are: "lā ilāha illallāh" in 37:35 and 47:19, and "Muḥammadur Rasūlullāh" in 48:29.
What is the difference between the 1st Kalma and the Shahadah?
The 1st Kalma states the belief; the Shahadah (2nd Kalma) testifies to it with "Ash-hadu" (I bear witness). A person enters Islam by sincerely bearing this witness.
How many Kalimas are there in Islam?
Six Kalimas are traditionally taught, especially in South Asia. The numbering is a teaching tradition rather than a list from the hadith.
Why is it called Kalma Tayyab?
Tayyibah means pure and good. The Quran (14:24) compares "a good word" to a good tree, and Ibn Abbas explained that word as the testimony of Lā ilāha illallāh.
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