As Muslims, we know that Islam is based on the principle of God’s unity. The six Kalma may sound different, but they all have somewhat the same meaning: they describe God’s unity.
The fourth Kalam, also known as Tauheed, describes Allah’s unity; no one shares God’s status except him. The fourth and third Kalma are almost identical in meaning and message, but there are a few differences, which we will cover later in this blog.
We will also define the 4th Kalma in English, its meaning with translation, and the benefits of reciting the 4th Kalma.
What is the 4th Kalma?
The fourth Kalma is called ‘Tauheed.’ The word Tauheed or Tawheed is an Arabic/ Urdu word that means believing in the unity of Allah. Believing in the unity of God is also the first pillar of Islam and a must-do for entering Islam.
A non-believer or non-Muslim can enter Islam by believing in the unity of Allah and Muhammad (PBUH) as his last messenger.
4th Kalma in English
Here is the translation of the 4th Kalma.
There is none worthy of worship except Allah. He is the only One. (There is) 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) the goodness. And He (is) the goodness. And He (is) on everything powerful.
4th Kalma Transliteration in English
For those of you who don’t know how to read Arabic, here is the English Transliteration of 4th Kalma, or you can say 4th Kalam in Roman English.
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.
4th Kalma in the light of the Quran and Hadith
The fourth Kalma gives us the message of the oneness of God and that there is no one to be worshiped except him. This message has been given in several Surahs in the Holy Quran and is available in many Hadiths. And why wont it, because Islam is based on this principle.
Here are a few references from the Holy Quran, which echoes the 4th Kalma.
In Surah Taha Verse 14, the Quran says, ‘It is truly I. I am Allah! There is no god ˹worthy of worship˺, except Me. So worship Me ˹alone˺, and establish prayer for My remembrance.
The message of the 4th Kalma confirms what is written in Surah Taha. Allah says he is the only God, and there is no God except him. And he is the only one to be worshiped, which is exactly what we recite in the 4th Kalma.
The second part of the 4th Kalma says Allah is the Possessor of Majesty and Reverence. In His hand (is) the goodness. And He (is) the goodness. And He (is) on everything powerful.”
The exact meaning of this line can be found in Surah Al-Anam Verse 102, “That is Allah—your Lord! There is no god ˹worthy of worship˺ except Him. ˹He is˺ the Creator of all things, so worship Him ˹alone˺. And He is the Maintainer of everything.”
Basically you can say that the concept of Islam, the Holy Quran and 4th Kalma are the same. All of them are pointing towards one thing and that is the unity of Allah, there is no God except him to be worshiped.
In Surah An-Nisa Verse 48, Allah says that he won’t forgive anyone who adds someone else to Allah in worship. He is alone and independent. The Quran further says that everything else can be forgiven except this, making this the biggest sin of them all.
Here is the complete translation of the Verse: Indeed, Allah does not forgive associating others with Him ˹in worship˺, but forgives anything else of whoever He wills. And whoever associates others with Allah has indeed committed a grave sin.
The significance of 4th Kalma in Hadiths
The fourth Kalma can be found in several Hadiths. However, the complete Kalma is not available either in the Hadiths or the Quran. Here are a few Hadiths describing the significance of the 4th Kalma.
4th Kalma should be recited after praying Salat
Our Holy Prophet (PBUH) recited the starting part of the 4th Kalma after ending Salat. Here is the Hadith for your reference. Narrated from Warrad that Mu’awiyah wrote to Al-Mughirah asking him to write him a hadith that he had heard from the Messenger of Allah (PBUH). Al-Mughirah wrote to him (Saying): “I heard him say, when he finished the prayer: ‘La Ilaha Illallah wahdahu la sharika lah, lahul-mulk wa lahul-hamd wa huwa ‘ala kulli shay’in qadir, three times.” — Sunan an-Nasa’i 1343
4th Kalma after uttering bad words
A person can recite the 4th Kalma if he mistakenly said a few bad words. He must repent to Allah and ask for his mercy and forgiveness. Here is the powers of 4th Kalma according to this Hadith.
Mus’ab bin Sa’d narrated his father’s saying, “I swore by Al-Lat and Al-‘Uzza, and my companions said to me: ‘What a bad thing you have said! You have said something horrible.’ So I went to the Messenger of Allah and told him about that. He said: ‘Say: La ilaha illallah wahdahu la sharika lah, lahul-mulk wa lahul-hamd wa huwa ‘ala kulli shay’in qadir. Spit to your left three times, seek refuge with Allah from the Shaitan, and do not say that again.'” — Sunan an-Nasa’i 3777
The rewards of 4th Kalma
Reciting the 4th Kalma 100 times in a day can be highly rewarded in this world and the world after this. Here is the Hadith describing the rewards of reciting the 4th Kalma 100 times daily.
Narrated by Abu Huraira (RA), Allah’s Messenger (PBUH) said,” Whoever says: “La ilaha illal-lah wahdahu la sharika lahu, lahu-l-mulk wa lahul- hamd wa huwa ‘ala kulli shai’in qadir,” one hundred times will get the same reward as given for manumitting ten slaves; and one hundred good deeds will be written in his accounts, and one hundred sins will be deducted from his accounts, and it (his saying) will be a shield for him from Satan on that day till night, and nobody will be able to do a better deed except the one who does more than he.” — Sahih al-Bukhari Volume 8, Book 75, Hadith#412
Recited during Haj
The fourth Kalma holds a significant value in one of the most important Islamic rituals. So far we have told you that the Holy Prophet (PBUH) recited this Kalma after praying Salat and advice us to do the same.
He (PBUH) also recited the fourth Kalma during Haj. When the Holy Prophet claimed at the top of As-Safa and Al-Marwah, he recited this Kalma. Here is the Hadith for your reference.
Narrated by Jabir, when the Messenger of Allah stood on top of As-Safa, he recited the Takbir three times and said: “La ilaha illallah, Wahdahu la sharika lah, lahul-mulku wa lahul-hamdu, yuhyi wa yumitu, wa huwaala kulli shayin qadir (There is none worthy of worship except Allah alone with no partner or associate, His is the dominion and to Him be praise, He gives life and death, and He has power over all things).” He did three times, and supplicated, and did the same a top Al-Marwah. — Sunan an-Nasa’i 2972
The conclusion from Hadith and Quran
We have presented the relevant Hadiths and Surah to describe the significance of the 4th Kalma. Our Prophet (PBUH) used the Kalma after Salat and at Haj. The meaning of this Kalma also resembles several Surahs in the Holy Quran, which shows its true powers and importance.
What are the advantages of reciting 4th Kalma?
As Muslims, we should recite all six kalmas to purify our souls and please Allah. However, many of us are in search of finding the true meaning of the fourth Kalma and how we can benefit from it.
Here are a few benefits of reciting 4th Kalma.
1- Spiritual Cleansing
Regular recitation of the Fourth Kalma acts as a form of spiritual cleansing, helping to remove doubts and reaffirm the believer’s commitment to monotheism.
2- Strengthening Faith
By constantly reminding themselves of Allah’s oneness and sovereignty, Muslims strengthen their faith and resolve to live according to Islamic teachings.
3- Encouraging Righteous Conduct
The Fourth Kalma inspires Muslims to lead lives of righteousness and piety, guided by the awareness of Allah’s omnipresence and omnipotence.
4- Rejection of Shirk
By declaring that Allah has no partners, the Fourth Kalma categorically rejects Shirk, which is the sin of associating others with Allah. This reinforces the purity of faith and ensures that worship is directed exclusively to Allah.
5- Acknowledgment of Allah’s Sovereignty
The Kalma acknowledges that all sovereignty and praise belong to Allah. It recognizes His ultimate authority over life and death and His control over all good in the universe. This acknowledgment fosters a sense of humility and submission among believers, reminding them of their dependence on Allah.
Wrap Up
So far we have discussed the significance and importance of the 4th Kalma in Islam. We have written the exact translation of the 4th Kalma along with its transliteration, meaning and gave references from the Holy Quran and Hadith to explain its significance.
We have also mentioned how Muslims can benefit from reciting the 4th Kalma. They should make this a habit and include this in their daily lives to gain Allah’s closeness. We will update this blog with new examples in the future.
FAQs
4th Kalma in Arabic
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
What is the name of 4th Kalma?
In Islam every Kalma has a name. The fourth Kalma in Islam is named “Tauheed.” The 6th Kalma is called Radd-e-Kufr and the 3rd is called “Tamjeet.”
Who can recite the 4th Kalma?
Muslims who want to develop a close relation with Allah can and should recite the 4th Kalma. The fourth Kalma bring all the Muslims on the same page, Unity of God.
If you are looking to create a special relationship with the creator, recite 4th Kalma 100 times as prescribed by the Holy Prophet (PBUH) with complete sincerity and pure heart.
What are the powers of 4th Kalma?
The Holy Prophet (PBUH) recited it after Salat and at As-Safa and Al-Marwa. The powers and blessings of reciting 4th Kalma are listed below.
- Closeness to Allah
- Following the Sunnah
- Purification of Heart and Soul
- Relaxation of Mind
- Defeating Satan
- Others
Some Muslims believe that the Fourth Kalma holds the power to accomplish tasks. They say that if you recite the Fourth Kalma while thinking of a difficult task, it will be completed by its power.
