The Six Kalimas: Transliteration and Meaning on Printable Cards
Cut-out cards for all six kalimas in Arabic, with English transliteration and meaning, to learn one at a time.
Updated 25 October 2026
3 pagesCut-out cards
A4 & US Letterprint at home
All agesbest for
One kalima a weektime it takesThe six kalimas are short statements of faith that children in many Muslim homes and madrasahs learn by heart. Together they cover belief in Allah, the testimony of faith, glorifying Allah, His oneness, seeking forgiveness and rejecting disbelief.
Each card on this sheet shows one kalima in Arabic, its transliteration for those still learning to read Arabic, and its meaning in English. Learning one card at a time, with its meaning, helps children understand what they are saying rather than only memorising sounds.
The grouping of six is a teaching tradition used widely across South Asia. The words themselves draw on the Qur'an and the Sunnah.
How to use it well
- 1First Kalima, Tayyib
The declaration of purity: there is no god but Allah, and Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah.
- 2Second Kalima, Shahadah
The testimony of faith, bearing witness to Allah's oneness and the Prophet's message.
- 3Third Kalima, Tamjid
Words of glory: glorifying and praising Allah and declaring Him the Greatest.
- 4Fourth Kalima, Tawhid
The oneness of Allah: He has no partner, He gives life and death, and all good is in His hand.
- 5Fifth Kalima, Istighfar
Seeking forgiveness from Allah for every sin, known and unknown.
- 6Sixth Kalima, Radd-e-Kufr
Rejecting disbelief, and seeking refuge in Allah from associating anything with Him.
Peek inside
How to use it
Print the cards on thick paper or card, cut along the dotted lines, and keep them in a small envelope or on a ring.
Learn one kalima a week: read the meaning first, then practise the Arabic a few times a day until it is memorised.
Let a teacher take your child from Qaida to fluent Qur'an
Our online Maktab for ages 4 to 13 is taught live by a female teacher: Noorani Qaida, Qur'an with Tajweed, duas, kalimahs and Salah. Pick any time between 5 and 8 PM.
Your first class is free. No payment needed.
Frequently asked questions
What are the six kalimas?
They are six short statements of faith: Tayyib, Shahadah, Tamjid, Tawhid, Istighfar and Radd-e-Kufr, taught to children to learn by heart with their meanings.
Are the six kalimas in the Qur'an?
The list of six is a teaching arrangement used in South Asian madrasahs. Their words draw on the Qur'an and the Sunnah, but the Qur'an does not list them as a set of six.
Which kalima should children learn first?
Most families start with the first kalima, Tayyib, because it is the declaration at the heart of Islam.
Are the kalima cards free?
Yes. They are free to download, need no sign-up, and come in A4 and US Letter sizes.
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