The 4th Kalima — also called Kalima Tawheed (sometimes spelled Tauheed or Touheed) — is the Islamic declaration of Allah’s absolute oneness. It is the fourth of the six Kalimas traditionally taught across the Muslim world, and it expands on the Shahadah (1st Kalima) by spelling out Allah’s sole sovereignty over the universe: that He alone gives life, causes death, owns the kingdom, holds all good in His hand, and has power over everything.
This complete guide covers the full Arabic text of the 4th Kalima with transliteration and English meaning, a word-by-word breakdown that most top-ranking pages skip, the three categories of Tawheed (Rububiyyah, Uluhiyyah, and Asma wa Sifat) that explain why this Kalima is named after the concept, the Sunnah-supported moments to recite it, the famous 100-times-a-day reward narrated in Sahih Muslim 2691, the Quranic verses that ground the same message (Surah Al-Ikhlas, Ayat al-Kursi, Surah Taha 20:14), how the 4th Kalima differs from the 1st (Kalima Tayyab), pronunciation pitfalls, and a teaching framework for children — followed by the questions Muslims actually search for about Kalima Tawheed.
What Is the 4th Kalima (Kalima Tawheed)?
The 4th Kalima is a short Arabic declaration affirming the oneness (Tawheed) of Allah. The word Tawheed itself comes from the Arabic root و-ح-د, meaning “to make one” or “to consider as one.” In Islamic theology, Tawheed is the absolute foundation of belief: Allah is one in His Lordship, one in His right to be worshipped, and one in His names and attributes. The 4th Kalima compresses that idea into a single recitation that takes about fifteen seconds to say.
The six Kalimas, taken together, are not a single passage from the Quran or any one hadith. They were compiled by later scholars as a teaching ladder — each Kalima building on the previous one — and the wording of every Kalima is drawn from authentic dhikr (remembrance) phrases found across the Quran and hadith literature. The 4th Kalima in particular is built around a Prophetic dhikr narrated in Sahih Muslim 2691 and Sahih al-Bukhari 3293, with additional clauses (such as Dhul Jalali wal Ikram and Biyadihil khair) drawn from Quranic descriptions of Allah.
It sits between the 3rd Kalima (Tamjeed) — which praises Allah — and the 5th Kalima (Astaghfar) — which seeks forgiveness. The order is deliberate: you praise Allah, then declare His oneness, then ask for forgiveness in the light of that oneness.
Key takeaways:
- The 4th Kalima (Kalima Tawheed) declares Allah’s absolute oneness: no partner, sole owner of the kingdom, giver of life and death, ever-living, all-powerful.
- Its core wording is drawn from the Prophetic dhikr in Sahih Muslim 2691 and Sahih al-Bukhari 3293, with additional clauses from Quranic descriptions of Allah.
- Tawheed has three classical categories: Rububiyyah (Lordship), Uluhiyyah (Worship), and Asma wa Sifat (Names and Attributes). The 4th Kalima affirms all three.
- Reciting the core formula 100 times in a day carries the reward of freeing ten slaves, one hundred good deeds, the erasure of one hundred sins, and protection from Shaytan until evening — per Sahih Muslim 2691.
- Strong moments to recite it: after the five daily prayers, during morning and evening dhikr, during Hajj, and after slipping into sinful speech — as a renewal of Tawheed.
4th Kalima in Arabic, Transliteration & English
Below is the verified text of the 4th Kalima exactly as it is taught in the traditional Six Kalimas curriculum, with full tashkeel (diacritical marks), a Roman transliteration, and the English meaning.
Arabic with tashkeel:
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
Transliteration:
Related:
La ilaha illallahu wahdahu la sharika lahu, lahul mulku wa lahul hamdu, yuhyi wa yumitu, wa huwa Hayyu la yamutu abadan abada, Dhul Jalali wal Ikram, biyadihil khair, wa huwa ala kulli shay’in Qadeer.
English meaning:
“There is no god but Allah. He is alone and has no partner. To Him belongs the kingdom and for Him is all praise. He gives life and causes death. And He is ever-living, never dying, for ever and ever. Possessor of Majesty and Honor. In His hand is all good, and He has power over everything.”
Word-by-Word Meaning of the 4th Kalima
Most top-ranking pages skip this breakdown. Going phrase by phrase lets you recite the 4th Kalima with understanding instead of just sound, which is the point of every dhikr in the Sunnah. The table below pairs each Arabic phrase with its transliteration and English meaning.
| Arabic phrase | Transliteration | English meaning |
|---|---|---|
| لَآ اِلٰهَ اِلَّا اللهُ | La ilaha illallah | There is no god but Allah |
| وَحْدَهٗ | Wahdahu | Alone (without any associate) |
| لَا شَرِيْكَ لَهٗ | La sharika lahu | He has no partner |
| لَهُ الْمُلْكُ | Lahul mulku | To Him belongs the kingdom (all of creation) |
| وَ لَهُ الْحَمْدُ | Wa lahul hamdu | And to Him belongs all praise |
| يُحْىٖ وَ يُمِيْتُ | Yuhyi wa yumitu | He gives life and He causes death |
| وَ هُوَ حَیٌّ لَّا يَمُوْتُ اَبَدًا اَبَدًا | Wa huwa Hayyu la yamutu abadan abada | And He is ever-living, never dying, for ever and ever |
| ذُو الْجَلَالِ وَالْاِكْرَامِ | Dhul Jalali wal Ikram | Possessor of Majesty and Honor |
| بِيَدِهِ الْخَيْرُ | Biyadihil khair | In His hand is all good |
| وَهُوَ عَلٰى كُلِّ شَیْءٍ قَدِیْرٌ | Wa huwa ala kulli shay’in Qadeer | And He has power over all things |
Notice how the declaration moves: it begins by negating any other deity (La ilaha illallah), then strips away partners (la sharika lahu), then affirms Allah’s sole ownership (lahul mulku), His sole right to praise (lahul hamdu), His power over life and death, His eternal nature, His majesty, the fact that all goodness comes only through Him, and finally His unrestricted power. Every clause closes a door that shirk (associating partners with Allah) could try to open.
Why It Is Called Kalima Tawheed — The Three Types of Tawheed
The 4th Kalima is called Kalima Tawheed because it affirms all three classical categories of Tawheed in a single recitation. Scholars of aqidah (Islamic creed) have divided Tawheed into three branches to make the concept easier to teach and apply. Reciting the 4th Kalima with awareness means consciously affirming each of them.
1. Tawhid al-Rububiyyah — Oneness of Lordship
This is the belief that Allah alone is the Creator, Sustainer, and absolute Master of the universe — the One who gives life, causes death, provides sustenance, controls every atom of creation, and has no associate in His actions. In the 4th Kalima, this category is affirmed by the phrases lahul mulku (“to Him belongs the kingdom”) and yuhyi wa yumitu (“He gives life and causes death”). Most people throughout history have accepted Allah as Lord; the Quran notes this in Surah Az-Zukhruf 43:87 (paraphrased): “If you asked them who created them, they would say ‘Allah.'”
2. Tawhid al-Uluhiyyah — Oneness of Worship
This is the belief that Allah alone deserves to be worshipped — that every act of worship, inward and outward, must be directed only to Him. It is affirmed in the 4th Kalima by la ilaha illallah (“there is no god but Allah”) and la sharika lahu (“He has no partner”). This is the category most often violated in human history, because people will accept Allah as the Creator while still directing worship, vows, fear, hope, or sacrifice to graves, idols, saints, or rulers. The Prophet (peace be upon him) was sent primarily to restore this branch of Tawheed.
3. Tawhid al-Asma wa al-Sifat — Oneness of Names and Attributes
This is the belief that Allah is unique in His names and attributes — nothing in creation resembles Him, and His attributes are not to be denied, distorted, or likened to created things. The 4th Kalima affirms several of His attributes directly: Hayyu (ever-living), la yamutu abadan abada (never dying), Dhul Jalali wal Ikram (Possessor of Majesty and Honor), Qadeer (All-Powerful). Surah Ash-Shura 42:11 (paraphrased) sets the rule: “There is nothing like unto Him, and He is the All-Hearing, the All-Seeing.”
When and How Often to Recite the 4th Kalima
The 4th Kalima is not tied to a specific obligatory time. It is a flexible dhikr that gains its strongest virtue in the moments below.
- After the five daily prayers. The core formula La ilaha illallahu wahdahu la sharika lahu, lahul mulku wa lahul hamdu, wa huwa ala kulli shay’in Qadeer is part of the Prophetic post-prayer dhikr taught in Sahih Muslim and several Sunan collections.
- In morning and evening dhikr. The same formula is included in the classical morning and evening adhkar with the explicit 100-times-a-day reward.
- During Hajj and Umrah. Pilgrims are recommended to repeat La ilaha illallahu wahdahu la sharika lahu at Safa and Marwah and on the Day of Arafah.
- After slipping into sinful speech. A short recitation of the 4th Kalima is a practical way to renew Tawheed in the heart and tongue after gossip, lying, or anger.
- Whenever the heart feels distant. The 4th Kalima is short enough to repeat several times in a row as a “reset” dhikr.
The famous 100-times-a-day reward is narrated by Abu Hurairah (RA) in Sahih Muslim 2691 (also in Sahih al-Bukhari 3293): whoever says La ilaha illallahu wahdahu la sharika lahu, lahul mulku wa lahul hamdu, wa huwa ala kulli shay’in Qadeer one hundred times in a day will have the reward of freeing ten slaves, will have one hundred good deeds written for him, will have one hundred sins erased from his record, and will be shielded from Shaytan for that day until evening. The 4th Kalima is essentially this Prophetic formula with extra clauses about Allah’s life, majesty, and goodness layered on top.
Benefits of Reciting the 4th Kalima
It is what keeps you Muslim
Tawheed is the boundary line between belief and disbelief. A person enters Islam by affirming La ilaha illallah, Muhammadur rasulullah — and they remain Muslim only as long as that affirmation, with its meanings, is alive in the heart. The 4th Kalima keeps that affirmation fresh and articulated, beyond a single one-time statement.
Protection from the greatest sin (shirk)
The worst sin a person can commit is shirk — associating partners with Allah. Surah An-Nisa 4:48 (paraphrased) makes its severity explicit: “Allah does not forgive that any partner be associated with Him, but He forgives anything less than that for whom He wills.” Every clause of the 4th Kalima negates a different form of shirk, which makes regular recitation a verbal vaccination against the sin the Quran says is unforgivable.
Immense rewards
As cited above, the Prophet (peace be upon him) said that reciting the core formula 100 times in a day brings the reward equivalent to freeing ten slaves, one hundred good deeds written, one hundred sins erased, and protection from Shaytan until evening (Sahih Muslim 2691; Sahih al-Bukhari 3293). No other short dhikr in the Sunnah carries quite this combination of rewards.
Guidance and reminder
Kalima Tawheed is also a reminder of who Allah is and who you are in relation to Him. He owns the kingdom; you are a guest. He gives life and death; you do not control either. His hand holds all good; the things you chase elsewhere are downstream of Him. Reading Quran and following the Sunnah become natural once that hierarchy is internalized.
It builds tawakkul (trust in Allah)
If biyadihil khair (“in His hand is all good”) is true, then there is no good in creation that bypasses Allah, and there is no harm in creation that Allah cannot lift. Reciting the 4th Kalima daily trains the heart to send its hopes and fears to Allah first — the textbook definition of tawakkul.
It shields the believer from Shaytan
The same hadith in Sahih Muslim 2691 promises that whoever recites the core formula 100 times in a day will be shielded from Shaytan until evening. The 4th Kalima is therefore not only an act of worship but a daily layer of spiritual protection.
The 4th Kalima in the Quran and Hadith
Although the six Kalimas are not Quranic in the sense of being a single revealed text, every clause of the 4th Kalima is grounded in the Quran and Sunnah. Below are the strongest anchor points.
Surah Al-Ikhlas 112:1–4 — the surah of pure Tawheed
The four short verses of Surah Al-Ikhlas declare Allah’s oneness in the most condensed form in the Quran (paraphrased): “Say: He is Allah, the One. Allah, the Eternal Refuge. He neither begets nor is born. And there is none comparable to Him.” The Prophet (peace be upon him) is reported in Sahih al-Bukhari 5015 to have said that Surah Al-Ikhlas equals one-third of the Quran. The 4th Kalima expands the same theme over a longer recitation.
Ayat al-Kursi (Quran 2:255) — the verse of Allah’s throne
Ayat al-Kursi (paraphrased): “Allah — there is no deity except Him, the Ever-Living, the Sustainer of existence. Neither slumber nor sleep overtakes Him. To Him belongs whatever is in the heavens and whatever is on the earth…” Notice the overlap with the 4th Kalima: la ilaha illallah, Hayyu, ownership of the heavens and earth. The 4th Kalima distills Ayat al-Kursi into a short, repeatable form.
Surah Taha 20:14 and other verses on Tawheed
Allah said to Musa (peace be upon him) in Surah Taha 20:14 (paraphrased): “Indeed, I am Allah. There is no deity except Me, so worship Me and establish prayer for My remembrance.” Two further anchors: Surah Al-An’am 6:102 (paraphrased) — “That is Allah, your Lord; there is no deity except Him, the Creator of all things, so worship Him” — and the warning in Surah An-Nisa 4:48 (paraphrased) that Allah does not forgive shirk.
Sahih Muslim 2691 and Sahih al-Bukhari 3293 — the 100-times-a-day hadith
The hadith narrated by Abu Hurairah (RA) in Sahih Muslim 2691 (Book of Remembrance of Allah, Supplication, Repentance, and Seeking Forgiveness) and in Sahih al-Bukhari 3293 is the primary source for the reward of reciting La ilaha illallahu wahdahu la sharika lahu, lahul mulku wa lahul hamdu, wa huwa ala kulli shay’in Qadeer one hundred times: ten slaves freed in reward, one hundred good deeds, one hundred sins erased, and protection from Shaytan until the evening. This formula is the Prophetic core that the 4th Kalima is built around.
1st Kalima vs 4th Kalima — Key Differences
Many readers ask why both the 1st Kalima (Tayyab) and the 4th Kalima (Tawheed) start with La ilaha illallah. The short answer: the 1st Kalima is the Shahadah-style entry to Islam, while the 4th Kalima is the expanded daily declaration of Allah’s sovereignty.
| Aspect | 1st Kalima (Tayyab) | 4th Kalima (Tawheed) |
|---|---|---|
| Core wording | La ilaha illallah, Muhammadur rasulullah | La ilaha illallahu wahdahu la sharika lahu, lahul mulku wa lahul hamdu… wa huwa ala kulli shay’in Qadeer |
| Length | Two short clauses | Ten clauses describing Allah’s oneness, sovereignty, life, majesty, and power |
| Mentions the Prophet | Yes — affirms Muhammad as Allah’s Messenger | No — focuses entirely on Allah |
| Primary function | Declaration of faith (Shahadah) | Expanded dhikr that affirms Tawheed in detail |
| When most recited | Entering Islam; the call to prayer; the Tashahhud in salah | Post-prayer dhikr; morning & evening adhkar; 100x-a-day reward |
In short: the 1st Kalima makes you a Muslim, the 4th Kalima keeps the meaning of being a Muslim alive on your tongue every day.
Common Pronunciation Mistakes & Tajweed Tips
The 4th Kalima is short enough that a few correctly placed sounds make a clear difference. Here are the recurring slips worth fixing.
- Elongate illallah. The aa sound in il-l-aa-hu is a long vowel (madd). Cutting it short (“illalla”) is the single most common error among new reciters.
- Hold the shaddah on Hayy. Hayyu has a doubled y (shaddah). It is not “Hai-yu”; the tongue presses on the y sound briefly before releasing into the u.
- Make a proper qaf in Qadeer. The Arabic qaf (ق) is produced from the back of the throat, deeper than the English k. Softening it to “Kadeer” changes the word’s root.
- Distinguish kha in khair from ha. Biyadihil khair uses خ (a throaty kha), not ح (a softer breathy ha). The two letters are easy to confuse for non-Arabic speakers.
- Do not run clauses together. Pause briefly after la sharika lahu, after wa lahul hamdu, and after Dhul Jalali wal Ikram. The short pauses let the meanings land.
Teaching the 4th Kalima to Children
For most children, the 4th Kalima is longer than they can swallow in one go. A practical method that works in homes and Sunday schools is the three-stage breakdown.
- Stage 1 — the core (week 1–2). Teach only La ilaha illallahu wahdahu la sharika lahu, lahul mulku wa lahul hamdu, wa huwa ala kulli shay’in Qadeer. This is the Prophetic formula from Sahih Muslim 2691 and is reward-bearing on its own.
- Stage 2 — the middle clauses (week 3–4). Add yuhyi wa yumitu, wa huwa Hayyu la yamutu abadan abada with a one-line explanation: “Allah gives life and death; He is alive forever.”
- Stage 3 — the closing clauses (week 5–6). Add Dhul Jalali wal Ikram, biyadihil khair. Tie each to one short story: who has all the good in His hand, and to whom belongs all majesty and honor.
Pair the memorization with the meaning — ask the child to translate each phrase in their own words at the end of every week. The goal is not just recitation; it is for the meaning of Tawheed to live in the child’s vocabulary by the time the full Kalima is memorised.
All Six Kalimas of Islam
| 1st Kalma -Tayyab- | 2nd Kalma -Shahadat- | 3rd Kalma -Tamjeed- |
| 4th Kalima -Tawheed- | 5th Kalima -Astaghfar- | 6th Kalma -Radde Kufr- |
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the 4th Kalima in Islam?
The 4th Kalima is one of the six Kalimas (Islamic declarations) traditionally taught across Muslim communities, and it is called Kalima Tawheed because it affirms the absolute oneness of Allah. The recitation begins with La ilaha illallahu wahdahu la sharika lahu (“There is no god but Allah, alone, with no partner”) and continues through ten clauses describing Allah’s kingdom, praise, power over life and death, eternity, majesty, and unlimited capability.
What is the meaning of the 4th Kalima in English?
The English meaning is: “There is no god but Allah. He is alone and has no partner. To Him belongs the kingdom and for Him is all praise. He gives life and causes death. And He is ever-living, never dying, for ever and ever. Possessor of Majesty and Honor. In His hand is all good, and He has power over everything.” Each clause closes a door that shirk — associating partners with Allah — could try to open.
Is the 4th Kalima in the Quran or Hadith?
The 4th Kalima is not a single verse of the Quran or a single hadith. Its core phrase — La ilaha illallahu wahdahu la sharika lahu, lahul mulku wa lahul hamdu, wa huwa ala kulli shay’in Qadeer — is the Prophetic dhikr taught in Sahih Muslim 2691 and Sahih al-Bukhari 3293. The additional clauses (about Allah’s eternity, majesty, and the good in His hand) are drawn from Quranic descriptions of Allah such as Ayat al-Kursi and Surah Al-Ikhlas. The compilation as a single Kalima is a later teaching tool.
When should you recite the 4th Kalima?
Strong moments are after the five daily prayers (the core formula is part of the post-prayer Sunnah dhikr), during morning and evening adhkar, during Hajj and Umrah at Safa and Marwah and on the Day of Arafah, after slipping into sinful speech such as gossip or anger, and whenever the heart feels distant from Allah. There is no fixed obligatory time — the goal is to keep the declaration of Tawheed alive on the tongue throughout the day.
How many times should you recite the 4th Kalima daily?
The Prophet (peace be upon him) said in Sahih Muslim 2691 that whoever recites the core formula La ilaha illallahu wahdahu la sharika lahu, lahul mulku wa lahul hamdu, wa huwa ala kulli shay’in Qadeer one hundred times in a day will have the reward of freeing ten slaves, will have one hundred good deeds written for him, will have one hundred sins erased from his record, and will be shielded from Shaytan for that day until evening. One hundred recitations a day is the Sunnah target tied directly to that reward.
What is the difference between the 1st Kalima (Tayyab) and the 4th Kalima (Tauheed)?
The 1st Kalima — Kalima Tayyab — is the Shahadah-style declaration La ilaha illallah, Muhammadur rasulullah: two short clauses affirming the oneness of Allah and the messengership of Muhammad (peace be upon him). It is the entry point to Islam. The 4th Kalima — Kalima Tawheed — expands the first clause into ten phrases that describe Allah’s sovereignty, life, majesty, and power in detail. The 1st makes you a Muslim; the 4th keeps the meaning of being a Muslim alive in daily dhikr.
The 4th Kalima you have mentioned in your website is not Correct. Its not as per hadith. The one our rasoolAllah taught us is simpler.
Lets keep it that way. He knew best, after all.
Sorry I had to mention this. But this can be misleading. Especially for new reverts.
Jazaakum Allah khaire