Second Kalima Shahadat: Meaning and Evidence

Learn the Second Kalima Shahadat with complete Arabic, pronunciation and meaning, and understand its authentic Hadith evidence and testimony of faith.

Second Kalima — Shahadat

Arabic:

أَشْهَدُ أَنْ لَا إِلَٰهَ إِلَّا اللَّهُ وَحْدَهُ لَا شَرِيكَ لَهُ، وَأَشْهَدُ أَنَّ مُحَمَّدًا عَبْدُهُ وَرَسُولُهُ

Transliteration:

Ashhadu an la ilaha illallahu wahdahu la sharika lahu, wa ashhadu anna Muhammadan ‘abduhu wa rasuluhu.

Meaning:

I testify that there is no deity worthy of worship except Allah alone, without partner, and I testify that Muhammad is His servant and Messenger.

The Second Kalima expresses the two testimonies at the foundation of Islam. It declares Allah’s exclusive right to worship and confirms the servanthood and messengership of Muhammad ﷺ. The words should be learned accurately, understood clearly and affirmed sincerely.

Authentic Hadith Evidence

The complete wording above is preserved in Sahih Muslim 234b. The narration describes remembrance after completing wudu and includes:

أَشْهَدُ أَنْ لَا إِلَٰهَ إِلَّا اللَّهُ وَحْدَهُ لَا شَرِيكَ لَهُ، وَأَشْهَدُ أَنَّ مُحَمَّدًا عَبْدُهُ وَرَسُولُهُ

Sahih Muslim 234a records a closely related version and mentions the opening of the eight gates of Paradise for the person who completes wudu well and recites the testimony. Sahih Muslim 16c and Sahih al-Bukhari 8 establish the two-part testimony as the first of Islam’s five pillars.

This means the content is not based merely on a regional memorisation book. The exact expanded testimony has authentic Hadith support, even though its educational label “Second Kalima Shahadat” belongs to the later Six Kalimas teaching arrangement.

WHAT DOES “ASHHADU” MEAN?

Ashhadu means “I testify” or “I bear witness.” A testimony is stronger than repeating information without commitment. It expresses knowledge, conviction and an honest declaration.

The testimony is not directed only to other people. The believer acknowledges before Allah the central truths of faith. The words should therefore not be reduced to a sound exercise. Understanding and sincerity belong alongside correct pronunciation.

THE FIRST TESTIMONY: ALLAH ALONE

The phrase begins:

أَشْهَدُ أَنْ لَا إِلَٰهَ إِلَّا اللَّهُ

Ashhadu an la ilaha illallah.

I testify that there is no deity worthy of worship except Allah.

This is Tawhid. It denies the right of every created thing to receive worship and affirms that worship belongs exclusively to Allah. Prayer, ultimate supplication, sacrifice and acts of devotion are directed to Him alone.

The explanatory translation “no deity worthy of worship except Allah” is clearer than a vague translation that might overlook the issue of worship. People may call many things gods, but none of them possesses a rightful claim to worship.

“WAHDAHU LA SHARIKA LAHU”

The next words strengthen the declaration:

وَحْدَهُ لَا شَرِيكَ لَهُ

Wahdahu la sharika lahu.

He is One, without partner.

“Wahdahu” emphasises Allah alone. “La sharika lahu” denies every partner with Him. Allah has no partner in His divinity or right to worship. This phrase was missing from the previous short database text, so the lesson now uses the complete wording recorded in Sahih Muslim 234b.

The statement affects worship in practice. A believer does not direct acts of worship to Allah and also assign a share to another being. Tawhid requires sincerity, while repentance provides the way back when a person falls into error.

THE SECOND TESTIMONY: SERVANT AND MESSENGER

The second part says:

وَأَشْهَدُ أَنَّ مُحَمَّدًا عَبْدُهُ وَرَسُولُهُ

Wa ashhadu anna Muhammadan ‘abduhu wa rasuluhu.

And I testify that Muhammad is His servant and Messenger.

The word “‘abduhu”—His servant—protects belief from exaggeration. Muhammad ﷺ is the most honoured Messenger, but he is a servant of Allah and is not worshipped. “Wa rasuluhu”—and His Messenger—protects belief from neglect: he was chosen and sent by Allah, so his authentic message must be believed and followed.

These two descriptions create the correct balance. Muslims love, respect and follow the Prophet ﷺ without giving him any share of worship. They also avoid treating his guidance as optional or unimportant.

Quranic Foundations

Quran 3:18 declares Allah’s testimony that there is no deity worthy of worship except Him and mentions the testimony of the angels and people of knowledge. Quran 47:19 commands knowledge that there is no deity except Allah.

Quran 48:29 begins with “Muhammadur-Rasulullah”—Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah. Although the complete Second Kalima is not presented under that numbered title in one Quran verse, its essential declarations are firmly Quranic.

AFTER WUDU: THE REPORTED OCCASION

Sahih Muslim 234a–b places this testimony after a person completes wudu properly. This provides a practical time to recite and remember it. Purification of the limbs is followed by a declaration of Tawhid and Prophetic faith.

Students should not misunderstand this context to mean that the testimony can only be said after wudu. It is the foundation of faith and may be remembered at other times. However, reciting the established wording after wudu is a specific Sunnah occasion supported by the narration.

When teaching the reported reward, preserve the full context: completing wudu well, reciting the testimony and the opening of the eight gates of Paradise mentioned in the narration. Avoid turning the words into a mechanical guarantee while ignoring faith and worship.

How To Pronounce The Second Kalima

Divide it into manageable sections:

Ash-ha-du an | laa i-laa-ha il-lal-laah | wah-da-hoo laa sha-ree-ka la-hoo | wa ash-ha-du an-na | Mu-ham-ma-dan ‘ab-du-hoo | wa ra-soo-loo-hoo

Pronounce the h in “ashhadu” clearly. Keep the long aa sounds in “la ilaha” and “la sharika.” “Muhammadan” contains a doubled meem. The Arabic letter ‘ayn at the beginning of “‘abduhu” has no exact English equivalent, so learn it by listening to a qualified teacher.

In connected recitation, grammatical endings may be heard. When pausing, some final vowels become less noticeable. Do not let minor transliteration differences distract from learning the correct Arabic text.

First Kalima And Second Kalima

The First Kalima states:

لَا إِلَٰهَ إِلَّا اللَّهُ، مُحَمَّدٌ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ

The Second Kalima changes the form into personal testimony—“I testify”—and includes the expanded phrases “alone, without partner” and “His servant and Messenger.”

Their meanings reinforce one another, but students should learn each wording as written rather than mixing portions accidentally. Both lessons should lead to understanding of Tawhid and sincere following of the Messenger ﷺ.

The Six Kalimas Teaching Framework

The title “Second Kalima Shahadat” is part of a widely used South Asian educational arrangement. Quran and Hadith do not present all six Kalimas together as a numbered collection in this order.

This clarification does not weaken the authentic Shahadah. The wording taught here is directly supported by Sahih Muslim 234b. Accurate Islamic education distinguishes between the authentic source of a phrase and the later method used to organise it for students.

Teaching Children

Teach the Second Kalima in three parts:

1. Ashhadu an la ilaha illallah.
2. Wahdahu la sharika lahu.
3. Wa ashhadu anna Muhammadan ‘abduhu wa rasuluhu.

Explain each part in simple language: only Allah deserves worship; Allah has no partner; Muhammad ﷺ is Allah’s servant and Messenger. Ask the child to explain the meaning rather than only repeating sounds.

Practise calmly after wudu so the words become connected to a real Sunnah occasion. Correct one pronunciation issue at a time and avoid embarrassing the learner.

Common Mistakes To Avoid

Do not omit “wahdahu la sharika lahu” when teaching this complete version.

Do not translate “ilah” only as a powerful being; the phrase concerns the exclusive right to worship.

Do not omit “‘abduhu.” Calling Muhammad ﷺ Allah’s servant and Messenger preserves the correct balance between honour and Tawhid.

Do not present the Six Kalimas numbering itself as a single Prophetic narration. Cite the actual evidence for each text.

Do not memorise transliteration permanently while ignoring Arabic. Use transliteration only until the original wording becomes familiar.

A Seven-Day Learning Plan

Day 1: Memorise “Ashhadu an la ilaha illallah.”
Day 2: Learn its meaning.
Day 3: Add “wahdahu la sharika lahu.”
Day 4: Memorise the second testimony.
Day 5: Recite the complete Arabic slowly.
Day 6: Read Sahih Muslim 234b with translation.
Day 7: Recite it after wudu and explain all three sections.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is the complete wording authentic?
Yes. The expanded wording with “wahdahu la sharika lahu” is recorded in Sahih Muslim 234b.

Why does it call Muhammad ﷺ Allah’s servant?
Servanthood is an honour and confirms that the Prophet ﷺ worshipped Allah; he is not an object of worship.

Is the Second Kalima only for after wudu?
No. The testimony is foundational to faith, but Sahih Muslim reports after wudu as a specific occasion for this wording.

Are all Six Kalimas one Hadith?
No. The numbered arrangement is an educational framework. This lesson separately identifies the authentic evidence for the Second Kalima wording.

Authentic References

Complete expanded testimony after wudu: Sahih Muslim 234b.
Related narration and reward after wudu: Sahih Muslim 234a.
The testimony among the five pillars: Sahih Muslim 16c and Sahih al-Bukhari 8.
Quranic testimony of Tawhid: Quran 3:18 and Quran 47:19.
Muhammad is Allah’s Messenger: Quran 48:29.

Learn the testimony accurately, understand Allah’s exclusive right to worship, and follow His servant and Messenger Muhammad ﷺ with sincerity and balance.