Basmala

{{pp|small=yes}}  {{Short description|Islamic phrase meaning "In the name of Allah"}} {{Redirect2|In the name of Allah|Bismillah|the film formerly titled ''In the Name of Allah the most merciful''|A Jihad for Love|other uses|Bismillah (disambiguation)}} {{Multiple image | perrow = 2/2/1 | direction = | width = | image1 = Birmingham mushaf Bismillah.png | alt1 = | caption1 = The {{Not a typo|basmala}} on the oldest surviving Quran. Rasm: "{{lang|ar|ٮسم الـله الرحمں الرحىم}}" | image2 = Bismillah Calligraphy19.svg | alt2 = | caption2 = ''Basmala'' calligraphy. | image3 = Bismillah.svg | alt3 = | caption3 = A calligraphic rendition of the ''Basmala''. | image4 = The Bismillah India.jpg | alt4 = | caption4 = Mughal-era calligraphy. | image5 = Bismillah Al-Rahman Al-Rahim-ar.wav | alt5 = | caption5 = Common Arabic pronunciation of the Basmala. | align = Right | total_width = 400 }}

The {{Not a typo|'''Basmala''' or '''Basmalah'''}} ({{langx|ar|بَسْمَلَة|basmalah}}; also known as ''Tasmiya'' by its opening words '''{{Transliteration|ar|ALA-LC|Bi-'sm-illāh}}'''; {{lang|ar|بِسْمِ ٱللهِ}}, "In the name of God") is an Islamic phrase meaning "In the name of God, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful" ({{Langx|ar|بِسْمِ ٱللهِ ٱلرَّحْمَٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيْمِ|links=no}}, {{Transliteration|ar|bi-smi llāhi r-raḥmāni r-raḥīm{{sup|i}}}}).<ref name="EoQ-I">{{cite encyclopedia |author-last=Graham |author-first=W. A. |author-link=William A. Graham (dean) |editor-last=McAuliffe |editor-first=Jane Dammen |title=Basmala |encyclopedia=Encyclopaedia of the Qurʾān |year=2001 |publisher=Brill |location=Leiden |pages=207-212 |volume=I |isbn=90-04-14743-8 |doi=10.1163/1875-3922_q3_EQCOM_00024 |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{cite EBO |title=Basmalah |url=https://www.britannica.com/topic/basmalah}}</ref> It is one of the most important phrases in Islam and is frequently recited by Muslims before performing daily activities and religious practices, including prayer, and at the start of verses (''āyah'') or chapters (''surahs'') of the Qur'an.<ref name="EoQ-I" />

In the Quran, it is recited before each chapter (''surah''), except for the ninth chapter At-Tawbah.<ref name="Ninth sura" group="Notes">See, however, the discussion of the eighth and ninth ''surah''s at Al-Anfal (the eighth ''surah'').</ref><ref name="Ali">{{cite book|last=Ali|first=Kecia|title=Islam: the key concepts|author2=Leaman, Oliver|publisher=Routledge|year=2008|isbn=978-0-415-39638-7|edition=Repr.|location=London}}</ref> Scholarly debates regarding its inclusion in the Qur'anic text reached consensus with the 1924 Cairo Edition, where it was included as the first verse (''āyah'') of ''Al-Fatiha'' and remained an unnumbered line preceding each of the 112 other chapters.<ref name="EoQ-I" />

Historically, the Islamic ''Basmala'' appears to be related to earlier variants of the phrase appearing in Arabian inscriptions dating back to the 5th and 6th centuries.<ref>{{cite book |last1=Al-Jallad |first1=Ahmad |author-link=Ahmad Al-Jallad |editor-last1=Shah |editor-first1=Mustafa |editor-last2=Abdel Haleem |editor-first2=Muhammad |chapter=The Linguistic Landscape of pre-Islamic Arabia: Context for the Qur’an |title=The Oxford Handbook of Qur'anic Studies |publisher=Oxford University Press |date=2020 |pages=123 |doi=10.1093/oxfordhb/9780199698646.013.44}}</ref>

The Basmala is used in constitutions of over half of the countries where Islam is the state religion or more than half of the population follows Islam, usually the first phrase in the preamble, including those of Afghanistan,<ref name="afghanistanconstitution">{{cite web|title=Afghanistan Constitution|url=http://www.servat.unibe.ch/icl/af00000_.html|website=International Constitutional Law Project|access-date=5 January 2016}}</ref> Bahrain,<ref name="bahrainconstitution">{{cite web|title=Constitution of the State of Bahrain|url=http://confinder.richmond.edu/admin/docs/Bahrain.pdf|website=Constitution Finder|publisher=University of Richmond|access-date=5 January 2016|archive-date=16 June 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150616060155/http://confinder.richmond.edu/admin/docs/Bahrain.pdf|url-status=dead}}</ref> Bangladesh,<ref name="bangladeshconstitution">{{cite web|title=The Constitution of the People's Republic of Bangladesh|url=http://bdlaws.minlaw.gov.bd/print_sections_all.php?id=367|website=Laws of Bangladesh|publisher=Ministry of Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs|access-date=5 January 2016}}</ref> Brunei,<ref name="bruneiconstitution">{{cite web|title=Constitution of Brunei Darussalam (as revised 1984)|url=http://confinder.richmond.edu/admin/docs/Brunei1984English.pdf|website=Constitution Finder|publisher=University of Richmond|access-date=5 January 2016|archive-date=4 March 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304102526/http://confinder.richmond.edu/admin/docs/Brunei1984English.pdf|url-status=dead}}</ref> Egypt,<ref name="egyptconstitution">{{cite web|title=Constitution of the Arab Republic of Egypt 2014|url=http://www.sis.gov.eg/Newvr/Dustor-en001.pdf|website=Egypt State Information Service|access-date=5 January 2016}}</ref> Iran,<ref name="iranconstitution">{{cite web|title=Constitution of the Islamic Republic of Iran|url=http://www.servat.unibe.ch/icl/ir00000_.html|website=International Constitutional Law Project|access-date=5 January 2016}}</ref> Iraq,<ref name="iraqconstitution">{{cite web|title=Iraqi Constitution|url=http://www.iraqinationality.gov.iq/attach/iraqi_constitution.pdf|website=Republic of Iran - Ministry of Interior - General Directorate of Nationality|access-date=5 January 2016|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161128152712/http://www.iraqinationality.gov.iq/attach/iraqi_constitution.pdf|archive-date=28 November 2016}}</ref> Kuwait,<ref name="kuwaitconstitution">{{cite web|title=Kuwait Constitution|url=http://www.servat.unibe.ch/icl/ku00000_.html|website=International Constitutional Law Project|access-date=5 January 2016}}</ref> Libya,<ref name="libyaconstitution">{{cite web|title=Libya's Constitution of 2011|url=https://www.constituteproject.org/constitution/Libya_2011.pdf|website=Constitute Project|access-date=5 January 2016}}</ref> Maldives,<ref name="maldivesconstitution">{{cite web|title=Constitution of the Republic of Maldives 2008|url=http://www.maldivesinfo.gov.mv/home/upload/downloads/Compilation.pdf|website=Republic of Maldives Ministry of Tourism|access-date=5 January 2016}}</ref> Pakistan,<ref name="pakistanconstitution">{{cite web|title=The Constitution of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan|url=http://www.na.gov.pk/uploads/documents/1333523681_951.pdf|website=National Assembly of Pakistan|access-date=5 January 2016}}</ref> Saudi Arabia,<ref name="Saudiconstitution">{{cite web|title=The Constitution of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia|url=https://www.constituteproject.org/constitution/Saudi_Arabia_2005.pdf|website=Constitute Project|access-date=}}</ref> Tunisia,<ref name="tunisiaconstitution">{{cite web|title=The Constitution of the Republic of Tunisia|url=http://www.venice.coe.int/files/Constitution%20TUN%20-%2027012014.pdf|website=Venice Commission|publisher=Council of Europe|access-date=5 January 2016}}</ref> and the United Arab Emirates.<ref name="uaeconstitution">{{cite web|title=Constitution of the United Arab Emirates|url=http://www.refworld.org/pdfid/48eca8132.pdf|website=Refworld The Leader in Refugee Decision Support|publisher=United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees|access-date=5 January 2016}}</ref>

== Etymology == {{wikt}} thumb|left|upright|Evolution of writing the basmala (9th - 11th century) The traditional name for the phrase in Classical Arabic was '''tasmiyah'''. Other common phrases in Islam were also given their own names based on form 2 verbal nouns, including the tasbih ("Subhān Allāh").

The word ''basmala'' was derived from a slightly unusual procedure, portmanteau: the first four pronounced consonants of the phrase beginning ''bismi llāhi...'' were used to create a new quadriliteral root:<ref name="Written Language' 1965 p. 263">''A New Arabic Grammar of the Written Language'' by J.A. Haywood and H.M. Nahmad (London: Lund Humphreys, 1965), {{ISBN|0-85331-585-X}}, p. 263.</ref> b-s-m-l ({{lang|ar|ب-س-م-ل}}). This quadriliteral root was used to derive the noun ''basmala'' and its related verb forms, meaning "to recite the ''basmala''". The method of coining a quadriliteral name from the consonants of multiple words in a phrase is also used to create ''hamdala'' for Alhamdulillah, instead of the formal form ''tahmid''.<ref name="Written Language' 1965 p. 263"/> A similar portmanteau is the source of the term for the hawqala.

== Use and significance == {{Allah|Expressions and phrase}} [[File:British Museum (53537172338).jpg|thumb|upright|Marble tombstone with carved basmala, Ashmunein, May 967]]

According to Lane, ''{{Transliteration|ar|DIN|ar-raḥmān}}'' has the more intensive meaning, taken to include as objects of "sympathy" both the believer and the unbeliever, and may therefore be rendered as "the Compassionate"; ''{{Transliteration|ar|DIN|ar-raḥīm}}'', on the other hand, is taken to include as objects the believer in particular, may be rendered as "the Merciful" (considered as expressive of a constant attribute).

In the Qur'an, the ''Basmala'', is usually numbered as the first verse of the first ''sura'', but, according to the view adopted by Al-Tabari, it precedes the first verse. Apart from the ninth ''sura'' ("At-Tawba"), Al-Qurtubi reported that the correct view is that the Basmala ignored at the beginning of At-Tawba because Gabriel did not refer to the ''Basmala'' in this ''surah.'' Another view says that the Islamic prophet Muhammad died before giving a clarification if ''At-Tawba'' is part of Quran 8 (''al-ʾanfāl'') or not.<ref>{{Cite web|title=The reason behind that At-Tawbah is the only Surah without Basmala|url=https://quranonline.net/at-taubah/|access-date=2020-06-23|website=quranonline.net|date=16 April 2019}}</ref><ref group="Notes" name="Ninth sura"/> It occurs at the beginning of each subsequent ''sura'' of the Qur'an and is usually not numbered as a verse except at its first appearance at the start of the first ''sura''. The ''Basmala'' occurs as part of a ''sura'''s text in verse 30 of the 27th ''sura'' ("An-Naml"), where it prefaces a letter from Sulayman to Bilqis, the Queen of Sheba.

The ''Basmala'' is used extensively in everyday Muslim life, said as the opening of each action in order to receive blessing from God.<ref>{{cite web |title=Islamic-Dictionary.com Definition |url=http://www.islamic-dictionary.com/index.php?word=bismillah |access-date=2011-11-18 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151208061528/http://www.islamic-dictionary.com/index.php?word=bismillah |archive-date=2015-12-08 |url-status=dead }}</ref> Reciting the ''Basmala'' is a necessary requirement in the preparation of halal food.

In the Indian subcontinent, a Bismillah ceremony is held for a child's initiation into Islam.

The three definite nouns of the Basmala—''Allah'', ''ar-Rahman'' and ''ar-Rahim''—correspond to the first three of the traditional 99 names of God in Islam. Both ''ar-Rahman'' and ''ar-Rahim'' are from the same triliteral root R-Ḥ-M, "to feel sympathy, or pity".

Around 1980, IRIB used it before starting their newscasts.

There are several hadiths encouraging Muslims to recite it before eating and drinking. For example:

<blockquote>Jabir reported: I heard Messenger of Allah (saw) saying, "If a person mentions the Name of Allah upon entering his house or eating, Satan says, addressing his followers: 'You will find nowhere to spend the night and no dinner.' But if he enters without mentioning the Name of Allah, Satan says (to his followers); 'You have found (a place) to spend the night in,' and if he does not mention the Name of Allah at the time of eating, Satan says: 'You have found (a place) to spend the night in as well as food.'" :— From Al Bukhari and Muslim</blockquote>

<blockquote>Aisha reported: "The Prophet said, "When any of you wants to eat, he should mention the Name of God in the beginning (Bismillah). If he forgets to do it in the beginning, he should say ''Bismillah awwalahu wa akhirahu'' (I begin with the Name of God at the beginning and at the end)". :— From At-Tirmidhi and Abu Dawud</blockquote>

<blockquote>Umaiyyah bin Makshi reported: "The Prophet was sitting while a man was eating food. That man did not mention the Name of God till only a morsel of food was left. When he raised it to his mouth, he said, ''Bismillah awwalahu wa akhirahu''. The Prophet smiled at this and said, "Satan had been eating with him but when he mentioned the Name of God, Satan vomited all that was in his stomach". :— From Abu Dawud and Al-Nasa'i</blockquote>

<blockquote>Wahshi bin Harb reported: "Some of the Sahaba of the Prophet said, 'We eat but are not satisfied.' He said, 'Perhaps you eat separately.' The Sahaba replied in the affirmative. He then said, 'Eat together and mention the Name of God over your food. It will be blessed for you.' :— From Abu Dawood</blockquote>

A tradition ascribed to Muhammad states:<ref name="burckhardt">Titus Burckhardt (2008) [1959]. ''[https://books.google.com/books?id=bIlj7hvciXQC An Introduction to Sufi Doctrine]''. World Wisdom Inc., Bloomington IN, USA. {{ISBN|1933316500}}. p. 36.</ref>

<blockquote>All that is contained in the revealed books is to be found in the Qur’an and all that is contained in the Qur’an is summed up in the surat al-fatihah ("The opening one") while this is in its turn contained in the formula Bismillahi-r-Rahmani-r-Rahim ("In the name of God, the Compassionate, the Merciful").</blockquote>

A tradition ascribed to Imam Ali states:<ref name="burckhardt" />

<blockquote>The basmalah is in essence contained in the first letter, Ba, and this again in its diacritical point, which thus symbolizes principal Unity.</blockquote>

=== Tafsir === thumb|''Basmala'' calligraphy

In a commentary on the Basmala in his Tafsir al-Tabari, al-Tabari writes: :"The Messenger of Allah (the peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said that Jesus was handed by his mother Mary over to a school in order that he might be taught. [The teacher] said to him: 'Write "Bism (In the name of)".' And Jesus said to him: 'What is "Bism"?' The teacher said: 'I do not know.' Jesus said: 'The "Ba" is Baha’u'llah (the glory of Allah), the "Sin" is His Sana’ (radiance), and the "Mim" is His Mamlakah (sovereignty)."<ref>{{Cite book |last = Momen |first = M. |year = 2000 |title = Islam and the Bahá'í Faith |publisher = George Ronald |place = Oxford, UK |isbn = 0-85398-446-8 |page = 242}} In note 330 on page 274 of the same book Dr. Momen states the following: "At-Tabarí, ''Jámi’-al-Bayán'', vol. 1, p.40. Some of the abbreviated editions of this work (such as the Mu’assasah ar-Risálah, Beirut, 1994 edition) omit this passage as does the translation by J. Cooper (Oxford University Press, 1987). Ibn Kathír records this tradition, ''Tafsír'', vol. 1, p. 17. As-Suyútí in ''ad-Durr al-Manthúr'', vol. 1, p. 8, also records this tradition and gives a list of other scholars who have cited it including Abú Na’ím al-Isfahání in ''Hilyat al-Awliya’'' and Ibn ‘Asákir in ''Taríkh Dimashq''."</ref>

== Numerology == thumb|left|upright|19th century basmala on a leaf === Gematria === According to the standard Abjadi system of numerology, the total value of the letters of the Islamic Basmala, i.e. the phrase — is 786.<ref name="ox">Shah & Haleem (eds.), ''The Oxford Handbook of Qur'anic Studies'', Oxford University Press, 2020, pp581, 587-88</ref> This number has therefore acquired a significance in folk Islam and Near Eastern folk magic and also appears in many instances of pop-culture, such as its appearance in the 2006 song '786 All is War' by the band Fun-Da-Mental.<ref name="ox" /> A recommendation of reciting the basmala 786 times in sequence is recorded in Al-Buni. Sündermann (2006) reports that a contemporary "spiritual healer" from Syria recommends the recitation of the basmala 786 times over a cup of water, which is then to be ingested as medicine.<ref>Katja Sündermann, ''Spirituelle Heiler im modernen Syrien: Berufsbild und Selbstverständnis - Wissen und Praxis'', Hans Schiler, 2006, [https://books.google.com/books?id=qNE3N6vbBPsC&pg=PA371 p. 371].</ref> 786 as a number, however, does not appear in Quran or Hadith.<ref>{{cite web |title=The Curious Tale of 786 and its Spiritual Connection in Islam |url=https://ummah.com/the-curious-tale-of-786-and-its-spiritual-connection-in-islam/ |website=Ummah.com |access-date=23 February 2025 |date=24 January 2024}}</ref>

It has also become common to abbreviate the phrase by typing "786", especially in online communication, and especially among South Asian Muslims.{{citation needed|date=January 2015}} License plates, phone numbers, and serial numbers on currency containing 786 have garnered a particularly high price in South Asia and Dubai.<ref>{{cite web |first=Sarika |last=G |url=https://alajadi.com/muslim-religion-respect-number-786/ |title=Why does the Muslim religion respect the number 786? |access-date=23 February 2025}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |first=Mizbahuddin |last=Mirza |url=https://alajadi.com/muslim-religion-respect-number-786/ |title=The Myth of 786 |date=June 2024 |access-date=23 February 2025}}</ref> Businesses in Myanmar have displayed 786 to indicate that they are owned by Muslims.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.theatlantic.com/international/archive/2013/04/969-the-strange-numerological-basis-for-burmas-religious-violence/274816/ |title=969: The Strange Numerological Basis for Burma's Religious Violence |first=Alex |last=Bookbinder |publisher=The Atlantic |date=9 April 2013 |access-date=23 February 2025}}</ref>

The 19 Arabic letters of the Basmala's tetrad of words (Bism has 3, Allah has 4, al-Rahman has 6, al-Rahim has 6) also align with the numerical culture of the Báb's revelation, whose Badíʿ calendar outlined in the Kitábu'l-Asmáʼ serves as the numerical basis of the Baháʼí calendar consisting of 19 divisions of 19 days each, which can be thematically grouped in alignment with the 3:4:6:6 tetrad pattern.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://bahai-library.com/mihrshahi_wondrous_new_day |title=A Wondrous New Day: The Numerology of Creation and 'All Things' in the Badí' Calendar |first=Robin |last=Mihrshahi |date=2013 |access-date=10 October 2025}}</ref>

== Unicode == In Unicode, the Basmala is encoded as one ligature at code point U+FDFD {{font|font=Arial|{{lang|ar|﷽}}}} in the Arabic Presentation Forms-A block.

{| class="wikitable" |- !colspan="6"|Unicode |- !HTML entity references !Character !Name !Transcription !Arabic !English |- |<code>&#65021;</code><code>&#xFDFD;</code> |{{huge|﷽}} |Arabic ligature BISMILLAH AR-RAHMAN AR-RAHEEM |Bi-smi llāhi r-raḥmāni r-raḥīm |{{lang|ar|بسم اللّٰه الرحمن الرحيم}} |In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful |}

==Gallery== <gallery> File:Bismillah Calligraphy 39.svg|Mirrored basmala calligraphy File:Inscribed wall slab from the Great Mosque of al-Nuri in Mosul, Iraq, 6th century AH. Iraq Museum.jpg|Marble carved Basmala, Great Mosque of al-Nuri, Mosul, 12th century File:Khalili Collection Islamic Art mxd 0056.1.jpg|Agate inkpot with basmala, 10th century File:Karahisari.jpg|Ahmed Karahisari calligraphy, 1550 File:Basmala prominant allah.jpg|Basmala calligraphy, 2002 File:Sultan Hasan Bismillah.JPG|Basmala calligraphy of Mosque-Madrasa of Sultan Hasan's iwan, 1356-1363 File:سوره حمد.jpg|Carved Basmala Calligraphy from Al-Abbas Shrine Tile with bismillah Louvre AD28001a.jpg|Ilkhanid lustreware tile, 13th century File:Foliated Calligraphy 'Basmala', signed Malik Muhammad Qazvini, dated 1250 AH.jpg|Calligraphy of Malik Muhammad Qazvini, Qajar Iran, 1835 File:Bismillah Calligraphy 32.svg|Looping Basmala calligraphy File:Basmalla.jpg|Basmala calligraphy stamp File:Bismillah Calligraphy 43.svg|Basmala calligraphy flanked by al-Rahman and a mirrored al-Raheem. File:Bismillah Calligraphy 48.svg|Knotted Kufic Basmala calligraphy File:Bismillah Calligraphy 56.svg|Triangular Basmala calligraphy File:Bismillah Calligraphy14.svg|Basmala calligraphy </gallery>

== See also == {{Portal|Islam}} * ''Besiyata Dishmaya'' * Bshuma in Mandaeism * Glossary of Islam * ''Inshallah'' * ''Shahada'' * List of Christian terms in Arabic

== Notes == {{Reflist|group="Notes"}}

== References == {{Reflist}}

==Sources== *{{cite encyclopedia|last1=Carra de Vaux|first1=Bernard|author1-link=Bernard Carra de Vaux|last2=Gardet|first2=Louis|author2-link=Louis Gardet|date=1960–2007|title=Basmala|editor1-last=Bearman|editor1-first=P.|editor1-link=Peri Bearman|editor2-last=Bianquis|editor2-first=Th.|editor2-link=Thierry Bianquis|editor3-last=Bosworth|editor3-first=C.E.|editor3-link=Clifford Edmund Bosworth|editor4-last=van Donzel|editor4-first=E.|editor4-link=Emeri Johannes van Donzel|editor5-last=Heinrichs|editor5-first=W.P.|editor5-link=Wolfhart Heinrichs|encyclopedia=Encyclopaedia of Islam, Second Edition|doi=10.1163/1573-3912_islam_COM_0102}} *{{cite encyclopedia|last1=Graham|first1=William A.|author1-link=William A. Graham (dean)|date=2010|title=Basmala|editor1-last=Fleet|editor1-first=Kate|editor2-last=Krämer|editor2-first=Gudrun|editor2-link=Gudrun Krämer|editor3-last=Matringe|editor3-first=Denis|editor4-last=Nawas|editor4-first=John|editor5-last=Rowson|editor5-first=Everett|editor5-link=Everett K. Rowson|encyclopedia=Encyclopaedia of Islam, Three|doi=10.1163/1573-3912_ei3_COM_23497}}

== External links == {{Commons category|Basmala}} *[http://mason.gmu.edu/~nesfaha2/Album/Besmellah/index.html Bismillah Samples], a collection of ''bismillah'' art-forms. *[https://web.archive.org/web/20070319232106/http://www.renaissance.com.pk/aprqur96.html Bismallah] in ''Tadabbur-i-Qur'an'' (archived). *[http://wahiduddin.net/words/bismillah.htm Meaning of Bismillah] *[http://www.masjidtucson.org/downloads/bp.pdf Beyond Probability], God's Message in Mathematics. Series 1: The Opening Statement of the Quran (The Basmalah). *[http://taqwa.sg/v/articles/the-blessed-basmala/ The Blessed Basmala] – Seeking a healing cure by means of Basmala, the pure {{Islamic prayer}} {{Islamic calligraphy}} {{Authority control}}

Category:Islamic terminology Category:Arabic words and phrases Category:Al-Fatiha Category:Quranic verses Category:Arabic calligraphy Category:Religious formulas Category:Dhikr