Outline
- Introduction
- Understanding Bismillah
- The Significance of Bismillah
- Benefits of Bismillah
- 23 Instances We Should Say Bismillah
- Conclusion
Introduction
Bismillah… Alhamdulillah… Infinite praise and thanks are due to the Almighty Allah, who has bestowed upon us countless blessings. Complete blessings and salutations go to the most grateful Prophet, Sayyidinā Muhammad, his household, his companions, and all those who follow his guided path till the end of time.
But did you know that there are 23 (or more) instances where and when you should read or Say bismillah?
In this article, I’m sharing with you 23 instances when the Muslim is either instructed or encouraged to say ‘bismillah.”
But before that, let’s review and refresh our understanding of ‘Bismillah,’ and also shed light on its significance.
Understanding Bismillah
Bismillah (bism Allah) or more accurately ‘basmalah’ is the act of saying ”bismillāh.” It’s an Arabic sentence that means “I start (or I do) in the name of Allah.
The complete form of bismillāh is “bismillāh al-raḥmān al-raḥīm.” And it means, “I start (or I do) in name of Allah, the Compassionate, the Beneficent.”
The Significance of Bismillah
Bismillah is significant that not only every Surah in the Qur’an starts with bismillah, but rather, the first revelation in Islam was a conman to read in the name of Allah.
Benefits of Bismillah
The benefits you reap from observing ‘bismillah’ are countless. Following are a few:
- Bismillah refreshes and reaffirms your faith, and the concept of seeking help and assistance from Allah alone, the Compassionate, the Merciful.
- Bismillah purifies the creed of the Muslim’. As one can’t imagine that someone who sincerely adheres to the concept of ‘bismillah’ and then goes around seeking help from sorcerers and fortune-tellers and practising blackmagic.
- ‘Bismillah’ is a form of dhikr. And dhikr is one of the righteous deeds that gets you closer to Allah, and earns you greater rewards from him.
- Observing ‘bismillah’ brings blessing to you and every endeavour, in which you mention the name of Allah.
- Observing ‘bismillah’ keeps you under the protection of Allah, as you’ll find out in the article below. So, happy reading!
23 Instances We Should Say Bismillah
The following instances are when we are encouraged to say bismillah. While bismillah is included in each instance, some instances have additional wording to complete it.
#01: When Reading the Qur’an
When you start to read the Qur’an, after saying your isti’ādhah (seeking refuge from the Devil), you will have to read bismillah, especially if it’s at the beginning of a Surah.
#02: When Eating or Drinking
Imām al-Bukhārī and Muslim report from the narration of ‘Umar ibn Abī Salamah raḍiya Allāhu ‘anhumā, who says that when he was a child he used to eat picking food from all corners of the bowl, and the Prophet ṣallā Allāhu ‘alayhi wa sallam taught him saying:
يَا غُلامُ سَمِّ اللَّهَ، وَكُلْ بِيَمِينِكَ، وَكُلْ مِمَّا يَلِيكَ.ـ
“Mention Allah’s Name (i.e., say Bismillah before starting eating), eat with your right hand, and eat from what is near you.”
#03: When Entering the House
Imām Muslim reports from the narration of Sayyidunā Jābir ibn ‘Abdillāh raḍiya Allāhu ‘anhu, that the Prophet ṣallā Allāhu ‘alayhi wa sallam says:
إِذَا دَخَلَ الرَّجُلُ بَيْتَهُ فَذَكَرَ اللَّهَ عِنْدَ دُخُولِهِ، وَعِنْدَ طَعَامِهِ، قَالَ الشَّيْطَانُ: لا مَبِيتَ لَكُمْ وَلا عَشَاءَ، وَإِذَا دَخَلَ فَلَمْ يَذْكُرْ اللَّهَ عِنْدَ دُخُولِهِ، قَالَ الشَّيْطَانُ: أَدْرَكْتُمْ الْمَبِيتَ، وَإِذَا لَمْ يَذْكُرْ اللَّهَ عِنْدَ طَعَامِهِ، قَالَ: أَدْرَكْتُمْ الْمَبِيتَ وَالْعَشَاءَ.ـ
“When a man enters his house and mentions Allah’s name upon entering and on his food, the devil says: You have no place to spend the night and no evening meal; but when he enters without mentioning Allah’s name upon entering, the devil says: You have found a place to spend the night, and when he does not mention Allah’s name at his food, he says: You have found a place to spend the night and an evening meal.”
#04: When Leaving the House
Imām al-Tirmidhī reports from the narration of Sayyidunā Anas ibn Mālik raḍiya Allāhu ‘anhu, that the Prophet ṣallā Allāhu ‘alayhi wa sallam says: “Whoever says the following du’a when he goes out of his house it will be said to him: ‘You have been sufficed and protected,’ and Satan will become distant from him.” And the du’a is:
بِسْمِ اللَّهِ، تَوَكَّلْتُ عَلَى اللَّهِ، لا حَوْلَ وَلا قُوَّةَ إِلا بِاللَّهِ.ـ
“In the Name of Allah, I place my trust in Allah, there is no might or power except by Allah.”
Furthermore, Imām al-Tirmidhī also reports from the narration of Sayyidatunā Ummu Salamah raḍiya Allāhu ‘anhā, who said that: “When the Prophet left home, he would say the following du’a:
بِسْمِ اللَّهِ تَوَكَّلْتُ عَلَى اللَّهِ اللَّهُمَّ إِنَّا نَعُوذُ بِكَ مِنْ أَنْ نَزِلَّ أَوْ نَضِلَّ أَوْ نَظْلِمَ أَوْ نُظْلَمَ أَوْ نَجْهَلَ أَوْ يُجْهَلَ عَلَيْنَا.ـ
“In the Name of Allah, I place my trust in Allah. O Allah! We seek refuge in You from slipping unintentionally or becoming misguided, or committing oppression or being oppressed, or acting ignorantly or being treated ignorantly.”
#05: When Closing Doors and Covers
Imām al-Bukhārī and Muslim report from the narration of Sayyidunā Jābir ibn Abdillāh raḍiya Allāhu ‘anhu, that the Prophet ṣallā Allāhu ‘alayhi wa sallam says:
إِذَا كَانَ جُنْحُ اللَّيْلِ أَوْ أَمْسَيْتُمْ فَكُفُّوا صِبْيَانَكُمْ فَإِنَّ الشَّيْطَانَ يَنْتَشِرُ حِينَئِذٍ فَإِذَا ذَهَبَ سَاعَةٌ مِنْ اللَّيْلِ فَخَلُّوهُمْ، وَأَغْلِقُوا الأَبْوَابَ وَاذْكُرُوا اسْمَ اللَّهِ فَإِنَّ الشَّيْطَانَ لا يَفْتَحُ بَابًا مُغْلَقًا، وَأَوْكُوا قِرَبَكُمْ وَاذْكُرُوا اسْمَ اللَّهِ، وَخَمِّرُوا آنِيَتَكُمْ وَاذْكُرُوا اسْمَ اللَّهِ وَلَوْ أَنْ تَعْرُضُوا عَلَيْهَا شَيْئًا، وَأَطْفِئُوا مَصَابِيحَكُمْ.ـ
“When night falls, restrain your children (from going out) because at such time the devils spread about. After a period of time has passed, let them be. Shut your doors and mention Allah’s name, for verily the devil does not open a shut door, tie up your water-skins and mention Allah’s name, cover your vessels with anything and mention Allah’s name and put out your lamps.”
#06: When Switching Off a Light/Lamp
The ḥadīth in the above section also encourages us to say ‘Bismillah’ anytime we switch off a light a turn off the lamp.
#07: When Taking Ablution
In a ḥadīth reported by Imām ibn Mājah from the narration of Sayyidunā Abū Hurayrah raḍiya Allāhu ‘anhu, the Prophet ṣallā Allāhu ‘alayhi wa sallam says:
لا صَلاةَ لِمَنْ لا وُضُوءَ لَهُ، وَلا وُضُوءَ لِمَنْ لَمْ يَذْكُرْ اسْمَ اللَّهِ عَلَيْهِ.ـ
“The prayer of a person who does not perform ablution is not valid, and the ablution of a person who does not mention the name of Allah (in the beginning) is not valid.”
#08 and 09: When Entering the Mosque and Exiting
Imām Ibn Mājah reports from the narration of Sayyidatunā Fāṭimah raḍiya Allāhu ‘anhā, who said, that, “Whenever the Prophet ṣallā Allāhu ‘alayhi wa sallam entered the mosque he would say” the following du’a
بِسْمِ اللَّهِ وَالسَّلامُ عَلَى رَسُولِ اللَّهِ اللَّهُمَّ اغْفِرْ لِي ذُنُوبِي وَافْتَحْ لِي أَبْوَابَ رَحْمَتِكَ.ـ
“In the Name of Allah, and peace be upon the Messenger of Allah. O Allah, forgive me my sins and open for me the gates of Your mercy.”
“And when he exited from it, he would say:
بِسْمِ اللَّهِ وَالسَّلامُ عَلَى رَسُولِ اللَّهِ اللَّهُمَّ اغْفِرْ لِي ذُنُوبِي وَافْتَحْ لِي أَبْوَابَ فَضْلِكَ.ـ
“In the Name of Allah, and peace be upon the Messenger of Allah. O Allah, forgive me my sins and open for me the gates of Your bounty.”
#10: When Entering the Restroom
Imām al-Tirmidhī reports from the narration of Sayyidunā ‘Ali raḍiya Allāhu ‘anhu, that Prophet ṣallā Allāhu ‘alayhi wa sallam said:
سَتْرُ مَا بَيْنَ أَعْيُنِ الْجِنِّ وَعَوْرَاتِ بَنِي آدَمَ إِذَا دَخَلَ أَحَدُهُمْ الْخَلاءَ أَنْ يَقُولَ بِسْمِ اللَّهِ.ـ
“The partition between the eyes of the jinns and nakedness of the children of Adam is that when one of you enters the area of relieving oneself he says: ‘Bismillah.’”
Imam al-Bukhari also reports from the Sayyidunā Anas raḍiya Allāhu ’anhu, that the Prophet ṣallā Allāhu ‘alayhi wa sallam used to say whenever he entered the lavatory:
اَللَّهُمَّ إِنِّي أَعُوذُ بِكَ مِنْ اَلْخُبُثِ وَالْخَبَائِثِ.ـ
“O Allah, I seek refuge with You from devils – males and females (or all offensive and wicked things, evil deeds and evil spirits, etc.)”
#11: When Taking off your Clothes
The previous hadith indicates this. Meaning even when you’re not in the washroom, but want to change your clothes, you should mention the name of Allah.
#12: When Riding
Imām al-Tirmidhī reports from Sayyidunā ‘Ali raḍiya Allāhu ‘anhu, who said he saw the Prophet ṣallā Allāhu ‘alayhi wa sallam ride on an animal and did the following:
When he placed his foot in the stirrup he said:
“Bismillāh” 3x
And when he got on the animal he said
“Alḥamdulillāh.
He then read:
سُبْحَانَ الَّذِي سَخَّرَ لَنَا هَذَا وَمَا كُنَّا لَهُ مُقْرِنِينَ وَإِنَّا إِلَى رَبِّنَا لَمُنْقَلِبُونَ.ـ
“Glory is to Him Who has subjected this to us, and we were not able to do it. And, surely, to our Lord are we returning.”
Then he said:
“Alhamdulillah” 3x.
“Allāhu Akbar” 3x.
And he read:
سُبْحَانَكَ إِنِّي قَدْ ظَلَمْتُ نَفْسِي فَاغْفِرْ لِي فَإِنَّهُ لا يَغْفِرُ الذُّنُوبَ إِلا أَنْتَ.ـ
“Glory is to You, indeed I have wronged myself, so forgive me, for indeed none forgives sins except You.”
#13: When (Before) Having an Intercourse
Imām al-Bukhārī and Muslim report from the narration of Sayyidunā ‘Abdullah ibn ‘Abbās raḍiya Allāhu ‘anhu that the Prophet ṣallā Allāhu ‘alayhi wa sallam said, ““If anyone of you, says the following du’a when having intercourse with his wife, and then Allah decrees that they should have a child, Satan will not be able to harm him.” The du’a is:
بِسْمِ اللَّهِ اللَّهُمَّ جَنِّبْنَا الشَّيْطَانَ وَجَنِّبِ الشَّيْطَانَ مَا رَزَقْتَنَا.ـ
“In the Name of Allah, O Allah! Protect us from Satan and protect what you bestow upon us from Satan.”
#14: When Slaughtering an Animal
Imām al-Bukhārī and Muslim report from the narration of Sayyidunā Anas ibn Mālik that, “The Prophet slaughtered two rams, black and white in colour (as sacrifices), and he saw him putting his foot on their sides and saying:
Bismillah… Allahu Akbar!
#15: When Laying a Dead Body in the Grave
Ibn Mājah and al-Tirmidhī report from Sayyidunā ‘Abdullāh ibn ‘Umar, that “when the deceased was placed in the grave, the Prophet ṣallā Allāhu ‘alayhi wa sallam would say
بِسْمِ اللَّهِ وَعَلَى مِلَّةِ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ.ـ
“In the Name of Allah and according to the religion of the Messenger of Allah).”
#16: When One is Set to Sleep
Imām al-Bukhārī and Muslim report from the narration of Sayyidunā Abū Hurayrah raḍiya Allāhu ‘anhu, that the Prophet ṣallā Allāhu ‘alayhi wa sallam said, “when any one of you goes to bed, he should take hold of the hem of his lower garment and use it to clean (his bed) and then mention the name of Allah Bismillah!. For he does not know what he left behind him on his bed. And when he intends to lie on bed, he should lie on his right side and recite” the following du’a:
سُبْحَانَكَ اللَّهُمَّ رَبِّي بِكَ وَضَعْتُ جَنْبِي وَبِكَ أَرْفَعُهُ إِنْ أَمْسَكْتَ نَفْسِي فَاغْفِرْ لَهَا وَإِنْ أَرْسَلْتَهَا فَاحْفَظْهَا بِمَا تَحْفَظُ بِهِ عِبَادَكَ الصَّالِحِينَ.ـ
“Exalted are You, O Allah, my Lord. It is with You that I place my side (upon the bed) and it is with You that I take it up (after sleep), and in case You withhold my soul, then grant pardon to my soul, and if You keep release it, then protect it with that with which You protect Your pious servants.”
#17 and 18: In the Morning and In the Evening
Imām al-Tirmidhī and al-Nasā’ī report from the narration of Sayyidunā ‘Uthmān ibn ‘Affān raḍiya Allāhu ‘anhu, that the Prophet ṣallā Allāhu ‘alayhi wa sallam said: “there is one who says, [the following du’a] three times in the morning of every day, and three times in the evening of every night, except that nothing shall harm him.” The du’a is:
بِسْمِ اللَّهِ الَّذِي لا يَضُرُّ مَعَ اسْمِهِ شَيْءٌ فِي الأَرْضِ وَلا فِي السَّمَاءِ وَهُوَ السَّمِيعُ الْعَلِيمُ.ـ
“In the Name of Allah, who with His Name, nothing in the earth or the heavens can cause harm, and He is All-Hearing, All-Knowing.”
#19: In the Beginning of Books and Letters
Imām al-Bukhārī reports in his al-Adab al-Mufrad from the narration of ‘Abdullāh ibn ‘Abbās, that the Prophet ṣallā Allāhu sent a message to the King of Rome and it read:
بِسْمِ اللهِ الرَّحْمَنِ الرَّحِيمِ، مِنْ مُحَمَّدٍ عَبْدِ اللهِ وَرَسُولِهِ إِلَى هِرَقْلَ عَظِيمِ الرُّومِ، سَلاَّمٌ عَلَى مَنِ اتَّبَعَ الْهُدَى، أَمَّا بَعْدُ، فَإِنِّي أَدْعُوكَ بِدِعَايَةِ الإِسْلاَمِ…ـ
“In the name of Allah, the Merciful, the Compassionate, from Muhammad, the slave of Allah and His Messenger, to Heraclius, ruler of the Byzantines. Peace be upon the one who follows guidance. I call you to Islam…”
#20: When Hunting
Imām al-Bukhārī and Muslim report from the narration of Sayyidunā ‘Adiyy ibn Ḥātim who said, “I asked the Prophet about the game killed by a Mi’rāḍ (i.e. a sharp-edged piece of wood or a piece of wood provided with a sharp piece of iron used for hunting). He said:
مَا أَصَابَ بِحَدِّهِ فَكُلْهُ، وَمَا أَصَابَ بِعَرْضِهِ فَهُوَ وَقِيذٌ.ـ
“If the game is killed with its sharp edge, eat of it, but if it is killed with its shaft, with a hit by its broad side then the game is (unlawful to eat) for it has been beaten to death.”
The companion then says, “I asked him about the game killed by a trained hound. He said,
مَا أَمْسَكَ عَلَيْكَ فَكُلْ فَإِنَّ أَخْذَ الْكَلْبِ ذَكَاةٌ وَإِنْ وَجَدْتَ مَعَ كَلْبِكَ أَوْ كِلابِكَ كَلْبًا غَيْرَهُ فَخَشِيتَ أَنْ يَكُونَ أَخَذَهُ مَعَهُ وَقَدْ قَتَلَهُ فَلا تَأْكُلْ فَإِنَّمَا ذَكَرْتَ اسْمَ اللَّهِ عَلَى كَلْبِكَ وَلَمْ تَذْكُرْهُ عَلَى غَيْرِهِ.ـ
“If the hound catches the game for you, eat of it, for killing the game by the hound, is like its slaughtering. But if you see with your hound or hounds another dog, and you are afraid that it might have shared in hunting the game with your hound and killed it, then you should not eat of it, because you have mentioned Allah’s name on (sending) your hound only, but you have not mentioned it on some other hound.”
#21: When Healing
Imām al-Bukhārī and Muslim report from the narration of Sayyidatunā ‘Ā’ishah raḍiya Allāhu ‘anhā, that when a person complained to the Prophet ṣallā Allāhu ‘alayhi wa sallam about an ailment or suffered from a sore or a wound, the Prophet ṣallā Allāhu ‘alayhi wa sallam would touch the ground with his forefinger and then raise it (Sufyan bin ‘Uyaynah, the narrator, demonstrated this with his forefinger) and would recite:
بِسْمِ اللَّهِ، تُرْبَةُ أَرْضِنَا، بِرِيقَةِ بَعْضِنَا، يُشْفَى سَقِيمُنَا، بِإِذْنِ رَبِّنَا.ـ
“With the Name of Allah, the dust of our ground mixed with the saliva of some of us would cure our patient with the permission of our Lord.’’
Also, Imām Muslim and al-Tirmidhī report from the narration of Sayyidunā Abū Sa’īd al-Khudrī raḍiya Allāhu ‘anhu, that Jibril came to the Prophet and said: “O Muhammad! Are you suffering?” He said: “Yes.” He said:
بِاسْمِ اللَّهِ أَرْقِيكَ مِنْ كُلِّ شَيْءٍ يُؤْذِيكَ مِنْ شَرِّ كُلِّ نَفْسٍ وَعَيْنِ حَاسِدٍ بِاسْمِ اللَّهِ أَرْقِيكَ وَاللَّهُ يَشْفِيكَ.ـ
“In the Name of Allah, I recite a prayer (Ruqyah) over you, from the evil of every person and evil eye. In the Name of Allah, I recite a prayer (Ruqyah) over you, may Allah cure you.”
Also, Imām Muslim reports from the narration of ‘Uthmān ibn Abī al-‘Āṣ raḍiya Allāhu ‘anhu, who complained some pains he had been experiencing in his body since he embraced Islam, and the Prophet ṣallā Allāhu ‘alayhi wa sallam said to him, “put your hand on the place where you feel pain and say:
Bismillah (3x)
With the Name of Allah.
أَعُوذُ بِاللَّهِ وَقُدْرَتِهِ مِنْ شَرِّ مَا أَجِدُ وَأُحَاذِرُ.ـ
7x“I seek refuge in Allah and in His Power from the evil of what I find and of what I guard against.”
#22: In Battles
Imām al-Tirmidhī reports from the Buraydah ibn al-Ḥusayb, who says that, “Whenever the Prophet ṣallā Allāhu ‘alayhi wa sallam dispatched a commander of an army he would urge him to fear for Allah regarding himself, and regarding those of the Muslims who are with him; that he should be good to them. He would then say:
اغْزُوا بِسْمِ اللَّهِ وَفِي سَبِيلِ اللَّهِ قَاتِلُوا مَنْ كَفَرَ اغْزُوا وَلا تَغُلُّوا وَلا تَغْدِرُوا وَلا تُمَثِّلُوا وَلا تَقْتُلُوا وَلِيدًا.ـ
“Fight in the Name of Allah and in Allah’s cause. Fight those who disbelieve in Allah and fight, do not be treacherous, nor mutilate, nor kill a child.”
#23: When One Trips
Imām Aḥmad and Abū Dāwūd report from the narration of Abī Tamīmah who reported from someone who once rode a donkey with the Prophet ṣallā Allāhu ‘alayhi wa sallam. He says, “I was riding on a mount behind the prophet ṣallā Allāhu ‘alayhi wa sallam. It stumbled. Thereupon I said, “May the devil perish!” He said: do not say; may the devil perish! For when you say that, he will swell and gloat, and say: by my power. But say: in the name of Allah; for when you say that, he will diminish so much so that he will be like a fly
Conclusion
By default, as per the ḥadīth indicated in the introduction, the Muslim should mention the name of Allah in anything beneficial, meaningful and righteous which he carries out. But highlighting these 23 instances above creates awareness for the Muslim, and helps him to be informed of the differences and variations where there are additions to be said or recited with bismillah.
Furthermore, one can also take away an important lesson. That’s an act in which the Muslim can’t mention Allah’s name before undertaking is not worth his precious time.
To receive updates from GSalam.Net delivered right to your inbox, click here. I will be glad if you join the discussion on Facebook.
Allah knows best.
Allahu Hafiz 🙂
Be the first to comment on "23 Instances You Should Read or Say Bismillah"