What is the meaning of Bismillāh?
Bismillāh al-Raḥmān al-Raḥīm — in the name of Allah, the Most Merciful, the Especially Merciful. It opens every surah but one. The classical scholars said it is the summary of the Qurʾan in a single sentence.
10 passages from 8 books in the library
Bismillāh al-Raḥmān al-Raḥīm means "in the name of Allah, the Most Merciful, the Most Compassionate," and the classical scholars taught that it sanctifies whatever it begins. As the passages relate, "Every significant matter that does not begin with 'In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful' is bereft" — left cut off from blessing. It is the opening invoked in supplication ("O Allah, I ask You by Your name…"), in healing, and even by Nūḥ as he boarded the ark: "in the name of Allah is its course and its mooring."
Drawn from the classical sources below — in the scholars' own words.
The classical approach.
These passages are drawn from 8 books by Imam al-Ghazali and Ibn Kathir — part of the classical Sunni tradition that carries over a thousand years of reflection on the Qurʾān, the authentic Sunnah, and the consensus of the early community. Nothing below is a paraphrase. The words are the scholars' own, translated from the original Arabic manuscripts.
11th–12th century · Ṭūs, Khurāsān
Reviving the inner life of Islam through the Iḥyāʾ ʿUlūm al-Dīn — one of the most influential works ever written in any religious tradition.
More on Imam al-Ghazali →
· Provenance →
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"Every significant matter that does not begin with, in the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful, is bereft."
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"O Allah, I ask you by your name, in the name of Allah, the Most Merciful, the Most Compassionate,"
14th century · Bosra, Syria
Monumental history Al-Bidāyah wa al-Nihāyah, the world's most widely read Qurʾanic commentary, and the classical Stories of the Prophets.
More on Ibn Kathir →
· Provenance →
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"said, Embark therein, in the name of Allah is its course and its birth. Indeed, my Lord is forgiving,"
11th–12th century · Ṭūs, Khurāsān
Reviving the inner life of Islam through the Iḥyāʾ ʿUlūm al-Dīn — one of the most influential works ever written in any religious tradition.
More on Imam al-Ghazali →
· Provenance →
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"In the name of Allah, the dust of our earth, with the saliva of some of us, our sick will be healed."
11th–12th century · Ṭūs, Khurāsān
Reviving the inner life of Islam through the Iḥyāʾ ʿUlūm al-Dīn — one of the most influential works ever written in any religious tradition.
More on Imam al-Ghazali →
· Provenance →
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"in the name of Allah, the Most Merciful, the Most Compassionate. As the Prophet, peace be upon him,"
11th–12th century · Ṭūs, Khurāsān
Reviving the inner life of Islam through the Iḥyāʾ ʿUlūm al-Dīn — one of the most influential works ever written in any religious tradition.
More on Imam al-Ghazali →
· Provenance →
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"be upon him, visited me and said, In the name of Allah, the most merciful, the most compassionate,"
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"be upon him, visited me and said, In the name of Allah, the Most Merciful, the Most Compassionate,"
14th century · Bosra, Syria
Monumental history Al-Bidāyah wa al-Nihāyah, the world's most widely read Qurʾanic commentary, and the classical Stories of the Prophets.
More on Ibn Kathir →
· Provenance →
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"Allah the Almighty said, in the name of Allah, the most gracious, the most merciful, Ta-Sin-Mim."
11th–12th century · Ṭūs, Khurāsān
Reviving the inner life of Islam through the Iḥyāʾ ʿUlūm al-Dīn — one of the most influential works ever written in any religious tradition.
More on Imam al-Ghazali →
· Provenance →
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"who fear the standing before their Lord, there are two gardens, to the end of Surah Ar-Rahman."
11th–12th century · Ṭūs, Khurāsān
Reviving the inner life of Islam through the Iḥyāʾ ʿUlūm al-Dīn — one of the most influential works ever written in any religious tradition.
More on Imam al-Ghazali →
· Provenance →
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"the Sovereign, the Clear Truth. Eighth, saying, in the name of Allah, with whose name nothing"
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