“Read, with the name of your Lord…” (96:1).
Bismillah is also a part of Surah Al-Fatiha, the first Surah of the Holy Quran, which further establishes that we must recite Bismillah before performing any task or deed.
Reciting Bismillah before beginning any task incurs Allah’s (سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَى) blessings and protection. For example, we say Bismillah before starting a journey to make the voyage hassle and danger-free. Similarly, saying Bismillah before starting your office work or college lecture will surely ease your work.
If you encounter difficulty during a task, offering Bismillah will make things easier.
Abu al-Malih (رَضِيَ ٱللَّٰهُ عَنْهُ) reported on the authority of a man: “I was riding on a mount behind the Prophet (ﷺ). It stumbled. Thereupon, I said: May the devil perish! The Prophet said: Do not say; may the devil perish! For you say that, he will swell so much so that he will be like a house and say: by my power. But say: Bismillah (in the name of Allah); for when you say that, he will diminish so much so that he will be like a fly”. [Sunan Abi Dawud 4982, Book 43, Hadith 210].
Reciting Bismillah before beginning to eat blesses the food and does not let Shaitaan interfere with it.
Umar bin Abu Salamah (رَضِيَ ٱللَّٰهُ عَنْهُ) reported that the Prophet (ﷺ) said: “Mention Allah's Name (i.e., say Bismillah before starting eating), eat with your right hand, and eat from what is near you”. [Riyad as-Salihin 727, Book 2, Hadith 1].
If you forget to recite Bismillah before eating, the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said: ……“If he forgets in the beginning, then let him say: 'Bismillah Fi Awwalihi Wa Akhirih (In the Name of Allah in its beginning and its end.)" [Jami` at-Tirmidhi 1858, Book 25, Hadith 75].
The Prophet (ﷺ) said, "If anyone of you on having sexual relations with his wife said (and he must say it before starting) 'In the name of Allah. O Allah! Protect us from Satan and also protect what you bestow upon us (i.e., the coming offspring) from Satan, and if it is destined that they should have a child, then Satan will never be able to harm that offspring." [Sahih al-Bukhari 141, Book 4, Hadith 7]
Reciting Bismillah after waking up in the morning is a beautiful way to ask for Allah’s (سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَى) blessings and guidance in all your tasks for that day.
Uthman b. Abu al-'As Al-Thaqafi (رَضِيَ ٱللَّٰهُ عَنْهُ) reported that he complained to the Prophet (ﷺ) about pain in his body when he had embraced Islam. Thereupon, Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) stated: “Place your hand at the place where you feel pain in your body and say Bismillah (in the name of Allah) three times and seven times A'udhu billahi wa qudratihi min sharri ma ajidu wa uhadhiru (I seek refuge with Allah and with His Power from the evil that I find and that I fear).” [Sahih Muslim 2202, Book 39, Hadith 91].
Abu Hurayrah (رَضِيَ ٱللَّٰهُ عَنْهُ) narrated that the Prophet (ﷺ) said: “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." [Sunan Abi Dawud 101, Book 1, Hadith 101]
'Adi b. Hatim (رَضِيَ ٱللَّٰهُ عَنْهُ) reported: “I asked Allah's Messenger about hunting. He said: When you shoot your arrow, recite the name of Allah, and if you find it (the arrow) killed (that). then eat, except when you find it fallen into water, for in that case, you do not know whether it is water that caused its death or your arrow.” [Sahih Muslim 1929, Book 34, Hadith 11].
Strengthens bond with Allah - Reciting Bismillah before beginning tasks and during difficulties reinforces our belief in Allah’s (سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَى) wisdom and guidance. It also strengthens our connection with Him and reminds us of His greatness and finality over everything.
Invites Allah's blessings - Saying Bismillah before a task invites Allah’s (سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَى) blessings and help so that the task may become hassle-free and easy.
Protects from Shaitaan - Reciting Bismillah ensures protection from the evil of Shaitaan and invokes Allah’s (سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَى) blessings in everything we do.
Keeps us away from evil deeds - Saying Bismillah before a task discourages bad deeds and ensures good intentions, thus offering protection from Hell.
The Muslim and Quran app can help you monitor when and how often you recite Bismillah tasbih daily. Track how often you recite Bismillah using our online counters and easily incorporate this beautiful practice into your daily lives! With our MuslimandQuran app, you can recite Bismillah tasbih on the go and make it a daily habit to say this blessed phrase before beginning any task.
