When the ark of Nuh (Noah) ( ‘a ) was about to set out...

When the ark of Nuh (Noah) ( ‘a ) was about to set out amidst the waves in the storm, he asked his followers to embark and then he said: “In the Name of Allah it shall set sail and cast anchor.” [^5] When Hadrat Sulayman (Solomon) ( ‘a ) invited the Queen of Sheba (Bilqis) toward God, he began his invitation letter with the phrase, Bismillahi’r-rahmani’r-rahim {In the Name of Allah, the All-beneficent, the All-merciful}.[^6] Hadrat ‘Ali ( ‘a ) says: “ Bismillah is the source of blessing in work, and abandoning it leads to the lack of success of affairs.”[^7] He ( ‘a ) also said to someone who was writing the phrase, “ Bismillah ”: “ Jawwiduha ” {Inscribe it well}.[^8] The recital of “ Bismillah ” at the beginning of every work has been enjoined—eating, sleeping, riding on an animal (or a vehicle); marriage and matrimony, and many other tasks.

Even if an animal is slaughtered without the utterance of “ Bismillah ”, consumption of its meat is unlawful { haram }. The secret behind this is that the food of a goal-oriented religious person must also have a divine connection. Why do we start each task with “ Bismillah ”? The products of a factory have the special logo and emblem of that factory. For example, a porcelain-producing factory puts its logo on all its wares, both big and small.

Every country has its own flag hoisted above offices and garrisons, on ships and on office tables. In the same manner, the name of God and His remembrance is also the logo and emblem of the Muslim and the phrase, “ Bismillah ” is the symbol and code of the Muslim.

In every activity, big and small; everywhere, in the mosque or factory; and anytime, in the morning or evening, this blessed phrase is uttered by Muslims, and thus, we read in the hadith : “Do not forget bismillah even in writing a couplet of a poem.” Traditions about the reward of a person who teaches bismillah to a child have also been narrated.[^9] Is Bismillahi’r-rahmani’r-rahim a part of Surah al-Fatihah and a distinct verse { ayah }?

Although some individuals have not regarded it as part of the surah or have abandoned mentioning it in the prayer, these people have been subjected to criticism by Muslims.