1, of his Taft ir, al-Qummi chronologically arranges the...

1, of his Taft ir, al-Qummi chronologically arranges the isnud o one particular statement made by Imam Ja’fer al-Sadiq (as) an’ recounts the longest list of narrators we have ever come across.

Th list of narrators ends with Abu Busayr, a well-known companion o this great Imam (as), saying that he once asked Imam al-Sadiq (as about the tafsir of Bismillu/iir-Rahmunir-Rahim, so he said, and xv would like to quote his statement as well as its isnad in its origins text as follows: After the long list of the said narrators, the Imam (as) indicates the derivation of each letter of the Basmala as follows: The "ba" is derived from "baha-Allah," the Splendor of Allah; the ‘seen" is derived from "sanna-Allah," the Majesty of Allah; the "meem" is derived from "mulk-Allah," the Kingdom of Allah; "Allah’ is the God of everything; "alRahman" is the One Who is Merciful to all His creation; "al-Rahim" is the One Who singles out those who believe in Him to receive the greatest share of His…