A Hint Concerning Bismillah It should be known that in...

A Hint Concerning Bismillah It should be known that in accordance with the view of the people of gnosis, the bismillah ( ‘in Name of Allah’ ) in every surah pertains to that surah itself and not to “I seek help” or anything of the kind, because ismullah (Name of Allah) is the totality of the mashiyyah (Divine will) at the plane of manifestation ( maqdam al-zuhuri ) , the station of the Most Sacred Effusion ( fayd al-aqdas ) at the plane of revelation ( tajalli ) of ahadiyyah, the station of inclusiveness of Divine Names ( jam’ al-ahadi ye asma’ ) at the plane of wahidiyyah, and the entire cosmos ( kawn ) at the plane of inclusive unity ( ahadiyyat-a jam’ ), which is the inclusive cosmic object ( kawn al-jami ) and the levels of existence in the vertical ascending and descending order and each of the objective entities ( huwiyyat al-‘ayniyyah ) at the horizontal plane.

The meaning of ‘Allah’ differs in accordance with each of these considerations, for it is the referent of those Names, and the meaning of bismillah varies in accordance with each surah of the Noble Qur’an with which the bismillah is associated in respect of text and which is manifestation of it in respect of meaning. Rather, the meaning of bismillah varies in accordance with every action that is begun with bismillah and it relates to that very action.

One who has gnosis of the manifestations of Divine Names observes that all works and actions and all objects and accidents are manifested and realized by virtue of the…