IslamicBooks.com.pk-The Gateway to the Quran-Part 2-Page 1

  'Bismillaahir-Rahmaanir-Rahiim is part of the Quran and it is one of the Aayaat of Surah Al-Naml. In `Muslim’ a tradition has been quoted from Anas (may Allah be pleased with him) that when the Prophet (Peace be upon him) informed about the revelation of Surah Al-Faatihah, he recited it from `Bismillaahir-Rahmaanir-Rahiim’ (In The Name Of Allah Ever All-Gracious- Ever All-Merciful.), till the end of Al-Faatihah. In the copies of the Quran sent by the third caliph to different cities, `Bismillaahir-Rahmaanir-Rahiim’ is written with Al-Faatihah. (Abu Masood Hassan Alvi, ‘Tadrees Lughatul Quran’, Vol-I (pp.93-110)
  Every Surah begins with `Bismillaahir-Rahmaanir-Rahiim’, except Surah-9 (At-Taubaah). Including its occurrence in the text of Surah-27 (Al-Naml), the total number of its occurrences comes to 114:
  (The Queen ) said " Ye Chiefs!
  Here is - delivered to me- a letter worthy of respect. (29)
  "It is from Solomon, and is :
  `In The Name of Allah ,Ever All Gracious, Ever All Merciful.' (30)

Those who do not count `Bismillaahir-Rahmaanir-Rahiim’ as part of Al-Faatihah, count the verse ending with `An-amta alayhim’ as verse number 6, and then the last one as the seventh.

  Ahmad Malaah, in his poetic rendering of the whole of the Quran in Sindhi language, has translated the occurrence of this verse at the head of different Surahs, differently. Similarly, different translators have translated it in different ways, in effect, all emphasizing various aspects of `Rahmah’ (The Mercy).

  The First Revelation: The first verse of the Quran was revealed in The Name of The Lord-Master-Owner (Allah):
  “Read! In The Name of your Lord-Master-Sustainer –Owner-
  Who created”. 96-1

  In the first Revelation, the direction of all further Revelation was indicated in the phrase `Bi-Ismi Rabbika’. It declared that, all that was to be conveyed for the mankind was from Allah. The Prophet (Peace be upon him) was the Messenger. After initiating the `Reading’ with `Bi-Ism Rabbika’, a reminder was sent in the formulation `Bismillaah’. It was also placed at the start of Al-Faatihaah, which itself is one of the earlier revelations and the first complete Surah. At the head of all other Surah also was placed `Bismillaahir-Rahmaanir-Rahiim’. It reminded that all that was being revealed was from Allah. The Messenger simply conveys and reader simply recites it. The purpose of opening the revelation (Al-Quran) as “Read in the Name of your Lord-Master-Sustainer-Cherisher” seems to be to set the direction of the address and place the pointer on the Straight Path, right at the beginning. It fixed the frame of reference for steering the entire movement under Guidance directly from its very Source. It identified the origin of all beginning and its recourse to the end, back to the origin.

  "And He is Allah: There is no god but He.
  To Him be praise, at the first and at the last,
  For Him is the Command,
  And to Him shall you be brought back." 28-70

  "So Glory to Him (Allah),
  in Whose Hands is the dominion of all the things;
      And to Him will you be all brought back" 36-83.

  Bismillaahi Allaahu Akbar: There is no difference between `Bismillaahi Allahu Akbar’ and `Bismillaahir-Rahmaanir-Rahiim’, so far invocation to Allah is concerned. The former appeals to The Greatness of His Name and All The Most Beautiful Best Attributes of Allah which are comprehended by His limitless Mercy. The later invokes His Mercy and Benevolence boundless, in His High Exalted Infinite Greatness. Both are in the Name of Allah (“Bismillaah”) with Most Beautiful Best Attributes of Perfection..
  “There is no simplistic notion of God, however. This Single Deity is not a being like ourselves whom we can know and understand. The phrase `Allahu Akbar’ (God is Greater!), that summons Muslims to `Salaah’ (liturgical prayer), distinguishes between God and the rest of the reality, as well as between God as He is in Himself (Az-zaat) and anything that we can say about Him. Yet this incomprehensible and inaccessible God had wanted to make Himself known. An early tradition (Hadiith) has God say to Muhammad (Peace be upon him):
  `I (Allah) was a hidden treasure, I wanted to be known. Hence, I created the world so that I might be known.’
  “By contemplating the `Signs’ (Aayaat) of nature and the verses of the Koran, Muslims could glimpse that aspect of divinity which has turned towards the world, which the Koran calls the Face (Countenance) of God (Wajh Allah) . Like the two older religions, Islam makes it clear that we only see God in His activities, which adapt His ineffable being to our limited understanding.
  “The Koran urges Muslims to cultivate a perpetual consciousness (Taqwaa) of the Face or the Self of God that surrounds them on all sides.”

Bismillaah and Bi-Ism Rabb: We will discuss in detail meaning and interpretation of “Bi-Ism” at a later stage. For the present we will take a look at the phrases `Bismillaah’ and ‘Bi-Ism Rabb’. In the former formulation it seeks direct communion, support and refuge with The Name of Allah, (Who is Himself the Lord-Master-Owner) and in the later it seeks the same with The Name of Lord-Master-Owner, (Who Himself is Allah). That is in both cases, mortal man seeks support, success and security in the closest permissible communion with The Same Immortal – The Only One Supreme Being of unlimited Kindness, Graciousness, Bounties and Mercy in the Majesty of His Infinite Attributes. But still there are certain subtleties and shades of meanings of both, which need to be studied in more detail of their blessings.
In one case it makes an appeal to the `Uluuhiyah' that provides all support and saves in His protection in all situations and needs. In the other, it makes an appeal to the `Rubuubiyah' that sustains, cherishes, nurtures, provides, directs and controls all affairs as Ever All-Powerful Able to support, save and keep in protection and custody in all circumstances and requirements. Leaving subtleties and semantics aside, and linguistics apart, basically in both cases an appeal is made to Oneness of All The Most Beautiful Best Attributes of Allah. It was basically the belief in Rubuubiyah that polytheists of Makkah differed more than in the concept of Uluuhiyah.

Every word used in the Quran has its specific position, place, context, nuance and shades of meaning. This will become clear when we discuss the two terms Allah and Rabb, at the appropriate places in this book. Some important details and discussions are given in the appendices also. Furthermore, the context of each verse has also to be seen at the concerned place of reference, besides the over all perspective of the Quran.

Bi-Iznillaah: Starting anything with this invocation, with full attention and concentration, indicates sincerity of submission and depth of dedication of the dutiful-slave to proceed and act with the leave or permission of His Lord-Master. – “Bi-Iznillaah" (with the permission of Allah) or Bi-Izni-Hii” [with His (Allah's) permission], as the Directing Authority of all affairs. In worldly affairs also, it is always a matter of courtesy, mannerism, and recognition to make an initiation with the permission of the one at the helm of affairs. When work is started with the permission or leave of Allah (Bi-Iznillaah or Bi-Iznihii) it acquires the required moral and spiritual force for accomplishment and enforcement from Him. By seeking leave or permission, the plan is implemented by His Will. By seeking permission, one seeks the Pleasure of Allah in his devotion.
Allah had granted special favours to Jesus (Peace be upon him) to cure people. “He (Jesus, Peace be upon him) said, touching the sick of the man with his hands `In the Name of God: `O brother, receive thy health ‘And when he had said this, the leprosy was cleansed”. (The Gospel of Barnabas, p.10).

The Beginning: The famous commentator Al-Suyuuti says that besides the Holy Quran, all the other divine books, too, begin with the Name of Allah (Bismillaah). Certain other scholars are of the opinion that `Bismillaahir-Rahmaanir-Rahiim’ is peculiar to the Quran and to the followers of Muhammad (Peace be upon him). The two views apparently seem to be in agreement with each other because all the divine books share the common trait of beginning with the Name of Allah. But the words `Bismillaahir-Rahmaanir-Rahiim’ are peculiar to the Holy Quran, as is evident from certain Traditions (Ahaadith). It is reported that the Holy Prophet (Peace be upon him), in order to begin anything, he used to undertake, with The Name of Allah, he used to say the words `Bi-Ismika Allaahumma’. But when the verse `Bismillaahir-Rahmaanir-Rahiim’ was revealed,he adopted these words. Since then, this practice was established through the verbal command or through the act or tacit approval of the Holy Prophet (Peace be upon him).