| Basmallaah:
`Basmallaah’
(reciting `Bismillaah’): It is used by muslims as the
validating formula for their solemn acts. It is used as invocation
of divine blessings. Its invocation is recommended before
initiating anything, any action or deed of daily life.
(64, Vol-I,
Tafsir Ibn Kathir and John R, Hinnells, Dictionary of Religions).
Therefore,
as an urge of faith and also as a part of Islamic culture,
Basmallaah is very generally used by all Muslims as the bearer
of blessings for action initiated in the Name of Allah. It
is so frequently used by those who are devoted that it becomes
ingrained in their habit. So much so that some people greet
and welcome with this formulation. The Holy Prophet (Peace
be upon him) is reported to have said that work receives blessings
of Allah when initiated with His Name. `Dars-e-Quran’,
a translation of the Holy Quran, (Idara-e-Islah-o-Tableegh)
has referred to a Hadith that if any work is not started with
“Bismillaah”, it may lack favours of Allah and
mind may not enjoy peace. (Dars-e-Qumran. p.2, Vol-I,.)
`Basmallaah' inculcates faith and confidence in
the formulation. Since it is an invocation in The Name of
Allah, Ever All-Benevolent, Ever All-Merciful, it is believed
that it takes care of all variables that influence or affect
the task undertaken, which are otherwise beyond man's control.
Thus it provides a means, through the faith, for seeking Allah’s
Guidance and Help for the work which has been undertaken.
Faith
in `Basmallaah': From above it follows that
it should be recited consciously and sincerely as a supplication
with the faith that:
(i) It helps ward off evil, all
the way, in the undertaking, because the very consciousness
of Allah will impel to keep away from associating the Most
High Exalted Allah with any evil action or intention or even
any wrong idea for invocation or intercession:
"Whoever
recommends for a good cause,
will have the reward thereof,
and whoever recommends for an evil cause,
will have a share in its burden.
And Allah is since Ever All-Powerful,
Ever All-Seer over all things." 4-85
(ii)
It creates the right attitude of mind, enabling to
consider options and choose the right one in the right direction.
(iii) It focuses attention on
the aim and the right option with the right course without
wasting efforts and energies,unnecessarily in wrong direction.
(iv) Allah turns to man when
he turns to Him.
"So turn in repentance to your Maker, Verily,
He (Allah) it is,
Who is The Ever All-Relenting, The Ever All-Merciful"
2-54
(v)
Allah’s help and blessings protect from temptations
and deviations, right from initiation till accomplishment
and also from later consequences of the initiative.
"And
strain not your eyes,
toward what We (Allah) have given
to some party-mates (jointly associated groups),
among them ,
to enjoy the splendour of the life of the world,
through which We try them.
And the provision of your Lord-Master-Sustainer-Owner
is better and more lasting" (20-131).
(vi)
Protection here and Here-after is only from Allah:
"Say: `who is he who can protect you from
Allah,
if He intends harm to you.
And they will not find besides Allah, for themselves,
any supporter - protector or any helper."
33-17
(vii)
Faith is strengthened that the result is from Allah Alone.
(viii) The course becomes easy
and success sure.
Seeking
Refuge Before Seeking Support and Succour:
The Quran begins (Surah 1) and ends (Surah 114) on supplications
and invocations to Allah. The Quran teaches lot of supplications
of general or common nature and for specific individual needs.
Scientists believe that for every action there
is a reaction and every effect has a cause and vice versa.
Nothing, howsoever small it may be, moves without its effect
in the universe. Thought process and actions do not take place
in isolation. There are innumerable inter-acting and even
counteracting forces, for every move, in real and physical
terms. Look at the enormous environmental and cosmic activity.
Only The One Who sustains and operates them knows the enormity
and the entirety of the system. In this process there are
countless effects and implications for human beings, collectively
and individually. Within man’s own fold there are many
social and other inter-active forces. In such a situation,
Only The Almighty can provide refuge and protection and also
keep them in harmony for the desired benefits for man. This
statement, in fact, is too general for a very complex system
at higher scale.
However, at a smaller scale, for the purpose of
explanation, another example may be taken that of the body
field (electro-magnetic fields) and brain wave activity all
around. It appears to be in this sphere of activity that the
`satan’, (`the scorching micro-wave creature’),
the hacker, inflicts man’s b-mail (brain-mail) with
its `virus’ and remains hidden, like computer hackers
who watch and bewitch our e-mails, while we can't see or feel
them. (In this connection examine verses and explanation given
at the * marks given below, in italics) The personal computer
operator of the brain (man) can not control this, all by himself,
unless `security’ systems from the `Provider’,
or `Operator’ or `Maker’ are allowed to work and
get regular `download’ and `update’ of `anti-virus’
and `information’, from Him. This, in religious terms
was `sent down’ or `down-loaded' (`nazzala’) through
Revelation as Guidance according to the need, from time to
time.
“In the Name of Allah,
the Only One Alone-He,
with Whose Name ,
No harm can touch,
Neither in the earth and
Nor in the heaven
And He is The Ever All-Hearer,
The Ever All-Knower.”
(a supplication)
* “And
He (Allah) created jinns,
from smokeless fire (scorching
-wave)”.55-15
“And
the jinns,
We (Allah) had created before,
from the fire of a scorching wind”
15-27
(the scorching micro-wave creature)
“Behold
We (Allah) said to the angels:
`Bow down to Adam’.
They bowed down;
Except Ibliis –
he was one of the jinns.
And he broke the Command
of his Lord-Master-Sustainer-Owner,
Will you then take him and his progeny
As protectors rather than Me?
And they are enemies to you!
Evil would be the exchange for the wrong-doers!”
18-50
Also
see 27-39, 27-17, 38-37 & 38, 72-8 to 15, 43-36.
*In computer terminology `virus’
is a programme which can attach itself with other computer programmes,
and it is capable of spreading by replicating it self .)*
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