We always say "bismillahir rahmair raheem" , before performing any act. But do we know the benefits of saying it. Today we are going to discuss about this topic.
Let me start with a short and beautiful story .
A FASCINATING STORY OF A JEWISH GIRL
It is mentioned in Lam'aate Soofiyyah that a pious man was once lecturing on the virtues of "Bismillahir Rahman nir Raheem". A Jewish girl was also listening to his lecture. She was so moved by the lecture that she accepted Islam. Now, whenever she did anything she always said "Bismillahir Rahman nir Raheem" first. When her father, who was the king's minister, discovered that she had embraced Islam, he became very upset. He feared that the people would look down upon him. So, he began threatening her in the hope that she would forsake Islam. But she would not. Finally, he decided, the only solution was to kill her.
Thus, he thought of a plan: he gave her the ring which was used for sealing letters and documents in the king's court. He said to her: "Keep it until I ask for it."
Saying "Bismillahir Rahman nir Raheem" she took it and put it in her pocket.'
That night the father tip-toed into her room and stole the ring and flung it into the river. That would give the king all the reason to hang her.
The following day a fisherman came along to the minister and gave him a fish as a gift. The minister took it and gave it to his daughter to prepare it. As soon as she opened the stomach to clean the fish she found the ring. She was shocked! For it looked exactly like the ring her father had given her! She searched for the ring in her pocket but couldn't find it. She read "Bismillahir Rahman nir Raheem" and put the ring back into her pocket.
She then prepared the fish and presented it to her father. After he had his meal. He then asked for the ring. She said "Bismillahir Rahman nir Raheem" and produced it from her pocket. The father was shocked for he had thrown it into the river! How could she take it out from her pocket!
He then told her what he had done and enquired where the ring came from. She told him she found it from the fish's stomach.
Witnessing the barakah(blessing) of Bismillah he accepted Islam straightaway.
ALHAMDHULILLAH
AN INCIDENT WITH ISA-JESUS(A.S.)
It is reported that Sayyidina Isa (AS) passed by a grave whose inmate was being tormented. After some days he happened to pass by the same grave again. This time there was no punishment. The inmate was in great comfort.This surprised him a great deal. He asked Allah: -Lord, what brought about Your mercy so that you have lifted the punishment from this person?" Allah Ta'ala replied: -0 Isa, when the man died, he left behind a child. When his mother took him to the madrasah and he, the child, said Bismillaahir rahmaanir raheem in the presence of the teacher, it is not like me to keep on punishing his father while he called me Rahmaan and Raheem. Hence, I forgave him.
When Bismillah Was Revealed…
Sayyidina Jaabir (RA) is reported to have said that when Bismillaahir rahmaanir raheem revealed, the clouds gave way by moving to the East, the winds ceased blowing, the oceans became calm, the creatures prepared themselves to listen, the shaytaan got pelted with fire from the heavens and Allah Ta’ala, swearing an oath by His honour, declared: Anyone who says this name of mine (ie. Bismillaahir rahmaanir raheem) upon anything, I will surely impart barakah in that thing,
(Durre Manthoor and Ibne Katheer)
BISMILLAH BEFORE WAHEE
In Durre Manthoor Sayyidina Ibne Umar (RA) is reported as saying that surely, whenever Jibreel (AS) used to bring wahee to Rasoolullah (Sallallaahu-alayhi-wasallam), he used to first recite Bismillaahir rahmaanir raheem .
The reason for the above is as follows: in Bismillah there are three names of Allah:
(1) Allah which is His personal name indicating that all projects can only be initiated by the will and wish of Allah.
(2) Rahmaan (Kind) which is His attributive name indicating that only Allah can keep that project intact and existent (guarding it against destruction).
(3) Raheem(Most Merciful) which is also His attributive name indicating that only Allah can,through His mercy and grace, enable any person to derive benefit from that project.
This clearly proves that any project begun with Bismillaahir rahmaanir raheem will be granted barakah and blessings from the beginning till the end.
SAYING BISMILLAH BEFORE WUDHU
Rasoolullah (Sallailaahu-alayhi-wasallam) said: "One who does not say Bismillah before wudhu, his wudhu is incomplete." (Tirmizi). It is reported from Sayyidina Abu Hurairah (RA) that anyone who does not say Bismillah before wudhu, only the sins committed by the limbs which are washed in wudhu will be washed away; and one who says Bismillah before wudhu, the sins of the entire body will be washed away. (Mishkaat)
REMEMBERING ALLAH THROUGH HIS THREE THOUSAND NAMES
It is mentioned in Tafseer Roohul Bayaan that Allaamah Sayyid Haqqi (RA) said that Allah Ta'ala has three thousand names. He revealed one thousand to the angels, one thousand to the ambiya(AS), three hundred are mentioned in the Toraah, three hundred in the Zaboor, three hundred in the Injeel, and ninety-nine in the Holy Qur'aan. One Name He has kept to Himself; He revealed it to no one. Also, He has condensed all His names into the three names contained in Bismillaahir rahmaanir raheem. They are Allah, Rahmaan and Raheem. Any person saying Bismillaahir rahmaanir raheem; it is as though he has remembered Allah by all His names.
A HADEETHE QUDSI
Rasoolullah (Saliallaahu-alayhi-wasallam) said that Sayyidina Jibreel made mention of this Hadeeth under oath that he heard it from Sayyidina Mika'il(AS) under oath who in turn heard it from Sayyidina Israfeel (AS) under oath that Allah Ta'ala said: "By my honour, grace and grandeur, whoever reads Bismillaahir rahmaanir raheem and Soorah Faatihah jointly once, then you be witness that I shall not burn his tongue and I will save him from the Fire as well as the punishment of the grave and the day of Qiyaamah.
Note: Reading Bismillah and Sooratul Faatihah jointly means to read it as follows:
Bismillaahir rahmaanir raheem mil hamdu lillaahi rabbil aalameen.....
WHEN UNDRESSING
Sayyidina Anas (RA) reports from Rasoolullah (Sallallaa- hu-alayhi-wasallam) that when a person undresses for the purpose of either relieving himself or bathing or having relations with his spouse then the shaytaan interferes and plays with his or her private parts. But if he or she says Bismillah before taking off the clothes, then this serves as a barrier and safety against the shaytaan and jinn. (Tirmizi)
KEEP RECITING BISMILLAHIR RAHMANIR RAHEEM BEFORE PERFORMING ANY ACT.
