Bismillah ar-Rahman ar-Rahim: The Gift to the Ummah

بِسۡمِ ٱللهِ ٱلرَّحۡمَـٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ 

The following is adapted from a swuhbah from Shaykh Muhammad Nazhim Adil al-Haqqani (q.s.) on the 02^nd June 2010. 

On the Day of Resurrection, when humanity finally understands the Honour Bestowed on the reciters of the Basmallah, those who neglected to read it will be filled with regret and dejection.  At every spare moment, we have, keep our tongue moist with the Basmallah.  When we recite the Basmallah, all our worldly and heavenly matters will be Arranged and Organised for us.  We will be filled with calm, peace and happiness. 

“Bismillah ar-Rahman ar-Rahim” is a divine sword that can never be defeated.  Even if one started explaining the benefits and rewards of reciting the Basmallah from the beginning of life on this planet until Qiyamah, it would only cover a tiny portion of all the benefits of that recitation.  With the Basmallah, the hungry will be filled, and the thirsty will be quenched.  If we but knew the secret power of “Bismillah ar-Rahman ar-Rahim”, we would abandon today’s technology, and use the Basmallah instead, because technology is no match for it.  By reciting the Basmallah, we can achieve anything without technology.  Technology has become a tool of Shaythan.  Shaythan uses it to ensnare humans.  We have grown dependent on technology.  A single wali reciting the Basmallah has more power than all the technology on Earth.  We must seek strength through spirituality, not live our lives under the yoke of Shaythan.  We must not waste our lives living as slaves of Shaythan. 

From the vast wonders and benefits of the Basmallah, we have unearthed just the tip of the iceberg.  The similitude is of a man going to a milk-seller, and asking to buy a litre of fresh milk.  When the milk-seller asks, “Where is your cup to pour the milk?” the buyer takes out a thimble.  How can a litre of milk be poured into such a tiny container?  The only way the man can take away one litre of milk is, if he uses a larger container.  We must open our hearts and minds wide and be prepared to move through the Oceans of Bismillah ar-Rahman ar-Rahim.  We must have faith.  Unfortunately, today, humanity has left such Divine teachings and dived into the sewage channels of najasah, of dunya and is drowning in it because we have abandoned the Basmallah. 

After Allah (s.w.t.) Created the Lawh al-Mahfuzh, the Preserved Tablet, Allah (s.w.t.) Created the Pen.  The Pen stood up obediently before his Lord, and asked, “O my Lord, what am I going to write on the Preserved Tablet?” 

Allah (s.w.t.) Decreed, “Write ‘Bismillah ar-Rahman ar-Rahim.’”  That was the first Command of Allah (s.w.t.) for the Pen.  Imagine how great the words, “Bismillah ar-Rahman ar-Rahim” are.  The Pen wrote those Words for 700 years, but not the years as measured by our worldly standards, but by divine measurements.  In the Qur’an, it has been Mentioned that one heavenly day is equivalent to 1,000 years in this world, and another verse stated that one day in the Heavens is 50,000 years in this world.  Only Allah (s.w.t.) and His Rasul (s.a.w.) Know how many years the Pen wrote those Words.  A servant of Allah (s.w.t.) who recites the Basmallah is Given the Reward from Allah’s (s.w.t.) Endless Oceans, the Reward of one who has been reciting it for 700 heavenly years. 

سُوۡرَةُ المعَارج

تَعۡرُجُ ٱلۡمَلَـٰٓٮِٕڪَةُ وَٱلرُّوحُ إِلَيۡهِ فِى يَوۡمٍ۬ كَانَ مِقۡدَارُهُ ۥ خَمۡسِينَ أَلۡفَ سَنَةٍ۬ (٤) 

The angels and the Spirit ascend unto Him in a Day the measure whereof is (as) fifty thousand years: (Surah al-Ma’arij:4) 

سُوۡرَةُ الحَجّ

...‌ۚ وَإِنَّ يَوۡمًا عِندَ رَبِّكَ كَأَلۡفِ سَنَةٍ۬ مِّمَّا تَعُدُّونَ (٤٧) 

… Verily a Day in the Sight of thy Lord is like a thousand years of your reckoning. (Surah al-Haj:47) 

The Basmallah has only Sent Down to some of the prophets before Rasulullah (s.a.w.) and never to their nations.  The Basmallah had been Granted firstly to Adam (a.s.) during the time he was in deep repentance.  When he recited it, by the honour of “Bismillah ar-Rahman ar-Rahim”, Allah (s.w.t.) Bestowed His Mercy on Adam (a.s.) and Accepted his repentance, and the Basmallah was then Taken Back up into the Heavens.  A single recitation on a single occasion was enough for Adam’s (a.s.) repentance to be Accepted.  The Basmallah was next Granted once to Nuh (a.s.), as he prepared his ark to sail off into the terrible floods.  Again, after which, the Basmallah was then Lifted Up again to the Heavens.  A single recitation of “Bismillah ar-Rahman ar-Rahim” was enough to save the ark from destruction. 

سُوۡرَةُ هُود

۞ وَقَالَ ٱرۡڪَبُواْ فِيہَا بِسۡمِ ٱللَّهِ مَجۡر۪ٮٰهَا وَمُرۡسَٮٰهَآ‌ۚ إِنَّ رَبِّى لَغَفُورٌ۬ رَّحِيمٌ۬ (٤١) 

So he said, “Embark you on the ark in the Name of Allah, whether it move or be at rest!  For my Lord is, be sure, Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful!” (Surah Hud:41) 

The Basmallah was then Granted to Ibrahim (a.s.) as he was thrown into the inferno that Namrud had prepared to punish him.  With one recitation, the fire became cool and Ibrahim (a.s.) was saved.  The Basmallah was then Lifted Up to the Heavens once again.  Next, the Basmallah was Revealed to Sulayman (a.s.) and with it, he became king and controlled all of the people and jinn in his kingdom, and with it he convinced Balqis to come to Islam and to submit.  The Basmallah was then Lifted Up to the Heavens once again. 

سُوۡرَةُ النَّمل

إِنَّهُ ۥ مِن سُلَيۡمَـٰنَ وَإِنَّهُ ۥ بِسۡمِ ٱللَّهِ ٱلرَّحۡمَـٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ (٣٠) 

“It is from Solomon, and is (as follows): ‘In the Name of Allah, Most Gracious, Most Merciful:”” (Surah an-Naml:30) 

Then the Basmallah was Revealed to Musa (a.s.) and with it, he cleaved the Red Sea into two, to escape the pursuing forces of Fir’awn.  The Basmallah was then Lifted Up to the Heavens again.  The next prophet to receive the Basmallah was ‘Isa (a.s.).  With it, he raised the dead, and with it he escaped those who wanted to crucify him, and he was Raised up to the Heavens in safety.  The Basmallah was then Lifted Up to the Heavens again. 

Each prophet who had been Bestowed with the use of “Bismillah ar-Rahman ar-Rahim” only briefly and only during life-threatening moments during their lives.  After each incident, the Basmallah was Lifted Back up to the Heavens, and their umam did not receive this verse as a Gift for themselves.  We are the only ummah Granted “Bismillah ar-Rahman ar-Rahim.”  We are Blessed for we are the ummah of the Beloved of Allah (s.a.w.) and He has Given us “Bismillah ar-Rahman ar-Rahim” as a Gift for the ummah of Habibullah (s.a.w.).  Only awliya’ truly acknowledge and understand the karamah of the Basmallah, and they use it to help the people of the ummah when they are approached for help.  Without the Basmallah, they too would be helpless to alleviate the sufferings of the ummah.  We must learn the benefits Granted by the recitation of “Bismillah ar-Rahman ar-Rahim”.  The recitation of “Bismillah ar-Rahman ar-Rahim” creates a connection with the Divine so that we may attain Help for difficulties.  Glad tidings are for those who know the value of “Bismillah ar-Rahman ar-Rahim” and who recite it.  Without “Bismillah ar-Rahman ar-Rahim”, we cannot succeed.  All desirable results are attained only through the recitation of “Bismillah ar-Rahman ar-Rahim.” 

Every atom in Creation derives its existence from “Bismillah ar-Rahman ar-Rahim.”  The Basmallah brings power and blessings upon its reciters like rain falling on earth.  Without the Basmallah, we are helpless.  A plant grows only when planted with the Basmallah.  Technology cannot give life to the plant, but “Bismillah ar-Rahman ar-Rahim” can.  “Bismillah ar-Rahman ar-Rahim” can unlock any sealed heart, it can dissolve any mental block, it can cure any difficult physical or spiritual condition.