Summary:
The first Verse of the Holy Quran contains three Isms of Allah-azwj, Allah, Ar-Rahmab and Ar-Rahim. It’s a blessed Verse Revealed by Allah-azwj and it is highly recommended, in Ahadith, to seek Allah-azwj’s Blessings through its recitation prior to engaging in any kind of act, i.e., from the rituals of worship or daily tasks and under all conditions:
الزمخشري في (ربيع الأبرار): عن النبي (صلى الله عليه و آله): «لا يرد دعاء أوله بِسْمِ اللَّهِ الرَّحْمنِ الرَّحِيمِ فإن أمتي يأتون يوم القيامة، و هم يقولون: بِسْمِ اللَّهِ الرَّحْمنِ الرَّحِيمِ فتثقل حسناتهم في الميزان، فتقول الأمم: ما أرجح موازين أمة محمد (صلى الله عليه و آله)! فيقول الأنبياء: إن ابتداء كلامهم ثلاثة أسماء من أسماء الله تعالى، لو وضعت في كفة الميزان، و وضعت سيئات الخلق في كفة أخرى، لرجحت حسناتهم».
Al-Zamakshary in ‘Rab’i Al-Abraar’,
(It has been narrated) from the Prophet-saww: ‘Don’t leave out calling at its beginning – بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم, for my-saww community would be coming on the Day of Judgement, and they would be saying: بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم so their deeds would become heavier upon the Scale. The (other) communities would be saying, ‘What outweighed the Scale of the community of Muhammad-saww?’ The Prophets-as would be saying: ‘They initiated their speech with three Names from the Names of Allah-azwj. If these were to be placed upon one hand of the Scale, and the sins of (all) of the creatures were to be placed upon the other hand, their deeds would outweigh their (sins)’.[1]
The Meanings of the words of Bismillah:
وفى كتاب التوحيد باسناده إلى صفوان بن يحيى عمن حدثه عن ابى عبد الله عليه السلام انه سئل عن بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم ؟ فقال: الباء بهاء الله والسين سناء الله والميم ملك الله،
And in the book of Tawheed by its chain to Al-Safwan Bin Yahya from the one who narrated it to him:
(It has been narrated) from Abu Abdullah-asws where he questioned about In the Name of Allah the Beneficent, the Merciful [1:1], ‘He-asws said: ‘The ‘Ba’ is for Bahaullah (Beauty of Allah-azwj) and the ‘Seen’ is for Sanaullah (The Splendour of Allah-azwj) and the ‘Meem’ is for Mulkullah (The Kingdom of Allah-azwj)’.
قال: قلت الله ؟ قال: الالف آلاء الله على خلقه من النعيم بولايتنا، اللام الزام الله خلقه ولايتنا
He (the narrator) said, ‘I said, ‘(What about) ‘Allah?’ He-asws said: ‘The ‘Alif’ stands for the Favours (آلاء) of Allah-azwj to His-azwj creatures which He-azwj has Graced by our-asws Wilayah; and ‘Laam’ is (الزام) Necessitation by Allah-azwj our-asws Wilayah upon His-azwj creatures ‘.
قلت، فالهاء ؟ قال: هو ان لمن خالف محمدا وآل محمد صلوات الله عليهم، قلت: الرحمن، قال بجميع العالم قلت: الرحيم ؟ قال: بالمؤمنين خاصة.
I said: ‘(What about) ‘Lah? (the distraction from the Path)?’ He-asws said: ‘It is for the one who opposes Muhammad-saww and the Progeny-asws of Muhammad-saww’. I said: ‘الرَّحْمنِ’ The Most Merciful?’ He-asws said: ‘To the whole world’. I said: ‘الرَّحِيمِ’ The Most Merciful?’ He-asws said: ‘To the Momineen in particular’.[2]
The Interpretation (Tafseer) of Bay Ism Allah:
بِسْمِ اللهِ الرَّحْمنِ الرَّحِيمِ [1:1]
In the Name of Allah, the Beneficent, the Merciful [1:1]
و عنه، قال: حدثنا محمد بن إبراهيم بن إسحاق الطالقاني (رضي الله عنه)، قال: أخبرنا أحمد بن محمد ابن سعيد مولى بني هاشم، عن علي بن الحسن بن فضال، عن أبيه،
And from him who said, ‘It was narrated to us by Muhammad Bin Ibrahim Bin Is’haq Al Talaqany, from Ahmad Bin Muhammad Ibn Saeed, a slave of the Clan of Hashim, from Ali Bin Al Husayn Bin Fazl, from his father who said,
قال: سألت الرضا علي بن موسى (عليه السلام) عن بِسْمِ اللَّهِ الرَّحْمنِ الرَّحِيمِ فقال: «معنى قول القائل: بسم الله، أي: أسمي على نفسي سمة من سمات الله عز و جل و هي العبادة». قال: فقلت له: و ما السمة؟ قال: «العلامة».
‘I asked Al-Reza Ali-asws Bin Musa-asws about ‘بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم’, so he-asws said: ‘The meaning of ‘بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم’, ‘I name upon myself a Name from the Names of Allah-azwj Mighty and Majestic’, and it is the worship’. So I said, ‘And what is the name?’ He-asws said: ‘(Its) Sign.[3]
عن عيسى بن عبدالله، عن أبيه، عن جده، عن علي (عليه السلام)، قال: بلغه أن أناسا ينزعون بِسْمِ اللَّهِ الرَّحْمنِ الرَّحِيمِ، فقال: «هي آية من كتاب الله، أنساهم إياها الشيطان».
From Isa Bin Abdullah, from his father, from his grandfather, from;
(Imam) Ali-asws has said: ‘It reached him-asws that they had removed بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم In the Name of Allah the Beneficent, the Merciful [1:1], so he-asws said: ‘It is a Verse from the Book of Allah-azwj, the Satan-la made them remove it’ (when general Muslims recite second verse in Salat they omit Bismillah).[4]
و في الحديث عن مولى الأمة و إمامها أمير المؤمنين علي بن أبي طالب (عليه السلام) أن عبدالله بن عباس جاءه (عليه السلام) يسأله عن تفسير القرآن، فوعده بالليل، فلما حضر قال: «ما أول القرآن؟». قال: الفاتحة. قال: «و ما أول الفاتحة؟» قال: بسم الله. قال: «و ما أول بسم الله؟». قال: بسم. قال: «و ما أول بسم؟». قال: الباء، فجعل (عليه السلام) يتكلم في الباء طول الليل، فلما قرب الفجر قال: «لو زادنا الليل لزدنا».
And in the Hadeeth, from Master-asws of the community and its Imam-asws Amir-Al-Momineen Ali-asws Bin Abu Talib-asws that: ‘Abdullah Bin Abbas came to him-asws asking him-asws about interpretation of the Quran. So, he-asws gave him an appointment at night. When he came, he said, ‘What is the first (start) of the Quran?’ He-asws said: ‘Al-Fatiha’. He said, ‘And what is the start of Al-Fatiha?’ He-asws said: ‘Bismillah’ (In the Name of Allah-azwj)’. He said, ‘And what is the start of Bismillah?’ He-asws said: ‘Bism’ (In the Name). He said, ‘And what is the start of ‘Bism’?’ He-asws said: ‘The ‘Ba’. And he-asws went on to speak about the ‘Ba’ for most of the night. When it was near to the dawn, he-asws said: ‘Had the night increased for us, I-asws would increase more (of this explanation)’.[5]
وباسناده إلى امير المؤمنين عليه السلام انه قال وقد سئل ما الفائدة في حروف الهجاء فقال على عليه السلام ما من حرف الا وهو اسم من اسماء الله عزوجل.
By its chain up to Amir-ul-Momineen-asws who-asws when asked: ‘What is the benefit of the letters of the Alphabet?’ So, Ali-asws said: ‘There is not a (single) letter from the letters (of the Arabic Alphabet) but it is a Name from the Names of Allah-azwj the Mighty the Majestic’.[6]
Also see an additional Hadith in Appendix I:
Mertis of Bismillah:
و روي عن النبي (صلى الله عليه و آله) قال: «من قرأ بِسْمِ اللَّهِ الرَّحْمنِ الرَّحِيمِ بنى الله له في الجنة سبعين ألف قصر من ياقوتة حمراء، في كل قصر سبعون ألف بيت من لؤلؤة بيضاء، في كل بيت سبعون ألف سرير من زبرجدة خضراء، فوق كل سرير سبعون ألف فراش من سندس و إستبرق، و عليه زوجة من حور العين، و لها سبعون ألف ذؤابة، مكللة بالدر و الياقوت،
And it has been reported from the Prophet-saww having said: Whoever recites ‘بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم’’, Allah-azwj would Build for him in the Paradise seventy thousand castles of red rubies. In each castle would be seventy thousand houses of white pearls. In each house would be seventy thousand beds of green emeralds. On top of each of the beds would be mattresses of silk and brocade upon which would be a wife from the beautiful Houries, and she would have seventy thousand locks of hair crowned with coral and rubies.
مكتوب على خدها الأيمن: محمد رسول الله، و على خدها الأيسر: علي ولي الله، و على جبينها الحسن، و على ذقنها: الحسين، و على شفتيها: بِسْمِ اللَّهِ الرَّحْمنِ الرَّحِيمِ». قلت: يا رسول الله، لمن هذه الكرامة؟ قال: لمن يقول بالحرمة و التعظيم: بِسْمِ اللَّهِ الرَّحْمنِ الرَّحِيمِ».
It will be written on her (Houries) right cheek, ‘محمد رسول الله’ (Muhammad-saww the Rasool‑saww of Allah-azwj), and upon her left cheek, ‘علي ولي الله’ (Ali-asws the Guardian from Allah-azwj), and upon her forehead, ‘الحسن’ (Al-Hassan-asws), and upon her chin, ‘الحسين’ (Al-Husayn-asws), and upon her lips, ‘بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم’. I said, ‘O Rasool-saww of Allah-azwj! For whom would be this Prestige?’ He-saww said: ‘For the one who says, ‘بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم’ with sanctity and veneration’.[7]
وَ قَالَ الْحَسَنُ [بْنُ عَلِيٍ] ع: قَالَ أَمِيرُ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ ع وَ إِنَ «بِسْمِ اللَّهِ الرَّحْمنِ الرَّحِيمِ» آيَةٌ مِنْ فَاتِحَةِ الْكِتَابِ، وَ هِيَ سَبْعُ آيَاتٍ تَمَامُهَا بِسْمِ اللَّهِ الرَّحْمنِ الرَّحِيمِ.
And Al-Hassan-asws Bin Ali-asws said that Amir-Al-Momineen-asws said: ‘The Verse بِسْمِ اللَّهِ الرَّحْمنِ الرَّحِيمِ ( In the Name of Allah the Beneficent, the Merciful [1:1] ) is one of the Verses of the ‘Opening of the Book’ which consists of seven Verses, including this one.
[قَالَ]: سَمِعْتُ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ ص يَقُولُ: إِنَّ اللَّهَ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ قَالَ لِي: يَا مُحَمَّدُ «وَ لَقَدْ آتَيْناكَ سَبْعاً مِنَ الْمَثانِي وَ الْقُرْآنَ الْعَظِيمَ» فَأَفْرَدَ الِامْتِنَانَ [عَلَيَ] بِفَاتِحَةِ الْكِتَابِ، وَ جَعَلَهَا بِإِزَاءِ الْقُرْآنِ الْعَظِيمِ وَ إِنَّ فَاتِحَةَ الْكِتَابِ أَشْرَفُ مَا فِي كُنُوزِ الْعَرْشِ.
I have heard Rasool-Allah-saww say: ‘Allah-azwj Said to me, ‘O Muhammad-saww And We have Given you seven of the oft-repeated (verses) and the Magnificent Quran [15:87]. Allah-azwj Referred to it separately in the Opening of the Book and Made it special to the Magnificent Quran and this Opening of the Book is from the treasures of the Throne.’
وَ إِنَّ اللَّهَ تَعَالَى خَصَّ بِهَا مُحَمَّداً ص وَ شَرَّفَهُ [بِهَا] وَ لَمْ يُشْرِكْ مَعَهُ فِيهَا أَحَداً مِنْ أَنْبِيَائِهِ مَا خَلَا سُلَيْمَانَ ع فَإِنَّهُ أَعْطَاهُ مِنْهَا «بِسْمِ اللَّهِ الرَّحْمنِ الرَّحِيمِ» أَ لَا تَرَى أَنَّهُ يَحْكِي عَنْ بِلْقِيسَ حِينَ قَالَتْ: «إِنِّي أُلْقِيَ إِلَيَّ كِتابٌ كَرِيمٌ إِنَّهُ مِنْ سُلَيْمانَ وَ إِنَّهُ بِسْمِ اللَّهِ الرَّحْمنِ الرَّحِيمِ»
Allah-azwj Bestowed a special Favour on Muhammad-saww with it and did not let anyone else from the Prophets-as have a share in it except for Prophet Sulayman-as as He-azwj Gave him-as بِسْمِ اللَّهِ الرَّحْمنِ الرَّحِيمِ» ( In the Name of Allah the Beneficent, the Merciful [1:1]) from this. Do you not see when he-as wrote to Bilquis and she said, She said: O you Chiefs! An honourable letter has been delivered to me [27:29] It is from Sulayman, and it is in the Name of Allah, the Beneficent, the Merciful? [27:30]
أَلَا فَمَنْ قَرَأَهَا مُعْتَقِداً لِمُوَالاةِ مُحَمَّدٍ وَ آلِهِ الطَّيِّبِينَ، مُنْقَاداً لِأَمْرِهِمْ، مُؤْمِناً بِظَاهِرِهِمْ وَ بَاطِنِهِمْ، أَعْطَاهُ اللَّهُ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ بِكُلِّ حَرْفٍ مِنْهَا حَسَنَةً، كُلُّ حَسَنَةٍ مِنْهَا أَفْضَلُ لَهُ مِنَ الدُّنْيَا وَ مَا فِيهَا- مِنْ أَصْنَافِ أَمْوَالِهَا وَ خَيْرَاتِهَا
Indeed! So, the one who recites this and believes in the Wilayah of Muhammad-saww and his‑saww Pure Progeny-asws, and believes in their manifest and hidden matters, then Allah-azwj Mighty and Majestic will Give him a Reward for every letter of it, each of which will be better than this world and whatever is in it from the varieties of its wealth and (all of) its goodness.
وَ مَنِ اسْتَمَعَ قَارِئاً يَقْرَؤُهَا- كَانَ لَهُ قَدْرُ ثُلُثِ مَا لِلْقَارِئِ، فَلْيَسْتَكْثِرْ أَحَدُكُمْ مِنْ هَذَا الْخَيْرِ الْمُعْرَضِ لَكُمْ، فَإِنَّهُ غَنِيمَةٌ لَا يَذْهَبَنَّ أَوَانُهُ، فَتَبْقَى فِي قُلُوبِكُمُ الْحَسْرَةُ.
And the one who listens intently to a reciter reciting it, would have for him a third of what is for the reciter. Therefore, let each one of you attain a good deal from this goodness shown to you, for it is a booty the season of which will not be passing away, in case regret remains in your heart (of noting benefiting from its recitations).’[8]
و قال النبي (صلى الله عليه و آله): «إذا مر المؤمن على الصراط، فيقول: بِسْمِ اللَّهِ الرَّحْمنِ الرَّحِيمِ أطفئ لهب النار، و تقول: جز- يا مؤمن- فإن نورك قد أطفأ لهبي».
And the Prophet-saww said: ‘When a Momin would pass upon the Bridge (Al-Siraat), he would be saying, بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم ‘In the Name of Allah-azwj, the Beneficent, the Merciful’, it would extinguish a flame of the Fire, and it would say: ‘Hurry, O Momin, for your radiance is extinguishing my flames’.[9]
و قال النبي (صلى الله عليه و آله): «إذا قال المعلم للصبي: [قل:] بِسْمِ اللَّهِ الرَّحْمنِ الرَّحِيمِ [فقال الصبي: بِسْمِ اللَّهِ الرَّحْمنِ الرَّحِيمِ] كتب الله براءة للصبي، و براءة لأبويه، و براءة للمعلم [من النار]».
And the Prophet-saww said: ‘When the teacher says to the young boy, ‘Say, بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم’, so the young boy says, بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم ‘, Allah-azwj Decrees remoteness from the Fire for the young boy, and remoteness for his father, and remoteness for the teacher (from the Fire of Hell)’.[10]
عنه: بإسناده عن محمد بن الحسين، عن محمد بن حماد بن زيد ، عن عبدالله بن يحيى الكاهلي، عن أبي عبدالله (عليه السلام)، قال: «بِسْمِ اللَّهِ الرَّحْمنِ الرَّحِيمِ أقرب إلى اسم الله الأعظم من ناظر العين إلى بياضها».
From him, by his chain, from Muhammad Bin Al-Husayn, from Muhammad Bin Hamaad Bin Zayd, from Abdullah Bin Yahya Al-Kahily, (who has narrated):
‘Abu Abdullah-asws has said: بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم is closer to the Most Magnificent Name of Allah-azwj (Al-Ism Al-A’azam) than the vision of the eye is to its whiteness (very close)’.[11]
وَ بِهَذَا الْإِسْنَادِ قَالَ قَالَ مَنْ ذَكَرَ اللَّهَ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ عَلَى الطَّعَامِ لَمْ يُسْأَلْ عَنْ نَعِيمِ ذَلِكَ أَبَداً .
And by this chain, said,
‘He-asws said: ‘The one who mentions Allah-azwj Mighty and Majestic (Bismillah) upon the meal would not be Questioned about that Bounty, ever!’[12]
أَحْمَدُ بْنُ مُحَمَّدٍ عَنِ ابْنِ فَضَّالٍ عَنْ دَاوُدَ بْنِ فَرْقَدٍ عَنْ أَبِي عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ( عليه السلام ) قَالَ قَالَ أَمِيرُ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ ( عليه السلام ) ضَمِنْتُ لِمَنْ يُسَمِّي عَلَى طَعَامِهِ أَنْ لَا يَشْتَكِيَ مِنْهُ فَقَالَ لَهُ ابْنُ الْكَوَّاءِ يَا أَمِيرَ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ لَقَدْ أَكَلْتُ الْبَارِحَةَ طَعَاماً فَسَمَّيْتُ عَلَيْهِ وَ آذَانِي فَقَالَ لَعَلَّكَ أَكَلْتَ أَلْوَاناً فَسَمَّيْتَ عَلَى بَعْضِهَا وَ لَمْ تُسَمِّ عَلَى بَعْضٍ يَا لُكَعُ .
Ahmad Bin Muhammad, from Ibn Fazzal, from Dawood Bin Farqad,
(It has been narrated) from Abu Abdullah-asws having said: ‘Amir Al-Momineen-asws said: ‘I-asws guarantee for the one who Names (Bismillah) upon his meal that he would not complain from it’. So Ibn Al-Kawwa said to him-asws, ‘O Amir Al-Momineen-asws! I did eat a meal yesterday and I had Named (Bismillah) over it, and it harmed me’. So, he-asws said: ‘Perhaps you had a variety, so you Named upon some of it and did not Name upon some, O dimwit!’[13]
In addition to Bismillah, who say Alhamdolillah hay Rabiul Allameen:
أَبُو عَلِيٍّ الْأَشْعَرِيُّ عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ عَبْدِ الْجَبَّارِ عَنْ صَفْوَانَ عَنْ كُلَيْبٍ الْأَسَدِيِّ عَنْ أَبِي عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ( عليه السلام ) قَالَ إِنَّ الرَّجُلَ الْمُسْلِمَ إِذَا أَرَادَ أَنْ يَطْعَمَ طَعَاماً فَأَهْوَى بِيَدِهِ فَقَالَ بِسْمِ اللَّهِ وَ الْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ رَبِّ الْعَالَمِينَ غَفَرَ اللَّهُ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ لَهُ قَبْلَ أَنْ تَصِلَ اللُّقْمَةُ إِلَى فِيهِ .
Abu Ali Al Ashary, from Muhammad Bin Abdul Jabbar, from Safwan, from kuleyb Al Asady,
(It has been narrated) from Abu Abdullah-asws having said: ‘The Muslim man, when he intends to eat food, so he extends his hand, so he says, ‘In the Name of Allah-azwj and the Praise is for Allah-azwj Lord-azwj of the Worlds’, Allah-azwj Mighty and Majestic Forgives for him before the morsel arrives to his mouth’.[14]
Bismillah for the Protection and Safety:
عدة من أصحابنا عن سهل بن زيادة عن ادريس الحارثى عن محمد بن سنان عن مفضل بن عمر قال: قال أبو عبد الله عليه السلام: احتجبوا من الناس كلهم ببسم الله الرحمن الرحيم وبقل هو الله أحد، اقرأها عن يمينك وعن شمالك ومن بين يديك ومن خلفك ومن فوقك ومن تحتك، وإذا دخلت على سلطان جائر فاقرأها حين تنظر إليه ثلاث مرات، واعقد بيدك اليسرى ثم لا تفارقها حتى تخرج من عنده.
A number of our companions from Sahl Bin Ziyad, from Idrees Al-Harisy, from Muhammad Bin Sinan, from MufazzAl-Bin Umar who said:
Abu Abdullah-asws said: ‘Protect yourselves from all the people by بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم and by Say He Allah is One”[112:1]. Recite these on your right and on your left and on your front and on your back and above your (head) and below (on your feet). And if you have to go to an unjust authority (Sultan), then recite these three times when you see him, and close your left fist, then do not open it until you come out from his presence’.[15]
Two Ahadith on seeking protection and relief from Bismillah are cited in Appendix II.
A Believer is rebuked when forgetting Bismillah when initiating a task:
وفيه عن الصادق عليه السلام حديث طويل وفيه، ولربما ترك بعض شيعتنا في افتتاح أمره بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم فيمتحنه الله عزوجل بمكروه لينبهه على شكر الله تبارك وتعالى والثناء عليه، ويمحق عنه وصمة تقصيره عند تركه قول بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم.
And in it from Al-Sadiq-asws, a lengthy Hadeeth and in it is: ‘Perhaps some of our Shiites would ignore the recitation of بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم at the start of an affair, Allah-azwj the Mighty the Majestic would Test him so that he would thank Allah-azwj Blessed and High, and Praise Him-azwj, and that would destroy the stigma of his negligence in the recitation of ‘بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم’.[16]
Further Ahadith are cited in Appendix III.
Appendix I: Names of Allah-azwj and Derivatives:
علي بن إبراهيم، عن أبيه، عن النضر بن سويد، عن هشام بن الحكم أنه سأل أبا عبدالله عليه السلام عن أسماء الله واشتقاقها: الله مما هو مشتق؟ قال: فقال لي: يا هشام الله مشتق من إله والاله يقتضي مألوها والاسم غير المسمى، فمن عبد الاسم دون المعنى فقد كفر ولم يعبد شيئا، ومن عبد الاسم والمعنى فقد كفر وعبد اثنين، ومن عبد المعنى دون الاسم فذاك التوحيد أفهمت يا هشام؟ قال: فقلت: زدني
Ali Bin Ibrahim, from his father, from Al-Nazar Bin Suweyd, from Hisham Bin Al-Hakam, who says:
‘I asked Abu Abdullah-asws about the Names of Allah-azwj and their Derivatives, ‘From what has ‘Allah’ been derived from?’ He-asws said to me: ‘O Hisham! ‘Allah’ has been derived from ‘إله والاله’ ‘Ilah’ and ‘Alaah’ which necessitates a worshipper and the Name is not the same as the Named. So, the one who worships the Name without the Meaning, so he has blasphemed and has not worshipped anything. And the one who worships the Name and the Meaning, so he has blasphemed as he has worshipped two. And the one who has worshipped the Meaning without the Name, so that is the Oneness (Al-Tawheed). Do you understand, O Hisham?’ I said, ‘Increase it for me’.
قال: إن لله تسعة وتسعين اسما فلو كان الاسم هو المسمى لكان كل اسم منها إلها ولكن الله معنى يدل عليه بهذه الاسماء وكلها غيره، يا هشام الخبز اسم للمأكول والماء اسم للمشروب والثوب اسم للملبوس والنار اسم للمحرق أفهمت يا هشام فهما تدفع به وتناضل به أعداء نا والمتخذين مع الله عزوجل غيره؟ قلت: نعم، قال: فقال: نفعك الله به وثبتك يا هشام،
He-asws said: ‘Allah-azwj has ninety-nine Names. Had every Name been (the same as) the Named, then every one of them would be a god, but Allah-azwj is Evidenced by these Names, and all of these are other than Him-azwj. O Hisham! The ‘Bread’ is a name of a food and the ‘Water’ is the name of a drink, and the ‘Cloth’ is a name of the garment, and the ‘Fire’ is a name of the incinerators. Do you understand, O Hisham with an understanding by which you can defend against, and struggle against our-asws enemies, and those that take someone else along with Allah-azwj?’ I said, ‘Yes’. He-asws said: ‘May Allah-azwj benefit you by it and Keep you to be steadfast, O Hisham’.
قال هشام فوالله ما قهرني أحد في التوحيد حتى قمت مقامي هذا.
Hisham said, ‘By Allah-azwj! No one was able to defeat me regarding Oneness (Al-Tawheed) until he were to stand in this place of mine (reach to my level of understanding)’.[17]
Appendix II: Seeking Protection and Relief from Bismillah
الْبَلَدُ، وَ الْجُنَّةُ، جُنَّةُ الْأَمَانِ وَ الْمُلْحَقَاتُ، دُعَاءٌ آخَرُ لِلسَّجَّادِ ع- بِسْمِ اللَّهِ الرَّحْمنِ الرَّحِيمِ الْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ وَ الْحَمْدُ حَقُّهُ كَمَا يَسْتَحِقُّهُ حَمْداً كَثِيراً وَ أَعُوذُ بِهِ مِنْ شَرِّ نَفْسِي إِنَّ النَّفْسَ لَأَمَّارَةٌ بِالسُّوءِ إِلَّا ما رَحِمَ رَبِّي
(The books) ‘Al Balad’, and ‘Junnat Al Amaan’, and ‘Al Mulhaqaat’ –
‘Another supplication of Al-Sajjad-asws – ‘In the Name of Allah-azwj the Beneficent, the Merciful! The Praise is for Allah-azwj, and the Praise is His-azwj right just as He-azwj deserves it, abundant Praise! And I seek Refuge with Him-azwj from evil of my soul The self is an enjoiner with the evil except what my Lord has Mercy on. [12:53]!
وَ أَعُوذُ بِهِ مِنْ شَرِّ الشَّيْطَانِ الَّذِي يَزِيدُنِي ذَنْباً إِلَى ذَنْبِي وَ أَحْتَرِزُ بِهِ مِنْ كُلِّ جَبَّارٍ فَاجِرٍ وَ سُلْطَانٍ جَائِرٍ وَ عَدُوٍّ قَاهِرٍ
And I seek Refuge with Him-azwj from the evil of Satan-la Who increases me in sins to my sins, and I Protect myself by Him-azwj from every immoral tyrant and tyrannical ruler, and subduing enemy!
اللَّهُمَّ اجْعَلْنِي مِنْ جُنْدِكَ فَإِنَّ جُنْدَكَ هُمُ الْغَالِبُونَ وَ اجْعَلْنِي مِنْ حِزْبِكَ فَإِنَّ حِزْبَكَ هُمُ الْمُفْلِحُونَ وَ اجْعَلْنِي مِنْ أَوْلِيَائِكَ فَإِنَّ أَوْلِيَاءَكَ لا خَوْفٌ عَلَيْهِمْ وَ لا هُمْ يَحْزَنُونَ
O Allah-azwj! Make me from one of Your-azwj soldiers, for Your-azwj soldiers are the victorious, and Make me from one of Your-azwj parties, for Your-azwj party is successful, and Make me from Your-azwj friends, for Your-azwj friends, there will neither be fear upon them nor will they be grieving!
اللَّهُمَّ أَصْلِحْ لِي دِينِي فَإِنَّهُ عِصْمَةُ أَمْرِي وَ أَصْلِحْ لِي آخِرَتِي فَإِنَّهَا دَارُ مَقَرِّي وَ إِلَيْهَا مِنْ مُجَاوَرَةِ اللِّئَامِ مَفَرِّي وَ اجْعَلِ الْحَيَاةَ زِيَادَةً لِي فِي كُلِّ خَيْرٍ وَ الْوَفَاةَ رَاحَةً لِي مِنْ كُلِّ شَرٍّ
O Allah-azwj! Rectify my religion for me for it is a protection of my affairs, and Rectify my Hereafter for me for it is a house of my settlement, and to it the vicinity of the common people as my refuge, and Make the life as an increase for me in every good, and the death as comfort for me from every evil!
اللَّهُمَّ صَلِّ عَلَى مُحَمَّدٍ خَاتَمِ النَّبِيِّينَ وَ تَمَامِ عِدَّةِ الْمُرْسَلِينَ وَ عَلَى آلِهِ الطَّيِّبِينَ الطَّاهِرِينَ وَ أَصْحَابِهِ الْمُنْتَجَبِينَ وَ هَبْ لِي فِي الثَّلَاثَاءِ ثَلَاثاً لَا تَدَعْ لِي ذَنْباً إِلَّا غَفَرْتَهُ وَ لَا هَمّاً إِلَّا فَرَّجْتَهُ وَ لَا هما [غَمّاً] إِلَّا أَذْهَبْتَهُ وَ لَا عَدُوّاً إِلَّا دَفَعْتَهُ
O Allah-azwj! Send Salawaat upon Muhammad–saww, last of the Prophets-as and completion of number of the Messengers-as, and upon his–saww Progeny-asws, the goodly, the pure, and his‑saww selected companions, and Grant to me three (things) during the Tuesday not leaving any sin for me except Forgive it, nor any worry except Relieve it, nor any sadness except Remove it, nor enemy except Repel him!
بِبِسْمِ اللَّهِ خَيْرِ الْأَسْمَاءِ بِسْمِ اللَّهِ رَبِّ الْأَرْضِ وَ السَّمَاءِ أَسْتَدْفِعُ كُلَّ مَكْرُوهٍ أَوَّلُهُ سَخَطُهُ وَ أَسْتَجْلِبُ كُلَّ مَحْبُوبٍ أَوَّلُهُ رِضَاهُ فَاخْتِمْ لِي مِنْكَ بِالْغُفْرَانِ يَا وَلِيَّ الْإِحْسَانِ.
In the Name of Allah-azwj, best of the Names! In the Name of Allah-azwj Lord-azwj of the earth and the sky! I seek repelling of every abhorrence its beginning is His-azwj Annoyance, and I seek to attract every loved thing its beginning is His-azwj Satisfaction, so End for me with the Forgiveness from You-azwj, O Guardian of the favours!’’[18]
قَالَ سَلْمَانُ قُلْتُ علمني [عَلِّمِينِي] الْكَلَامَ يَا سَيِّدَتِي فَقَالَتْ إِنْ سَرَّكَ أَنْ لَا يَمَسَّكَ أَذَى الْحُمَّى مَا عِشْتَ فِي دَارِ الدُّنْيَا فَوَاظِبْ عَلَيْهِ
Salman-ra said, ‘I-ra said, ‘Teach me-ra the phrase, O my-ra chieftess!’ She-asws said: ‘If I-asws divulge the secret to you-ra, the harm of the fever will not touch you-ra for as long as you-ra live in the house of the world’. I-ra complied upon it.
ثُمَّ قَالَ سَلْمَانُ عَلَّمَتْنِي هَذَا الْحِرْزَ فَقَالَتْ بِسْمِ اللَّهِ الرَّحْمنِ الرَّحِيمِ بِسْمِ اللَّهِ النُّورِ بِسْمِ اللَّهِ نُورِ النُّورِ بِسْمِ اللَّهِ نُورٌ عَلَى نُورٍ بِسْمِ اللَّهِ الَّذِي هُوَ مُدَبِّرُ الْأُمُورِ بِسْمِ اللَّهِ الَّذِي خَلَقَ النُّورَ مِنَ النُّورِ الْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ الَّذِي خَلَقَ النُّورَ مِنَ النُّورِ وَ أَنْزَلَ النُّورَ عَلَى الطُّورِ فِي كِتابٍ مَسْطُورٍ فِي رَقٍّ مَنْشُورٍ بِقَدَرِ مَقْدُورٍ عَلَى نَبِيٍّ مَحْبُورٍ الْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ الَّذِي هُوَ بِالْعِزِّ مَذْكُورٌ وَ بِالْفَخْرِ مَشْهُورٌ وَ عَلَى السَّرَّاءِ وَ الضَّرَّاءِ مَشْكُورٌ وَ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَى سَيِّدِنَا مُحَمَّدٍ وَ آلِهِ الطَّاهِرِينَ
Then Salman-ra said, ‘Syeda-asws taught me-ra this protective procedure. Syeda-asws said: ‘In the Name of Allah-azwj the Beneficent, the Merciful. In the Name of Allah-azwj the Light! In the Name of Allah-azwj, Light of the lights! In the Name of Allah-azwj, Light upon Light! In the Name of Allah-azwj Who is Manager of the affairs! In the Name of Allah-azwj Who Created the Light from the Light! The Praise is for Allah-azwj) Who Created the Light and Send down the Light upon the (mount) Toor in the written Book [52:2] In a published Parchment [52:3], in a Determined measure, unto an exuberant Prophet-saww. The Praise is for Allah-azwj Who is with the Mentioned Might, and with the famous Pride, and thanked upon the joy and harm, and send Salawaat upon our Chief Muhammad-saww and his–saww clean Progeny-asws’.
قَالَ سَلْمَانُ فَتَعَلَّمْتُهُنَّ فَوَ اللَّهِ لَقَدْ عَلَّمْتُهُنَّ أَكْثَرَ مِنْ أَلْفِ نَفْسٍ مِنْ أَهْلِ الْمَدِينَةِ وَ مَكَّةَ مِمَّنْ بِهِمُ الْحُمَّى فَكُلٌّ بَرَأَ مِنْ مَرَضِهِ بِإِذْنِ اللَّهِ تَعَالَى.
Salman-ra said, ‘I-ra learnt these (phrases). By Allah-azwj! I-ra have taught to more than a thousand souls from the people of Al-Medina and Makkah, from the ones who had fever with them. Each was cured from his illness, by the Permission of Allah-azwj the Exalted’’.[19]
Appendix III: Additional Ahadith on leaving Bismillah by a Believer:
و عنه، قال: حدثنا محمد بن القاسم الجرجاني المفسر (رحمه الله)، قال: حدثنا أبو يعقوب يوسف بن محمد بن زياد، و أبو الحسن علي بن محمد بن سيار، و كانا من الشيعة الإمامية، عن أبويهما،
And from him who said, ‘It was narrated to us by Muhammad Bin Al Qasim Al Jarjany Al Mufassir, from Abu Yaqoub Yusuf Bin Muhammad Bin Ziyad, and Abu Al Hassan Ali Bin Muhammad Bin Sayyar, and he was from the Imamiya Shias, from their fathers,
عن الحسن بن علي بن محمد (عليهم السلام) في قول الله عز و جل: بِسْمِ اللَّهِ الرَّحْمنِ الرَّحِيمِ، فقال: «هو الله الذي يتأله إليه عند الحوائج و الشدائد كل مخلوق، عند انقطاع الرجاء عن كل من هو دونه، و تقطع الأسباب من جميع من سواه، تقول: بسم الله، أي استعين على أموري كلها بالله، الذي لا تحق العبادة إلا له، و المغيث إذا استغيث، و المجيب إذا دعي.
From Al-Hassan-asws Bin Ali-asws Bin Muhammad-asws regarding the Words of Allah-azwj Mighty and Majestic بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم. So he-asws said: ‘He-azwj is Allah-azwj to Whom it is resorted to during the need and difficulties by every creature, during the cutting-off of hopes from everyone who is besides Him-azwj, and the reasons are cut off from the entirety of the ones besides Him-azwj, you are (then) saying, ‘In the Name of Allah-azwj’. That is, ‘I am Assisted upon my affairs, all of them, by Allah-azwj, Who, no one is rightful of the worship except for Him-azwj, and the Helper when He-azwj is Cried to for help, and the Answerer when supplicated to.
و هوما قال رجل للصادق (عليه السلام): يا بن رسول الله، دلني على الله ما هو، فقد أكثر علي المجادلون و حيروني؟ فقال له: يا عبدالله، هل ركبت سفينة قط؟ قال: نعم. فقال: هل كسرت بك، حيث لا سفينة تنجيك، و لا سباحة تغنيك؟ قال: نعم.
And it is what a man said to Al-Sadiq-asws, O son-asws of Rasool-Allah-saww! Point me to Allah‑azwj, what is He-azwj, for the debaters are numerous against me and they are confusing me?’ So he-asws said to him: ‘O servant of Allah-azwj! Have you every sailed a ship at all?’ He said, ‘Yes’. He-asws said: ‘Has it ever broken with you where there is no (other) ship to save you, nor could the swimming (to the shore) suffice you?’ He said, ‘Yes’.
قال الصادق (عليه السلام): فهل تعلق قلبك هنالك أن شيئا من الأشياء قادر على أن يخلصك من ورطتك؟ قال: نعم. قال الصادق (عليه السلام): فذلك الشيء هو الله، القادر على الإنجاء حيث لا منجي، و على الإغاثة حيث لا مغيث.
He-asws said: ‘So did your heart attach over there, that there is something from the things which has the ability upon finishing you from your predicament?’ He said, ‘Yes’. Al-Sadiq-asws said: ‘So that thing, He-azwj is Allah-azwj, the One Able upon the rescuing when there is no Rescuer, and upon the helping when there is no helper’.
ثم قال الصادق (عليه السلام): و لربما ترك بعض شيعتنا في افتتاح أمره بِسْمِ اللَّهِ الرَّحْمنِ الرَّحِيمِ فيمتحنه الله عز و جل بمكروه، لينبهه على شكر الله تبارك و تعالى و الثناء عليه، و يمحق عنه وصمة تقصيره، عند تركه قول: بِسْمِ اللَّهِ الرَّحْمنِ الرَّحِيمِ.
Then Al-Sadiq-asws said: ‘And sometimes one of our-asws Shias neglects during the beginning of his affair (saying) بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم, so Allah-azwj Mighty and Majestic Tests him with an abhorrence in order to alert him upon the thanking Allah-azwj Blessed and High and the Laudation upon Him-azwj, and delete from him the stigma of his shortcoming during his neglect of the words ‘بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم’.
قال: و قام رجل إلى علي بن الحسين (عليه السلام) فقال: أخبرني ما معنى بِسْمِ اللَّهِ الرَّحْمنِ الرَّحِيمِ؟ فقال علي بن الحسين (عليه السلام): حدثني أبي، عن أخيه الحسن، عن أبيه أمير المؤمنين (عليه السلام): أن رجلا قام إليه، فقال: يا أمير المؤمنين، أخبرني عن بِسْمِ اللَّهِ الرَّحْمنِ الرَّحِيمِ ما معناه؟ فقال: إن قولك: الله، أعظم اسم من أسماء الله عز و جل، و هو الاسم الذي لا ينبغي أن يسمى به غير الله، و لم يتسم به مخلوق.
He-asws said: ‘And a man stood up to Ali-asws Bin Al-Husayn-asws and he said, ‘Inform me, what is the meaning of ‘بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم’ ?’ So Ali-asws Bin Al-Husayn-asws said: ‘My-asws father-asws narrated to me-asws, from his-asws brother Al-Hassan-asws, from his-asws father Amir Al-Momineen-asws that a man stood up to him-asws and he said, ‘O Amir Al-Momineen-asws! Inform me about ‘بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم’, what is its meaning?’ He-asws said: ‘Your word, ‘Allah’, is the most Magnificent Name from the Names of Allah-azwj Mighty and Majestic, and it is the Name which is not befitting that any other than Allah-azwj should be named with, and a creature cannot be named with it’.
فقال الرجل: فما تفسير قول الله؟ قال: هو الذي يتأله إليه عند الحوائج و الشدائد كل مخلوق، عند انقطاع الرجاء من جميع من [هو] دونه، و تقطع الأسباب من كل ما سواه، و ذلك [أن] كل مترئس في هذه الدنيا، و متعظم فيها، و إن عظم غناه و طغيانه، و كثرت حوائج من دونه إليه،
So, the man said, ‘what is the interpretation of the word ‘Allah’?’ He-asws said: ‘He-azwj the One who is restored to during the needs and the difficulties by every creature, during the cutting-off of the hopes from the entirety of the ones who are besides Him-azwj, and the reasons are cut off from everyone who is besides Him-azwj, and that is because every presider in this world and the one who is magnified therein, his riches are great and (so is) his tyranny, and the needs of the ones to him get broken.
فإنهم سيحتاجون حوائج [لا يقدر عليها هذا المتعاظم، و كذلك هذا المتعاظم يحتاج حوائج] لا يقدر عليها، فينقطع إلى الله عند ضرورته و فاقته، حتى إذا كفى همه، عاد إلى شركه.
Thus, they are placing their needs to this presider who has no ability upon it. And similar to that, this presider (himself) is needy of the needs, not having ability over it. So, he cuts-off to Allah-azwj (from the others) during his necessity and his destitution until when his worries are suffice with, he return to thanking Him-azwj.
أما تسمع الله عز و جل يقول: قُلْ أَ رَأَيْتَكُمْ إِنْ أَتاكُمْ عَذابُ اللَّهِ أَوْ أَتَتْكُمُ السَّاعَةُ أَ غَيْرَ اللَّهِ تَدْعُونَ إِنْ كُنْتُمْ صادِقِينَ بَلْ إِيَّاهُ تَدْعُونَ فَيَكْشِفُ ما تَدْعُونَ إِلَيْهِ إِنْ شاءَ وَ تَنْسَوْنَ ما تُشْرِكُونَ
But, have you not heard Allah-azwj Mighty and Majestic Saying Say: Tell me if the Punishment of Allah should Seize you or the Hour should come upon you, will you call (on others) besides Allah, if you are truthful [6:40] But, (to) Him you should call upon, so He Removes that for which you pray if He so Desires and you forget what you set up (with Him) [6:41].
فقال الله جل و عز لعباده: أيها الفقراء إلى رحمتي، إني قد ألزمتكم الحاجة إلي في كل حال، و ذلة العبودية في كل وقت، فإلي فافزعوا في كل أمر تأخذون و ترجون تمامه و بلوغ غايته، فإني إن أردت أن أعطيكم، لم يقدر غيري على منعكم، و إن أردت أن أمنعكم، لم يقدر غيري على إعطائكم، فأنا أحق من يسأل، و أولى من تضرع إليه.
So, Allah-azwj Majestic and Mighty Said to His-azwj servants: “O you who crave for My-azwj Mercy! I-azwj have Necessitated the need to Me-azwj during every state, and the humiliation of the slavery during every time. Therefore, to Me-azwj you should be panicking regarding every matter you are taking to and wishing for its completion and reaching its end. So, I-azwj, If I-azwj so Intend to, I-azwj shall Give you. There is no one who is able upon preventing you apart from Me-azwj. And if I-azwj Intend to Prevent (from) you, there is no one able upon giving you apart from Me-azwj. Thus, I-azwj am the most rightful One to be asked, and the foremost of the One to be invocated to”.
فقولوا عند افتتاح كل أمر صغير أو عظيم بِسْمِ اللَّهِ الرَّحْمنِ الرَّحِيمِ أي: استعين على هذا الأمر، الذي لا تحق العبادة لغيره، إلا له، المجيب إذا دعي، المغيث إذا استغيث، الرحمن الذي يرحم يبسط الرزق علينا، الرحيم بنا في أدياننا، و دنيانا، و آخرتنا، خفف علينا الدين، و جعله سهلا خفيفا، و هو يرحمنا بتمييزنا من أعدائه».
Therefore, you should be saying at the beginning of every matter, little or large, ‘بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم’ – i.e., I seek assistance upon this matter of the One-azwj Who, there is none who is rightful of the worship except for Him-azwj, the Answerer when He-azwj is supplicated to, the Helper when He-azwj is cried for help to, the Beneficent Who has been Merciful by extending the sustenance upon us, the Merciful with us in our Religion and our world, and our Hereafter, Lightened the Religion upon us, and Made it to be easy, light, and He-azwj has been Merciful to us by Distinguished us from His-azwj enemies.
ثم قال: «قال رسول الله (صلى الله عليه و آله): من حزنه أمر تعاطاه فقال: بِسْمِ اللَّهِ الرَّحْمنِ الرَّحِيمِ و هو مخلص لله، و يقبل بقلبه إليه، لم ينفك من إحدى اثنتين: إما بلوغ حاجته في الدنيا، و إما يعد له عند ربه و يدخر له، و ما عند الله خير و أبقى للمؤمنين».
Then he-asws said: ‘Rasool-Allah-saww said: ‘The one whom the matter of his transaction grieves him, so he says ‘بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم’, and he is sincere to Allah-azwj, and he turns to Him-azwj with his heart, would not be detached from one of the two – either the accomplishment of his need in the world, or it would be counted for him in the Presence of his Lord-azwj and hoarded for him (in the Hereafter); and whatever is in the Presence of Allah-azwj is better and more lasting for the Momineen’’.[20]
In another Hadith,
لقد دخل عبدالله بن يحيى على أمير المؤمنين (عليه السلام)، و بين يديه كرسي، فأمره بالجلوس عليه، فجلس عليه، فمال به حتى سقط على رأسه، فأوضح عن عظم رأسه، و سال الدم، فأمر أمير المؤمنين (عليه السلام) بماء، فغسل عنه ذلك الدم. ثم قال: ادن مني، [فدنا منه] فوضع يده على موضحته، و قد كان يجد من ألمها ما لا صبر له معه، و مسح يده عليها و تفل فيها، حتى اندمل و صار كأنه لم يصبه شيء قط.
Abdullah Bin Yahya had come over to Amir Al-Momineen-asws, and in front of him-asws was a chair. So he-asws instructed him to be seated upon it. He sat upon it, and it inclined with him until he fell upon his head, and it exposed a bone from his head, and the blood flowed. So Amir Al-Momineen-asws ordered for the water and what that blood off from him, then said: ‘Come near me-asws’. So he went closer, and he-asws placed his-asws hand upon his injury – and he had found such pain what he could not be patient upon – and he-asws wiped his-asws hand upon it and applied spittle in it, until it healed and came to be as if nothing had hit him at all.
و قال أمير المؤمنين (عليه السلام): يا عبدالله، الحمد لله الذي جعل تمحيص ذنوب شيعتنا في الدنيا بمحنهم، لتسلم لهم طاعاتهم، و يستحقوا عليها ثوابها.
And Amir Al-Momineen-asws said: ‘O Abdullah! The Praise is for Allah-azwj Who Made a scrutiny of the sins of our-asws Shias in the world with their ordeals, it order to safeguard their obedience and they would be deserving of its Rewards upon it’.
فقال عبدالله بن يحيى: يا أمير المؤمنين، و إنا لا نجازى بذنوبنا إلا في الدنيا؟ قال: نعم، أما سمعت قول رسول الله (صلى الله عليه و آله): الدنيا سجن المؤمن، و جنة الكافر. إن الله تعالى طهر شيعتنا من ذنوبهم في الدنيا بما يبتليهم به من المحن، و بما يغفره لهم، فإن الله تعالى يقول: وَ ما أَصابَكُمْ مِنْ مُصِيبَةٍ فَبِما كَسَبَتْ أَيْدِيكُمْ وَ يَعْفُوا عَنْ كَثِيرٍ حتى إذا وردوا يوم القيامة، توفرت عليهم طاعاتهم و عباداتهم.
So, Abdullah Bin Yahya said, ‘O Amir Al-Momineen-asws! And we would not be chastised for our sins except in the world?’ He-asws said: ‘Yes. Have you not heard the words of Rasool-Allah-saww: ‘The world is a prison for the Momin and a garden for the disbeliever?’ Allah-azwj the Exalted Cleans our-asws Shias from their sins in the world with what He-azwj Afflicts them with, from the adversities, and by what (sins) He-azwj Forgives for them, as Allah-azwj the Exalted is Saying And whatever affliction befalls you, it is on account of what your hands have wrought, and (yet) He Pardons most (of your faults) [42:30], until when they return on the Day of Judgment, (the Rewards of) their obedient acts and their worship would be made available to them.
و إن أعداءنا يجازيهم عن طاعة تكون في الدنيا منهم- و إن كان لا وزن لها، لأنه لا إخلاص معها- حتى إذا وافوا القيامة، حملت عليهم ذنوبهم، و بغضهم لمحمد و آله (صلوات الله عليهم أجمعين) و خيار أصحابه، فقذفوا في النار.
And (as for) our-asws enemies, they would be Recompensed of the obedient acts which happen from them in the world – and even if there was no weight to it, because there would not be sincerity with it – until when they come on the (Day of) Judgment, their sins would be loaded upon them, and (as well as) their hatred for Muhammad-saww and his-saww Progeny-asws, and the good ones of his-saww companions, so they would be flung into the Fire’.
فقال عبدالله بن يحيى: يا أمير المؤمنين، قد أفدتني و علمتني، فإن رأيت أن تعرفني ذنبي الذي امتحنت به في هذا المجلس، حتى لا أعود إلى مثله؟ فقال: تركك حين جلست أن تقول: بِسْمِ اللَّهِ الرَّحْمنِ الرَّحِيمِ فجعل الله ذلك لسهوك عما ندبت إليه تمحيصا بما أصابك، أما علمت أن رسول الله (صلى الله عليه و آله) حدثني، عن الله عز و جل أنه قال: كل أمر ذي بال لم يذكر فيه اسم الله، فهو أبتر؟
So, Abdullah Bin Yahya said, ‘O Amir Al-Momineen-asws! You-asws have benefited me and taught me. So if you-asws see fit if you-asws could introduce me to my sin which I was Tested with in this sitting, until I do not repeat to the likes of it?’ He-asws said: ‘You neglected, when you sat down, that you should be saying ‘بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم’, so Allah-azwj Made that, for your forgetfulness from what you lamented to Him-azwj, as a of what hit you. But, do you not know that Rasool-Allah-saww narrated to me-asws from Allah-azwj Mighty and Majestic that He-azwj Said: “Every matter of significance in which the Name of Allah-azwj is no mentioned, so it would be cut off (unaccomplished)?’.
فقلت: بلى- بأبي أنت و أمي- لا أتركها بعدها. قال: إذن تحظى و تسعد.
So I said, ‘Yes, by my father and my mother (being sacrificed for) you-asws – I will not neglect it after (this)’. He-asws said: ‘Then you would be fortified and happy’.
قال عبدالله بن يحيى: يا أمير المؤمنين، ما تفسير بِسْمِ اللَّهِ الرَّحْمنِ الرَّحِيمِ؟ قال: إن العبد إذا أراد أن يقرأ، أو يعمل عملا، فيقول: بِسْمِ اللَّهِ الرَّحْمنِ الرَّحِيمِ أي بهذا الاسم أعمل هذا العمل، فكل عمل يعمله، يبدأ فيه ب بِسْمِ اللَّهِ الرَّحْمنِ الرَّحِيمِ فإنه مبارك له فيه».
Abdullah Bin Yahya said, ‘O Amir Al-Momineen-asws! What is the interpretation of ‘بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم’?’ He-asws said: ‘The servant, when he wants to recite, or do a deed, so he is saying, ‘بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم’, i.e. ‘It is by this Name I am doing this deed’, so every deed he does beginning with ‘بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم’, so there would be Blessings for him in it’.[21]
[1] (ربيع الأبرار 2: 336)
[2] Tafseer Noor Al Saqalayn CH 1 – H 47
[3] معاني الأخبار: 3/ 1
[4] (تفسير العيّاشي 1: 21/ 12.)
[5] (الصراط المستقيم 1: 219.)
[6] Tafseer Noor Al Saqalayn CH 1 – H 43
[7] (جامع الأخبار: 42.)
[8] Tafseer Imam Hassan Al Askariasws – S 10
[9] (جامع الأخبار: 42.)
[10] (جامع الأخبار: 42.)
[11] (التّهذيب 2: 289/ 1159.)
[12] Al Kafi – V 6 – The Book of Foodstuffs Ch 47 H 6
[13] Al Kafi – V 6 – The Book of Foodstuffs Ch 47 H 18
[14] Al Kafi – V 6 – The Book of Foodstuffs Ch 47 H 7
[15] Tafseer Noor Al Saqalayn CH 1 – H 18
[16] Tafseer Noor Al Saqalayn CH 1 – H 20
[17] Al Kafi – H 230
[18] Bihar Al-Anwaar V 87 – The Book Salat – Ch 102 H 27
[19] Bihar Al-Anwaar – V 43, The book of History – Fatima Al-Zahra-asws, Ch 3 H 59
[20] التّوحيد: 230/ 5، معاني الأخبار: 4/ 2
[21] التفسير المنسوب إلى الإمام العسكري (عليه السّلام): 22/ 7