| Hi, Mr. Yusuf Estes, Thanks for writing to me and talking to me in your chat room on www.ChatIslam.com You and the teachers there make it easy for me to learn and understand about misconceptions I used to have about Islam and Muslims. I am happy I made shahadah with you guys and feel good about what I know and where I am going. I really believe my life has direction and God is guiding me too. You guys helped me and been kind to me over these last few weeks. Only God knows how much I needed you all. I thank God for you all and ask Him to bless you too. The websites you have are amazing and easy to understand. I see now why some people I know have become Muslms from visiting your Internet websites like www.ShareIslam.com and www.IslamNewsroom.com The sites about the Bible are so comprehensive and well presented too. I shared two of them with friends and one liked them but another one said he didn't need to read what anyone else says. He claims he already knows everything about God and to leave him alone. The Quran site, www.AllahsQuran.com seemed a little to fast for me at first, but now I enjoy reading, listening and learning right from the same site. The miracles of the Quran are too much to ignore. This is the truth and there is no mistake about it. I cry when I read it and wish I knew Arabic to appreciate it even more. But back to my original quesion, I want to know if saying Bismillah. is something done by people as just a custom, or what does it actually mean? Is it a prayer? Thanks again, (name withheld for privacy) |
Bismillah Rahman Raheem
Peace - salam alaykum, dear [XXXXXX],
Have you ever noticed I use the same words at the beginning of every email I send to you? Take a look.
That is because we really do know the advantage of saying, "Bismillah Rahman Raheem" at the beginning of everything we do. Even eating, writing letters, entering into prayer, reading Quran and even before entering the house, car or going on a trip.
The meaning is actually quite comprehensive. Consider the depth and majesty of the meanings here, inshallah.
The term is often translated to be something like, "In the Name of Allah, The Most Gracious, The Most Merciful". But there is so much more to it when you understand it from the Arabic prospective.
It begins with "Bi" and this carries a meaning of "with" more-so, than "In". The reason for saying "In (the name)" is because this is the form used in English when someone comes with a message or decree from the king or potentate. However, in Arabic it is the way of thinking someone is coming to you "with" something from the one mentioned. And that is exactly the way it should be for Muslims. We are coming "with" something from the Almighty. Something very precious, indeed. A "message" and a "way". The message of life, liberty and salvation. The message of surrender, submission, obedience and sincerity with Almighty God, and of course being in peace with whatever happens after living up to this commitment.
The next part "ismi" means the "Name" and implies what goes with the position of the One being Named. Again, the reference to royalty cannot be overlooked in this reference.
Then comes "Allah" and there is not room in an email for all that goes along with this name, so much so, we have committed an entire website for this purpose of describing God - Allah. www.GodAllah.com
Now the next part comes and really brings a special message along with it. Two of the amazing attributes and characteristics of the Almighty.
Ar-Rahman cannot be fully explained in English. But I would at least like to offer an idea of the astonishing value of this "Name of Allah".
The root of the word here (and for the next word as well) comes from three Arabic letters; 'ra' 'ha' 'ma'. The root, 'Rahama', carries a deep meaning of Mercy to the Max. Even this term cannot bring to mind the depth of such a heavy expression.
Imagine, the word for a woman's "womb" in Arabic, is "rahm", from this same root. It implies immediately, the source of life, the very place of conception within our mothers is nothing less than a "place of mercy".
When presented in the form of an attribute of Almighty God, it carries the absolute and epitome of the word "Rahman" and is proceeded by the article "AL" (The). This gives us the notion of The Merciful or The Gracious. However, this is not just saying, "Allah has Mercy". Rather, this clearly denotes Allah as being "The Mercy" and all mercy and all grace emanates from His Mercy, His Grace.
The next word seems almost redundant when presented in English and in translation doesn't produce the awe and inspiration coming from the Arabic.
Ar-Raheem is bringing into an even more concentrated focus of the Mercy and Grace of Allah, by offering another form of the same attribute. Whereas, the first usage mentioned above carries the meaning of "The Mercy" or "The Merciful" in general terms, the usage of "AL Raheem" brings us to the understanding of the special and specific Mercy waiting on the Day of Judgment for all who are to be saved by this "Mercy" (or as is sometimes translated, "Grace").
Now we see the term here being better translated as, "The Especially Merciful".
So from the very beginning of this special phrase we are praising, extolling and raising high the Names of the Almighty, as He, Himself has demonstrated and conveyed to us in His Book - the Quran.
The Quran begins with this same exact expression, "Bismillah (Ar) Rahman (Ar) Raheem".
And when we put it into proper usage, we are saying something more or less like, "I (do this thing) with complete trust and belief - In (and with) the Name (and Names) of Almighty God (Himself), The Eternally and Completely Merciful, The Especially and Particularly Merciful.
Hope we answered your question.
Thanks for the email and your patience. When we travel getting email is sometimes difficult.
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Salam alaykum - Peace -
Yusuf Estes
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