Bismillah Hir Rahman Nir Rahim
بِسْمِ اللهِ الرَّحْمٰنِ الرَّحِيْمِ
[Bis-mil-lah Hir-Rah-maan Nir-Ra-heem]
Quick Summary:
What is the meaning of the phrase Bismillah Hir Rahman Nir Raheem?
The meaning of this Islamic phrase is, "In the name of Allah, The Most Gracious and The Most Merciful." It’s recited by Muslims daily for many different occasions. A common place you’d hear the phrase Bismillah Hir Rahman Nir Rahim being said is before reading the Holy Book (Quran). It’s also said during obligatory prayers (salat) before Surah Fatiha. However, the shorter version, Bismillah which just means, "In the name of Allah" is recommended to be said before beginning any task as a means of seeking barakah (blessing) from Allah (سُبْحَٰنَهُۥ وَتَعَٰلَىٰ) in that task.
In the Qur'an before every chapter, it begins with this phrase. The only chapter of the Qur’an which does not is begin with this phrase is Surah Tawbah
Pronunciation video
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Terms Islamic
Arabic Text:
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بِسْمِ اللهِ الرَّحْمٰنِ الرَّحِيْمِ
Transliteration:
The transliteration of Arabic words helps convert them into their English counterparts, which assists with pronunciation. We may provide several common transliterations for this word.
Bismillah ar-rahman ar-rahim
Bismillah hir rahman nir raheem*
Bismillah al rahman al rahim
Bismillah hir rahman nir rahim
Bismillah ir rahman ir rahim
Bismillah hirrahman nirrahim
*This is the most common and accurate transliteration of this phrase.
Further Details
Bism = meaning ‘with’, ‘by’, or ‘name’.
ilah = Arabic word meaning “God”.
Ar Rahman and Ar Raheem are two of the 99 names of Allah which refer to Allah’s attribute of being kind, gentle, and merciful.
Putting this together, you can come up with the translation “By the name of God (Allah), the all-Merciful, the especially-Merciful”.
Reciting Bismillah Before Eating:
Narrated Umm Kulthum: From ‘Aishah that the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said: “When one of you eats food, then let him say: ‘Bismillah.’ If he forgets in the beginning, then let him say: ‘Bismillah Fi Awwalihi Wa Akhirih (In the Name of Allah in its beginning and its end.)”
Grade: Sahih (Darussalam)
Reference: Jami At-Tirmidhi 1858
Reciting Bismillah Before Entering Your House:
Jabir (May Allah be pleased with him) reported:
I heard Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) saying, “If a person mentions the Name of Allah upon entering his house or eating, Satan says, addressing his followers: ‘You will find no where to spend the night and no dinner.’ But if he enters without mentioning the Name of Allah, Satan says (to his followers); ‘You have found (a place) to spend the night in, and if he does not mention the Name of Allah at the time of eating, Satan says: ‘You have found (a place) to spend the night in as well as food.”
[Muslim] – Riyad As Salihin
Generally, Muslims should begin by saying this phrase before starting any task or chore. By doing so you’re basically saying, “I start this action in the name of Allah.”
This is definitely an encouraged act and a good habit to begin saying in your life. Life can get busy and we’re all guilty of not remembering Allah (swt) as much as we should. If you’re reading this it means you’re privileged to have a technological device (likely more advanced than you need it to be), a high-speed internet connection, the ability to read, comprehend, and to focus. These are all gifts we take for granted.
Simply by beginning the process to be conscious and deliberate in saying bismillah will make you self aware of your actions which can be a good moral compass preventing you from doing wrong in the future.
The late Tabarsi narrates Imam Musa Ibn Ja’far (as) in his book Makarim Al-Akhlaq:
There’s no grief-stricken individual who says ‘bismillahir-rahmanir-rahim’ three times while looking up to the sky, where in return Allah eliminates his grief, if He wills.
Example Sentences
Example #1:
Bismillah hir rahman nir rahim alhamdulillahi rabbil alamin (recited before beginning of a surah, in this case surah fatiha).
Example #2:
Bismillah ar-Rahman ar-Rahim, La ilaha ill Allah Muhammadun Rasool Allah… We live in submission.
Example #3:
We will try again today. Bismillah. Good Morning!
Example #4:
Bismillah’hir Rahman’nir Raheem. Remember that this night can be our last night so don’t forget to praise Allah Tabara’kah Ta’ala Rahman as much as you can and be in Sujood and ask Allah Al Janna’ah In Sha Allah. Will u then misguide yourself and invest time with TV and Movies (here Dr. Abdul Jabbar Al Ahmed begins his message with the name of Allah).
Example #5:
Bismillah hir-rahman nir-raheem.
In the Name of Allah, the Most Blessed, the Most Merciful.
Congratulations on choosing… (begin with the name of Allah and then continued on with their message).
In the Name of Allah, the Most Blessed, the Most Merciful.
Congratulations on choosing… (begin with the name of Allah and then continued on with their message).
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