Bismillah Benefits and Virtues | Importance of Bismillah in Islam
Author:
Sir Ghulam Mustafa
|
Date:
29 Sep 2026
The Virtues and Blessings of Bismillah
Bismillah-ir-Rahman-ir-Raheem:
Allama Ibn Jarir al-Tabari has written that Allah Almighty has taught us the etiquette of putting His Beautiful Names first. Therefore, we should begin all our words, actions, and important matters with the Beautiful Names of Allah Almighty.
Allama Qurtubi has written that it is recommended to recite Bismillah before eating, drinking, slaughtering, having intercourse, performing ablution, boarding a ship, and, in short, before every (permissible) act. Therefore, Allah Almighty said:
فَكُلُوا مِمَّا ذُكِرَ اسْمُ اللَّهِ عَلَيْهِ ۔ (انعام : ۱۱۸)
Translation:
"So eat from that over which the name of Allah has been mentioned."
وقال الركبوا فِيهَا بِسْمِ اللهِ مَجْرَهَا وَمُرْسَهَا ۔(ھود: 41)
Translation:
Reciting Bismillah before Every Good and Permissible Act:
The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said: Recite Bismillah when closing the door, recite Bismillah when turning off the lamp (light), recite Bismillah when covering the vessel, and recite Bismillah when closing the mouth of the water-skin.
Reciting Bismillah before Eating:
The Prophet ﷺ said to Umar ibn Abi Salamah: "O son! Recite Bismillah, eat with your right hand, and eat from in front of you." The Prophet ﷺ also said: "Satan considers every food lawful for himself except the food over which Bismillah has been recited."
Imam Ibn Majah and Imam Tirmidhi narrated that the Prophet ﷺ said: When the children of Adam enter the toilet, "Bismillah" is a barrier between their private parts and the devils. Imam Dar Qutni narrated from Hazrat Aisha (may Allah be pleased with her) that when the Messenger of Allah ﷺ performed ablution, he first recited Bismillah and then poured water over his hands.
Freedom from Hell:
Hazrat Abdullah bin Masud (may Allah be pleased with him) said: Whoever wants Allah Almighty to save him from the nineteen (19) angels of Hell should recite: "Bismillah-ir-Rahman-ir-Raheem." Allah Almighty will protect him from one angel of Hell for every letter of Bismillah, because Bismillah has nineteen (19) letters.
The Rescue of the Boat of Hazrat Nuh (Peace Be Upon Him):
Hazrat Nuh (peace be upon him) said, "Bismillahi Majraha wa Mursaha," and was saved from the flood. Although "Bismillah" is half of "Bismillah-ir-Rahman-ir-Raheem," when reciting half of Bismillah once resulted in being saved from the flood, then how can a person who continues to recite Bismillah throughout his life be deprived of salvation!
Treatment of the Headache of the Caesar of Rome:
The Caesar of Rome wrote to Hazrat Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) that he constantly suffered from a headache from which he did not get relief. He requested him to send him some medicine. Hazrat Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) sent him a cap. Whenever he wore this cap, he felt relief, and whenever he took it off, the headache started again. He became surprised and one day opened the cap and found a piece of paper inside it on which was written: "Bismillah-ir-Rahman-ir-Raheem."
A Sign of the Truth of Islam:
Some disbelievers said to Hazrat Khalid bin Walid (may Allah be pleased with him):
"You invite us to Islam. Show us some sign of the truth of Islam so that we may also accept Islam."
Hazrat Khalid ordered poison to be brought, recited "Bismillah-ir-Rahman-ir-Raheem," and drank it. By the permission of Allah Almighty, he remained safe and stood there unharmed. The Magians said: "Indeed, this is the true religion."
(Source: Tibyan-ul-Quran, Allama Ghulam Rasool Saeedi, may Allah have mercy on him)
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