Bismillah is an integral part of Islamic culture. Every believer feels a deep connection with Bismillah. A believer naturally begins every good deed by uttering Bismillah.

Bismillah brings peace to the heart, inspires wholehearted dedication to one’s actions, strengthens reliance on Allah and illuminates life. It carries abundant blessings and offers unique benefits. Here are seven such benefits.

1. Following the Quran

The Holy Quran is the greatest gift from Allah to humanity. Every surah contains light and guidance. Each surah of this sacred Book begins with Bismillahir Rahmanir Rahim. Of the 114 surahs, 113 begin with Bismillah, with the exception of Surah At-Tawbah. This clearly reflects the significance and exalted status of Bismillah.

2. Protection from a Lack of Blessings

Bismillah is a means of receiving blessings. When a good deed is begun by saying Bismillah, it is believed to receive blessings. Conversely, leaving out Bismillah may deprive an action of blessings.

Abu Hurairah reported that the Prophet Muhammad (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam) said, “Every important matter that is not begun with the remembrance of Allah becomes deficient and deprived of blessing.” (Al-Jami al-Saghir, 6266)

3. Dependence on Allah

By saying Bismillah, a person constantly turns the affairs of life towards Allah and acknowledges dependence on Him. Such reliance on Allah in every aspect of life is a source of success for a believer.

4. Following the Noble Practice of the Prophets

Saying Bismillah is not only a distinctive practice of the followers of Prophet Muhammad (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam); it was also an important part of the lives of earlier prophets, as described in the Holy Quran.

Prophet Noah (Alaihi Wasallam) sought Allah’s help by invoking His name while boarding the Ark during the great flood.

The Quran says: “And he said, ‘Board it; in the name of Allah is its course and its anchorage. Indeed, my Lord is Forgiving and Merciful.’” (Surah Hud, 11:41)

The letters and actions of Prophet Solomon (Alaihi Wasallam) also began with Bismillah, providing an example for believers. The Quran states that the Queen of Sheba, Bilqis, said: “O my people, a noble letter has been delivered to me. Indeed, it is from Solomon, and it reads: ‘In the name of Allah, the Most Compassionate, the Most Merciful.’” (Surah An-Naml, 27:29-30)

5. Allah’s All-Encompassing Mercy

The phrase Bismillahir Rahmanir Rahim invokes the name of Allah, the Most Compassionate and the Most Merciful. By saying it, a believer seeks Allah’s mercy and compassion.

Everyone longs for Allah’s mercy and kindness. We are dependent on His mercy at every moment of our lives. Without His mercy, there is no way for us to survive. Therefore, seeking His mercy and protection through Bismillah is an important practice.

6. Expressing Gratitude

We say Bismillah before performing ablution, before beginning prayer and before eating and drinking. In this way, saying Bismillah not only expresses our hope for Allah’s mercy and blessings but also serves as an expression of gratitude to Him.

It acknowledges Allah’s mercy and favours, while cultivating humility in the heart. Expressing gratitude to Allah makes a believer dear to Him and leads to an increase in His blessings.

The Quran says: “Remember when your Lord proclaimed, ‘If you are grateful, I will certainly give you more; but if you are ungrateful, surely My punishment is severe.’” (Surah Ibrahim, 14:7)

7. Glad Tidings and Assurance of Security

Everyone seeks safety and security, and saying Bismillah is described as a means of seeking protection.

Anas ibn Malik reported that the Prophet Muhammad (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam) said that when a person leaves his home and says, “In the name of Allah, I place my trust in Allah. There is no power and no strength except through Allah,” he is told: “You have been guided, protected and secured.” The devils then move away from him, and one devil says to another: “What can you do with a person who has been guided, protected and secured?” (Sunan Abu Dawud, 5095).