Sharh Al-Aqeedat-il-Wasitiyah (Islamic book) -A muslims foundation of beliefs

4. Meaning of Bismillah

In the Name of Allah, the Most Beneficent, the Most Merciful

There is a controversy among the Ulama regarding Bismillah as to whether this is an initial verse of each Surah of the Quran or an independent verse on its own, which has been stated to mark the intermediate distances between the Surah, and for blessing. The second opinion is preferred.

The Ulama are agreed that Bismillah is a part of the verse of Surah An-Naml (The Ant) and likewise they are agreed that Bismillah has been left out in the beginning of Surah At-Tauba (The Repentance) for, this and the Surah Al-Anfal (The Spoils of War) occurring prior to it are both like one continuous Surah.

The Arabic letter Baa in Bismillah stands for seeking help. From a syntactical point of view it relates to a noun or verb dropped by aphasia. The Quran contains examples of its relationship with both verb and noun. The example of verb is Iqra bism-e-rabbika (Read: "In the Name of your Lord...") and the example of noun is Bismillah-e-majreha (In the Name of Allah will be its moving course).

It is better to regard the word with which Bismillah is related as occurring later, for the Name of Allah deserves priority. By giving priority to the preposition and the word governed by the preposition it is evident that the Name of Allah is particularly meant for blessing.

A noun (Al-Ism) in the Arabic language is defined as a word formed to make a sense definitive or distinct. This word has either been derived from Simatun which means a symbol, or from Sumoo which means height. The second statement is preferred. The letter Hamza occurs in it for providing conjunction. Ism and Musamma are not the same for Ism stands for that word which signifies and Musamma is that sense which has been signified. Likewise Ism and Tasmiya are not the same for Tasmiya is the verb of Musamma .

The word 'Allah' has either been derived from Uloohiat which means worship or from Aalehan which means amazement. The first statement is correct and Ilah means that which is worshipped. Rahman and Raheem are from amongst the elegant Names of Allah. They show that Allah has the attribute related to His Self. It is not correct to say that Rahmah is meant in its implied sense such as gratitude etc.

Ibn Al-Qaiyim writes that the word Rahman denotes that attribute of Allah which exists along with His Self, and Raheem denotes that the attribute is related to that Self which has been the recipient of Rahmah.

Ibn 'Abbas reports that both these names comprise gentleness and softness. The word Rahman is an attribute of Allah and so it is His Name.