VANGUARD, FRIDAY, JUNE 6, 2014— 55
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Wonders of Bismillah opinion was also attributed to the Tabi‘in: ‘Ata’, Tawus, Sa‘id bin Jubayr, Makhul and AzZuhri. This is also the view of ‘Abdullah bin Al-Mubarak, Ash-Shafi‘i, Ahmad bin Hanbal, (in one report from him) Ishaq bin Rahwayh and Abu ‘Ubayd Al-Qasim bin Salam. On the other hand, Malik, Abu Hanifah and their followers said that Bismillah is not an ayah in SuratulFatiha or any other Surah. Dawud said that it is a separate ayah in the beginning of every Surah, not part of the Surah itself, and this opinion was also attributed to Ahmad bin Hanbal. Just as it was stated above in the hadith, Prophet Sulaimon started his work with the verse; remember also when Arch Angel Gabriel visited the Prophet for the first time at cave Hira, The angel said, “iqra,” i.e., “read.” The Holy Prophet, (s.a.w), replied, “I do not know how to read.” The angel repeated the same words and the Holy Prophet, repeated his answer. And so it happened three times. The fourth time the angel said, “Iqra bismi-Rabbika-alazhi Khalaq,” i.e., “Read in the name of your Lord who creates.” Then the Holy Prophet, (s.a.w), started reciting. So, it is clear that the the phrase “With the name of Allah.” is powerful. Again, when a person recites ‘BismillahirRahmanir-Rahim’ at the beginning of any task, it is implied as putting God first which will make every step
TURBANING: Newly installed Chief Imam of Olorun-
da Muslim Community, Olorunda Ijoko, Ogun State, Imam Mufutau Hamzat, flanked by his wife, being turbaned by Imam Alfatedo and Chief Imam of Ijoko Tuntun Central Mosque, in Lagos.
of the activity successful. So, reciting the verse is not restricted to the recitation of the Holy Quran alone, but very important at the beginning of every work. “any work started without reciting ‘bismillahirRahmanir-Rahim’ is without blessing, and certainly if any
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IKE the daily sun, this verse too shines with a new splendour and brilliance at the beginning of each chapter of the Quran. No wonder the Prophet (s.a.w) said: “Any important work that does not begin with Bismillah is devoid of Barakah.” Not only does the Holy Quran begin with this verse, but it also leads every chapter of the Quran, except for Chapter 9. This verse is a part of the Quranic revelation and it was through this verse that the Holy Prophet, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, distinguished the separation of the various chapters. This verse keeps on recurring and possesses such depth, that it has been said that just as the Fatihah (the first chapter of the Quran) summarises the entire Holy Quran, so does this verse summarise the Fatihah. In other words, this verse is the summary of the synopsis of the Quran. In the Glorious Quran, the word Bismillah Rahamani Raheem appeared in 114 places, begining every surah except Surat At-Taubah or otherwise called Al-Bara’ah (chapter 9) and appeared two times in Suratul AnNaml,(chapter 27), first at the begining and another in verse 30. Ibn Kathir also said in his commentary that some of the scholars agreed that Bismillah is a part of an Ayah in Surat An-Naml (chapter 27). They disagree over whether it is a separate Ayah before every Surah, or if it is an Ayah, or a part of an Ayah, included in every Surah where the Bismillah appears in its beginning. AdDaraqutni also recorded a Hadith from Abu Hurayrah from the Prophet that supports this Hadith by Ibn Khuzaymah. Also, similar statements were attributed to ‘Ali, Ibn ‘Abbas and others. The opinion that Bismillah is an Ayah of every Surah, except Al-Bara’ah (chapter 9), was attributed to (the Companions) Ibn ‘Abbas, Ibn ‘Umar, Ibn Az-Zubayr, Abu Hurayrah and ‘Ali. This
generosity is so great that before the birth of man and without any effort or labour on man’s part, the entire resources required for his sustenance were provided. Ar-Rahim’ refers to the mercy which is granted repeatedly and these attributes manifest
To be successful in the world, it is essential to possess correct knowledge, for without correct knowledge, no action, whether for the world or the hereafter, produces effective or correct results
person starts his work by asking for the help of God, then his work will be blessed. Allah, Most High, is perfect in goodness and benevolence. When man, without any effort on his own part, is granted through Allah’s attribute of Rahman, limitless mercy and blessings, and observes the Rahma and Ihsan of God, then in the heart of the worshipper, a love for God is born. As these blessings and the grace of Allah’s Mercy and Ihsan descend upon the believer, his love for God keeps on increasing. The more a person becomes a beloved of God, the more praiseworthy he becomes. Allah is the name of the essence of God, the Most High, and this is the greatest name that is embeded in all the other names of God. For instance, al-Rahman (The Beneficent, pronounced as Ar-Rahman) is a name of God. Allah is an independent word which is the name of the essence of God, and this is unique to the Arabic language as no other language has a name for the essence of God. The Quran itself explains the meaning of the name Allah where it states “Lahu al-asma alhusna” (to him belong (all) the beautiful names). The name incorporates within itself all the perfect attributes in their entire completeness. ‘Ar-Rahman’ and ‘ArRaheem’: ‘Ar-Rahman’ (the Beneficent) is He whose
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themselves time and again and have an excellent and improving effect on each person’s actions. It is stated in the Hadith, that God, Most High, is the ‘Rahman’ (Beneficent) of this world and the ‘Rahim’ (Merciful) of the hereafter.
This is because Rahman, before the birth of man, merely out of his beneficence provided the entire resources for the sustenance and progress of man. So, this entire world is a manifestation of the attribute Rahman. The attribute Raheem rewards man for good works and this is fully manifested in the hereafter. Land, water, fire, the sun, the moon, rain, etc., exist due to the stipulation of the attribute Rahman. Man’s labour of ploughing and watering the land, is rewarded manifold through the necessary stipulation of the attribute Rahim, so that each seed sown can be returned seven hundred fold. In the same way, eyes, ears, hands, feet, intelligence and knowledge, are all manifestations of God’s attribute Rahman (beneficence). When man utilises these resources and gets excellent results, this is necessary stipulation of the attribute Rahim. So, when a person starts a work by reciting BismillahirRahmanir-Rahim, he acknowledges and thanks God, Most High, for the blessings which God provided merely out of the demands of his attribute Rahman. On the one hand man, is asking God’s help for assistance, provided as a manifestation of the attribute Rahman (Mercy)in order to achieve his objective, and through the attribute Raheem, that the work he wants to carry out may produce excellent results.
Continues next week
From left: Sheikh Muyideen Ajani Bello, guest lecturer; Alhaji Issa Khidr Muhammed Lawal, Branch Missioner, Nasfat Ajeromi Ifelodun and Alhaji Ibrahim Abdul-Wasiu, Missioner, Itire-Ijesa Nasfat during the launch of N50 million fund raising for Nasfat Itire-Ijesa branch, in Lagos.
A cross section of Nasfat members, Itire-Ijesa branch during the launch. Photos: Akeem Salau