Bismillahir Rahmanir Raheem is an Arabic phrase meaning “in the name of God, Most Gracious, Most Merciful”. The phrase is commonly referred to as the Basmalah. Bismillah is an abbreviated version of this phrase.
Every chapter in the Qur’an starts with the Basmalah (other than chapter 9).
For many Muslims, it is an important prayer which they recite before starting a task or meal.
For some Muslims reciting Bismillah is not just something to say. It is also a way to connect with Allah, a way to set one’s intentions, and can help bring peace to one’s life.
Text adapted from Simple English Wikipedia, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License 4.0.
Calligraphic Composition, 19th century Turkey, Khalili Collection of Islamic Art CAL 154.
