Bismillah Meaning: "In the Name of God, the Most Merciful"

Bismillah (bismillah, بسم الله) means "in the name of God." It is the short form of Bismillahir-Rahmanir-Rahim, "In the name of God, the Entirely Merciful, the Especially Merciful," the line that opens 113 of the Quran's 114 surahs. Muslims say it before eating, reading the Quran and starting almost any action, to begin with God's blessing.

The full phrase is called the basmala (basmalah, بسملة). It is probably the most repeated sentence in Muslim life, written at the top of letters, spoken before meals and recited at the start of every surah. This guide explains each word, the difference between its two names of mercy, where it appears in the Quran, why one surah lacks it, and when Muslims say it.

Key takeaways

• Bismillah means "in the name of God"; the full basmala adds "the Entirely Merciful, the Especially Merciful" (Quran 1:1, Sahih International).
• The basmala opens 113 of the 114 surahs; Surah at-Tawbah (chapter 9) is the only one without it.
• It also appears inside a surah once, in Prophet Solomon's letter to the Queen of Sheba (Quran 27:30), so it occurs 114 times in the Quran, matching the number of surahs.
• The Prophet told a boy at his table, "Mention the Name of Allah and eat with your right hand" (Sahih al-Bukhari 5376).
• If someone forgets to say it at the start of a meal, the Prophet taught them to say "Bismillahi awwalahu wa akhirahu" (Sunan Abi Dawud 3767).

What does bismillah mean?

The short phrase bismillah combines three Arabic elements: bi (in, or with), ism (name) and Allah (God). The full basmala adds two names of God that both come from the word for mercy.

Grammarians note that the sentence is incomplete on purpose. "In the name of God" is followed by an unspoken verb: I begin, I eat, I read, I travel. Whatever action follows, the speaker is doing it with God's name, seeking His help and blessing.

The preposition bi can mean both "in" and "with." So bismillah carries two ideas at once: acting on God's authority, and acting with His help.

Bismillah in Arabic and how to spell it

The short form is written بسم الله and the full basmala is written بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم. One detail surprises Arabic learners: the word ism (name) is normally written with an initial alif (اسم), but in the basmala that letter is dropped, giving بسم.

Bismillahir Rahmanir Rahim meaning: ar-Rahman vs ar-Raheem

Both names come from the Arabic root r-h-m, which gives rahmah (mercy) and rahim (womb). Using two mercy names side by side is not repetition. Scholars explain that each carries a different shade of meaning.

The Quran says, "My mercy encompasses all things" (7:156), which describes the breadth of ar-Rahman. Verse 33:43 speaks of the lasting care described by ar-Raheem. You can explore both on Quran Universe's pages for ar-Rahman and ar-Raheem.

The name ar-Rahman was unfamiliar to some in Makkah. Sahih al-Bukhari 2731 records that at the Treaty of Hudaybiyah, when the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) told the scribe to write "By the Name of Allah, the most Beneficent, the most Merciful," the Makkan negotiator Suhayl ibn Amr objected that he did not know what "Beneficent" meant. The Prophet agreed to the older formula, "By Your Name O Allah," to secure the peace.

Where does bismillah appear in the Quran?

The basmala stands at the head of every surah except one. In the most widely used verse numbering, it is counted as verse 1 of Surah al-Fatihah:

In the name of Allah, the Entirely Merciful, the Especially Merciful.

— Quran 1:1

At the start of the other 112 surahs that carry it, the basmala is written but not given a verse number. Scholars differ on its exact status. The Shafi'i school counts it as a verse of al-Fatihah, while the Hanafi school regards it as a verse of the Quran that separates the surahs rather than part of any one of them. The Maliki school does not count it as part of al-Fatihah. Our guide to Surah al-Fatihah's meaning covers this question further.

The 114th basmala: Quran 27:30

The basmala also appears once in the middle of a surah. In Surah an-Naml, Prophet Solomon sends a letter to the Queen of Sheba. She tells her advisers that she has received "a noble letter," and describes it:

Indeed, it is from Solomon, and indeed, it reads: 'In the name of Allah, the Entirely Merciful, the Especially Merciful,

— Quran 27:30

That gives a simple count:

The total matches the Quran's 114 surahs. Many readers point to this as a striking balance: the one surah that lacks a basmala at its start is "made up for" by the basmala inside Solomon's letter. Our article on how many surahs and verses are in the Quran has the full counts.

The Prophet followed Solomon's example in his own letters. Sahih al-Bukhari 7 records that his letter to the Byzantine emperor Heraclius opened with "In the name of Allah the Beneficent, the Merciful."

Why doesn't Surah at-Tawbah begin with bismillah?

Surah at-Tawbah, the ninth chapter, opens directly with a declaration ending treaties with hostile polytheists:

[This is a declaration of] disassociation, from Allah and His Messenger, to those with whom you had made a treaty among the polytheists.

— Quran 9:1

Two explanations are given in the classical sources:

1. Uthman's explanation. The companion Ibn Abbas asked the caliph Uthman ibn Affan why at-Tawbah was placed after al-Anfal without a basmala between them. Uthman replied that the Prophet used to tell scribes where each new passage belonged, that al-Anfal was among the early Madinan revelations and at-Tawbah among the last, and that their contents were similar. The Prophet passed away without making clear whether at-Tawbah was a separate surah, so the companions placed them together without a basmala. This report is in Jami' at-Tirmidhi 3086 (graded hasan by Darussalam's editors) and Sunan Abi Dawud 786 (graded weak by al-Albani).
2. The theme of the surah. A second explanation, reported from Ali ibn Abi Talib and repeated by later commentators, is that the basmala is a declaration of mercy and safety, while at-Tawbah opens by withdrawing protection from those who broke their treaties.

Ibn Kathir notes simply that the basmala is absent because the companions did not write it there in the master copy compiled under Uthman. Reciters today follow the same practice: when continuing from al-Anfal into at-Tawbah, they do not recite the basmala.

When do Muslims say bismillah?

The Prophet's teaching ties bismillah to everyday actions:

• Before eating. Sahih al-Bukhari 5376 and Sahih Muslim 2022 record the Prophet telling the young Umar ibn Abi Salamah, "Mention the Name of Allah and eat with your right hand, and eat of the dish what is nearer to you."
• If you forget at a meal. Say Bismillahi awwalahu wa akhirahu, "In the name of God at its beginning and its end" (Sunan Abi Dawud 3767; Jami' at-Tirmidhi 1858).
• Entering the home. Sahih Muslim 2018 says that when a person mentions God's name on entering and eating, Satan finds no place to stay and no dinner.
• Leaving the home. "In the name of Allah, I trust in Allah; there is no might and no power but in Allah" (Sunan Abi Dawud 5095).
• Before ablution. Sunan Abi Dawud 101 links valid ablution to mentioning God's name. Most jurists treat this as strongly recommended, while the Hanbali school is known for treating it as required when a person remembers. See our guide to how to perform wudu.
• Before slaughter. "So eat of that [meat] upon which the name of Allah has been mentioned" (6:118).
• Before reciting a surah. Readers say the basmala at the start of each surah except at-Tawbah.

Why do Muslims say bismillah before eating?

Because the Prophet taught it directly, and because food is a gift from God. Saying bismillah turns a meal into an act of remembrance. The hadith in Sahih Muslim 2018 adds a spiritual reason: mentioning God's name keeps Satan away from the meal and the home. Many families teach it to children as one of their first Islamic habits.

How do you reply to bismillah?

Bismillah does not need a reply, since it is said at the start of one's own action. If someone at the table says it aloud, the natural response is to say it yourself before you eat. Non-Muslim guests are not expected to say anything.

Common mistakes with bismillah

• Reserving it for prayer. The Prophet's practice shows it belongs to ordinary actions, from eating to leaving the house.
• Saying it before something forbidden. Scholars point out that invoking God's name over a sinful act contradicts the meaning of the phrase.
• Replacing it with a number. In parts of South Asia, the number 786 is written in place of the basmala because of a letter-number system. Many scholars discourage this, since the number is not the words of the Quran.
• Adding it at the start of at-Tawbah when reading continuously from al-Anfal, as explained above.

Bismillah and related phrases

Bismillah at the start and alhamdulillah at the end frame many daily acts, especially meals.

Read the basmala on Quran Universe

You can read the basmala in Quran 1:1 and Solomon's letter in Quran 27:30 on Quran Universe, each with the Arabic text, word-by-word meaning, transliteration and Tafsir Ibn Kathir. Reading the story of Solomon and the Queen of Sheba in context shows how the basmala opened a message of faith sent from one ruler to another.

Frequently asked questions

What does bismillah mean in English?

Bismillah means "in the name of God." It is made of bi (in or with), ism (name) and Allah (God). Muslims say it before starting an action, such as eating or reading the Quran, to begin with God's help and blessing. It is the short form of the basmala, which opens 113 of the Quran's 114 surahs.

What does Bismillahir Rahmanir Rahim mean?

Bismillahir Rahmanir Rahim means "In the name of God, the Entirely Merciful, the Especially Merciful," in the Sahih International translation of Quran 1:1. Ar-Rahman refers to God's vast mercy that reaches all creation, and ar-Raheem to His constant mercy, especially toward believers. Both names come from the Arabic root for mercy.

How do you write bismillah in Arabic?

The short form is written بسم الله, and the full basmala is بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم. In this phrase the word ism (name) loses its first letter, alif, so it is written بسم rather than باسم. Common English spellings include bismillah and Bismillahir Rahmanir Raheem.

Why do Muslims say bismillah before eating?

The Prophet taught it. Sahih al-Bukhari 5376 records him telling a boy, "Mention the Name of Allah and eat with your right hand." Sahih Muslim 2018 adds that mentioning God's name keeps Satan from sharing the meal. If someone forgets, they say "Bismillahi awwalahu wa akhirahu" (Sunan Abi Dawud 3767).

Why does Surah at-Tawbah not start with bismillah?

Uthman ibn Affan explained that the Prophet died without making clear whether at-Tawbah was a separate surah or part of al-Anfal, so the companions placed them together without a basmala (Jami' at-Tirmidhi 3086). Another explanation, reported from Ali, is that the basmala signals mercy and safety, while at-Tawbah opens by ending treaties.

How many times is bismillah in the Quran?

The full basmala appears 114 times in the Quran. It opens 113 of the 114 surahs, every one except Surah at-Tawbah, and appears once more inside Surah an-Naml, in Prophet Solomon's letter to the Queen of Sheba (Quran 27:30). The total equals the number of surahs.