بِسْمِ اللّٰهِ
bismillāh
'In the name of God.' The full form, the basmala, adds 'the Most Merciful, the Most Kind'.
Millions of people who have never opened a Qur'an have sung its first word. In 1975 Queen's Bohemian Rhapsody had a stadium-sized choir singing 'Bismillah, no, we will not let you go.' Freddie Mercury grew up in Zanzibar and India, where the word was everywhere.
For Muslims it is the first thing said before eating, driving, opening a book, starting an exam or a journey. It turns an ordinary moment into one done in God's name.
In scripture
In the Hebrew Bible and Jewish tradition
“Our help is in the name of the LORD, Who made heaven and earth.”Psalm 124:8, JPS 1917Jews say a blessing before eating, beginning Baruch atah Adonai, 'Blessed are You, Lord'. Many write ב"ה, short for 'with God's help', at the top of a letter.
In the New Testament and Christian tradition
“Whatever you do, in word or in deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.”Colossians 3:17, WEBChristians begin prayers 'In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit' (Matthew 28:19). Medieval charters opened In nomine Domini, 'In the name of the Lord'.
In the Qur'an
بِسْمِ ٱللَّهِ ٱلرَّحْمَٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ
“In the name of Allah, the Beneficent, the Merciful.”Qur'an 1:1, Pickthall (1930)In the Qur'an
“And he said: Embark therein! In the name of Allah be its course and its mooring. Lo! my Lord is Forgiving, Merciful.”Qur'an 11:41, Pickthall (1930)In the Qur'an
“Lo! it is from Solomon, and lo! it is: In the name of Allah, the Beneficent, the Merciful.”Qur'an 27:30, Pickthall (1930)In the sayings of the Prophet (hadith)
“The Prophet Muhammad ﷺ (peace be upon him) told a boy at his table: 'Mention the name of God, eat with your right hand, and eat from what is nearest to you.'”Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī 5376How people use it
Before eating and drinking, as the hadith teaches. Children learn it as one of their first phrases.
Before starting anything: switching on the engine, opening a laptop, walking into an exam, signing a contract. Many letters, books and even shop signs begin with the basmala.
In art. The basmala is one of the most loved subjects of Islamic calligraphy, written as a line, a circle, even in the shape of a bird.
The same instinct in other faiths: a grace before meals, the sign of the cross, a blessing over bread.
What neighbours say. Jews begin a meal with a blessing, Baruch atah Adonai, ‘Blessed are You, Lord’, and many write ב״ה, b’ezrat HaShem, ‘with God’s help’, at the top of a page. Christians begin prayer ‘In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit’, often making the sign of the cross. Sikhs begin important undertakings with Ardas, the Sikh prayer of petition, and many Sikh wedding cards open with ੴ, Ik Oankar, ‘One Creator’. Hindus begin with Shri Ganeshaya Namah, ‘salutations to Lord Ganesh’, the remover of obstacles, often printed at the top of wedding invitations.
How it is misheard
Because it is a blessing, Muslim scholars teach that it should not be said before something wrong. Saying 'in the name of God' over a harmful act is, in their words, a misuse of the Name.
In pop culture it is sometimes used just as a dramatic sound. That is not offensive in itself; it is a chance to explain what it means.
Say it
bis-mil-LAAH · bis-mil-LAA-hir-rah-MAA-nir-ra-HEEM
The 'h' in raḥmān and raḥīm is a breathy 'h', as if fogging a mirror. Stress the long vowels.
A moment to reflect
- What would change if you began one ordinary task each day 'in the name of' something you believe in?
- What words, if any, would you want at the top of the first page of your own life story?
- Do you say anything before meals in your home? Where does it come from?
Do it together
Before a shared meal, invite one person from each tradition present to say their own short blessing, or the words 'In the name of God'. Keep it optional and brief.
Show examples of the basmala in different scripts and shapes. Then let everyone write a short blessing from their own tradition, or a word they love, as beautifully as they can.
Collect examples of what people write at the top of a page. Look for ב״ה on a Jewish letter, a cross or ‘In the name of God’ on an old Christian document, the basmala, ੴ, Shri Ganeshaya Namah. Make a display and ask what each one is for.
Go deeper
- Psalm 124, ‘Our help is in the name of the LORD’ (Sefaria) · scripture
- Colossians 3 (Bible Gateway, WEB) · scripture
- Guru Granth Sahib, ang 1, the Mool Mantar (SikhiToTheMax) · scripture
Sources (5)
- Qur'an 1:1, 11:41, 27:30: Quran.com
- 'Mention the name of God and eat with your right hand': Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī 5376
- Psalm 124:8 (JPS 1917): Sefaria
- Colossians 3:17; Matthew 28:19 (WEB): Bible Gateway
- Bohemian Rhapsody (1975) lyric; Freddie Mercury's childhood in Zanzibar and India: Encyclopaedia Britannica, Freddie Mercury