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What is the meaning of the Basmalah? And is it recited from the middle of a Surah, and why? And what is the meaning of "Recite in the name of your Lord"?

1 min readAlso available in العربية

The statement "In the name of Allah" (Bismillah) means to begin an action accompanied by the name of Allah, seeking blessings from Him. It is an elliptical phrase, the full meaning of which is "I begin my work in the name of Allah."

The majestic word "Allah" is the Greatest Name. "Ar-Rahman" signifies expansive mercy, and "Ar-Rahim" denotes the conveyance of mercy to creatures.

As for the ruling on reciting the Basmala before reading the Qur'an, it is recommended at the beginning of every surah (except Surah Bara'ah). There is no harm in beginning with it in the middle of a surah. However, it is disliked to recite it at the beginning of Surah Bara'ah. There is a difference of opinion regarding its recitation in the middle of Surah Bara'ah, but the more preponderant view is that it is disliked for the same reason it is prohibited at the beginning of the surah.

The meaning of "Recite in the name of your Lord" (Iqra' bismi Rabbik) is: recite with the remembrance of your Lord who created.

Summarized from the full answer at Ftawy · reviewed Sep 2, 2026

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