|
We
have already written about the issue of Bismillah
earlier in our book Fundamental Principles of Islam, in the
Interpretation of the Chapter of Opening (Surah Fatiha) and
in the article entitled Rahman and Raheem.
We
shall now discuss about the matter in a different aspect.
As
known, although it is the first verse of the Chapter of Opening (Surah
Fatiha), Bismillah is not pronounced aloud by Imam
during the fulfillment of group prayers (salaat). Imam starts
directly with the pronunciation of Al-hamdu li-llahi rabbul
alameen (praise be to Allah, rabb of the universes) aloud.
Why does Imam not pronounce the Bismillah, which is the
first verse of the Surah Fatiha?
I
think, this is one of the subject matters that have not been
questioned before.
Yes, Imam will not read aloud the Bismillah although it is
the first verse of the Surah Fatiha and he will begin reading
aloud with the second verse. Meantime, the praying group will
silently say Bismillah from inside themselves in order to
fill in the missing (!) part.
First of all we shall refer to a subject that has been discussed
about in the past.
Some people have agreed that the Chapter of Opening has seven verses
and its first verse is Bismillah. Others have stated that
the first verse of the Chapter of Opening is rather Al-hamdu
li-llahi rabbul alameen than Bismillah, and that the
Bismillah at the beginning is there as a gift.
People who have a deeper understanding of the reality of the matter
have finally agreed upon that Bismillah is the initial
verse of the Chapter of Opening.
We, too, commonly share the same opinion with them today.
Now if this is the case, the following point will call our
attention:
Why is ar rahman ur-raheem repeated for the second time
following Al-hamdu li-llahi rabbul alameen after it is
already mentioned in the Bismillah er-rahman ur-raheem at
the beginning?
We
are not going to get into the same topic again here, but we wanted
to draw your attention once more to these two verses due to the
significance of the matter.
It
is as follows:
The first verse is Bismillah er-rahman er-raheem.
The second verse is Al-hamdu li-llahi rabbul alameen er-rahman
er-raheem.
We
have already tried to explain the fine point here in the article
entitled Rahman and Raheem as much as it
could be put into words.
Now you see how we need to realize it under the illumination of that
fact that
it is necessary for a person to experience the meaning
of Bismillah on his own (without help from others)
through the comprehension of the mystery that the letter B points
out, so that the persons salaat (prayer) may develop into
Miraj (spiritual ascendance).
This is why it will never be sufficient for Imam to read Bismillah
on behalf of his followers in prayers fulfilled together with a
group of people. It is necessary for each person to read Bismillah
alone for himself and start prayer upon such a comprehension.
To
tell it briefly, Imam cannot read Bismillah on behalf of
his followers.
Each person needs to live his personal experience of Bismillah
for having their own spiritual journey deep within (uruj).
Happy is he who can experience the truth of Bismillah even
once in a day!
Was salaam!
AHMED HULUSI
April 10, 2004
Raleigh, NC |
