In the name of Allah

The Holy Word of Allah, the Holy Qur'an, as revealed upon the Holy Prophet of Islam is a book which is free of any doubts. This book is a guide to mankind, a warner to nations, and Hidayah to Muttaqin (those who persevere).

Qur'an begins with Al-Fatiha, or the opening chapter. Through this single Surah, man is educated with the essential knowledge of the basic fundamentals of this life and the life after this life, the hereafter.

It contains the fundamentals of Islam, and hence is known as 'Ummal Qur'an or the mother or the essence of Qur'an. Why is it called so? A thourough study of the aspects and details of the seven beautiful verses shows.

No Salat (Namaz, i.e. prescribed prayer) is complete without recitation of Surah Al-Fatiha. It was the importance of this Surah that it was revealed at Macca as well as at Madina. It is also called Sabe Mathani (i.e. The Seven oft-repeated ones).

It begins with the verse "Bismillah-hir-Rahman-nir-Rahim". The recitation of Qur'an, of any Surah therein, begins with this important verse. Every muslim, irrespective of their nation or language, starts all their work with this verse. What makes this verse so important? What is contained in this small verse that encompasses the whole Qur'an as told in ahadith?

It translates in English as "In the name of Allah, the Beneficent, the Merciful". The Bi need not mean 'In the name of' always. It can also mean 'For the sake of' or 'To the service of'.

Let us now turn to examples. Suppose somebody has a meeting with their boss in the morning. The employee has not completed fully the tasks assigned to him, and he is worried about the state of affairs. He knows that his boss is cruel, and lends no mercy. He is afraid of being kicked out from the job. In a very fearful manner, he enters the boss' room.

What happens is the same he expected, the worse, he is kicked out of the job. He is helpless. When he comes out of the room, he is burning with rage. In his anger, he utters a couple of abusive words and tries to forget the bitter memories. This is the story of a boss of this world.

Now look how the Lords of the worlds, The Nourisher, The Cherisher, The Absolute Supreme Allah is called upon. "Bismillah-hir-Rahman-nir-Rahim". A muslim begins with the name of Allah, who is most Beneficent, and the most Merciful. Beneficency and Mercy are the pre-eminent qualities that we start with!

There are hundreds of beautiful names of Allah. Why Allah preferred to be called with these names by his devotees when they start a work? The names Ar-Rahman and Ar-Rahim. Because when a muslim calls for Allah's Beneficency and his Mercy, love for Allah is born in their heart. A feeling emerges that Allah, the Lord of the nations, is not an awful, dreadful and cruel being void of love and compassion, but His prime attributes are His boundless love and all enveloping Mercy, which invites, attracts, encourages, and forces every sensible human being to rush to Him for fulfillment of his desires and demands and to ask for forgiveness.

Unlike the cruel and tyrannical image that worldly leaders create, Allah wants to create an impression that He is All Loving and All Merciful to his creatures. He listens to them. These are the very first attributes Allah wants His creatures to know.

It is reported that once the Holy Prophet, while passing a graveyard, hastened his companions from the place and on his return while passing through the same graveyard directed his companions to walk slowly. The companions enquired, "O Prophet of God! While passing this very same place a little while ago, you wanted us to make haste from this place and now you ask us to walk slowly?" The Holy Prophet answered, "There is a being in one of the graves here who on account of his wickedness was being chastised and I being one of the God's apostles called the 'Rahmatul-lil-A'alameen' (i.e. mercy unto the worlds) found it unbecoming of me to stay at a place where one of God's creatures was being tormented.

But the same sufferer has left a child in this world, and the child has been taken to a scholar to start his education. The master first made the innocent utter Bismillah-hir-Rahman-nir-Rahim. The All Merciful God commanded the angels chastising the soul of the wicked one in the grave, to immediately withhold the chastisement saying, "It is not becoming of My Mercy to chastise the parent whose issue calls me the Merciful One".


Such is the Mercy and Beneficence of the Lord of the worlds. It is we who don't recognise our Master. So next time when you recite this important verse, you should know what Mercy and Beneficence is being told to us.