‘Basmalah’ or ‘Bismillah’ is a phrase to mention God (Allah) before beginning any action or speech. It is a powerful phrase that commences our actions and adds immense reward and barakah (blessing) to everything that follows it.

By saying, ‘Bismillahir Rahmanir Raheem’ الرَّحِيْمِ الرَّحْمٰنِ اللهِ بِسْمِ (meaning, “In the Name of Allah, The All-Merciful, The Mercy-Giving”), you are consciously asking Allah to accept the action as worship, be with you during the task, speech or action that you are about to perform, and bless your effort and deed.

Imagine having a difficult task or exam ahead of you and you are unprepared or simply nervous. Who do you call or ask for help? None other than The Most Powerful, The Most High: Allah سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَى. Imagine the task gets easy and you get an immense reward and blessing.

There are numerous benefits of saying ‘Bismillah.’ 

Wards Away Satan 

Saying ‘Bismillah’ wards away our worst enemy, Satan (shaytan), who is constantly trying to distract us from doing good deeds.

Before Reading Quran

The first words revealed to our beloved Prophet Muhammad ﷺ were: “Read, in the Name of Your Lord….” (Quran 96:1). This shows the ultimate importance of beginning any major or minor task with Allah’s name. All Quranic chapters, except one, begin with ‘Bismillah.’ 

Barakah 

Starting things with ‘Bismillah’ improves productivity, wards away laziness, provides blessings and is a source of barakah in all acts.

Before Eating 

Aishah رضي الله عنها related that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said: “When one of you eats food, then let him say: ‘Bismillah.’ If he forgets in the beginning, then let him say: ‘Bismillah Fi Awwalihi Wa Akhirih (In the Name of Allah in its beginning and its end.)” [Jami` at-Tirmidhi 1858]

A simple act, such as eating becomes a source of blessing (by the permission of Allah) and an act of worship. 

Following the Sunnah

Dua’s for entering and leaving the house, dua’ for calamities, dua’ for safety and protection and numerous others have been reported with having “Bismillah” at the beginning or having “Bismillah” in them. Saying this completes an important sunnah of our beloved Prophet ﷺ.