Isti'adhah & Basmalah

Isti'adhah: Definition and Forms

Allah says: ﴾Fa'idha qara'ta-l-Qur'ana fasta'idh billahi mina-sh-shaytani-r-rajeem﴿ (An-Nahl: 98).

Its meaning: seeking refuge in Allah and protection through Him from the evil of the accursed Satan, his whispers, his provocation, and his blowing and spitting.

Its forms include:

◆ "A'oodhu billahi minash-shaytanir-rajeem" (I seek refuge in Allah from Satan, the accursed)

◆ "A'oodhu billahis-Sami'il-'Aleemi minash-shaytanir-rajeem" (I seek refuge in Allah, the All-Hearing, the All-Knowing, from Satan the accursed)

◆ "A'oodhu billahi minash-shaytanir-rajeem min hamzihi wanafkhihi wanafthih" (...from his provocation, his blowing, and his spitting)

◆ "A'oodhu billahis-Sami'il-'Aleemi minash-shaytanir-rajeem min hamzihi wanafkhihi wanafthih"

Abu Sa'eed Al-Khudri reported that the Messenger of Allah, peace be upon him, would say before reciting: "A'oodhu billahi minash-shaytanir-rajeem." (Narrated by 'Abdur-Razzaq in his Musannaf; authenticated by Al-Albani in Irwa' Al-Ghaleel.)

Abu Sa'eed Al-Khudri reported: When the Messenger of Allah, peace be upon him, would rise at night, he would say Takbeer, then say: "Glory be to You, O Allah, and praise be to You, blessed is Your name, and exalted is Your majesty, and there is no god but You," then he would say "La ilaha illallah" three times, then "Allahu akbar kabeera" three times, "A'oodhu billahis-Sami'il-'Aleemi minash-shaytanir-rajeem min hamzihi wanafkhihi wanafthih," then he would recite. (Narrated by Abu Dawud and At-Tirmidhi; classified as authentic by Al-Albani.)

Its place: the Isti'adhah comes before recitation, and it is not part of the Quran.

Its ruling: recommended (mustahabb), according to the majority of scholars; some scholars hold it obligatory due to Allah's command in ﴾Fa'idha qara'ta-l-Qur'ana fasta'idh billahi mina-sh-shaytani-r-rajeem﴿ (An-Nahl: 98).

Reciting it aloud or silently:

The Isti'adhah is recited aloud in the following cases:

• When reciting aloud with others listening.

◆ At the start of a lesson

And it is recited silently in the following cases:

• When reciting within the prayer.
• When studying the Quran in a group, if not the one starting the recitation.
• When reciting alone, whether reciting silently or aloud.

Note: if the reciter is interrupted by an involuntary occurrence — such as coughing, sneezing, or explaining what is being recited — the Isti'adhah need not be repeated. But if the interruption is voluntary, such as being distracted, speaking, or similar, the Isti'adhah should be repeated.

Basmalah: Definition, Forms, and Placement

Its meaning: the verbal noun of "basmala," meaning to say "Bismillah" (in the name of Allah); it is also called "at-tasmiyah," from the verb "sammaa."

Its form: a single form: ﴾Bismillahi-r-Rahmani-r-Raheem﴿.

Its place: before beginning recitation. As for reciting the Basmalah between the surahs of the Quran, scholars have differed: some recite the Basmalah between surahs (except between Al-Anfal and At-Tawbah), and others omit it — this depends on whether the Basmalah is considered part of the Quran or not.

As for the transmission of Hafs from 'Asim, which we study, the Basmalah must be recited between every two surahs, with the exception of what falls between Al-Anfal and Bara'ah (At-Tawbah).

Its ruling: depends on whether it is considered part of the Holy Quran or not.

Scholars agree that it is part of verse 30 of Surah An-Naml: ﴾Innahu min Sulaymana wa'innahu Bismillahi-r-Rahmani-r-Raheem﴿. They differ, however, on the Basmalah occurring at the start of surahs, with several views, including:

• That the Basmalah is a verse of every surah except At-Tawbah, in which case it must be recited between surahs.
• That it is an independent verse revealed for blessing and to separate the surahs; on this view it is recommended.
• That it is a verse of the opening of Surah Al-Fatiha only, and no other surah.
• That it is not a verse of any surah at all.

Surah At-Tawbah does not begin with the Basmalah.

If the reciter begins in the middle of a surah, he may choose whether to recite the Basmalah or omit it. Al-Ja'bari held that it should not be recited within Surah Bara'ah, following its absence at the start of that surah.

Forms of Isti'adhah and Basmalah Combined

At the start of every surah except Bara'ah, or when starting mid-surah while reciting the Basmalah: four forms:

1. Separating all three: pausing between the Isti'adhah and the Basmalah, and between the Basmalah and the start of the surah.
2. Connecting all three: connecting the Isti'adhah to the Basmalah, then the Basmalah to the surah.
3. Connecting the first and second, and separating the second from the third: connecting the Isti'adhah to the Basmalah and stopping there, then beginning the surah.
4. Separating the first, and connecting the second to the third: separating the Isti'adhah from the Basmalah, then connecting the Basmalah to the start of the surah.

At the start of Surah Bara'ah, or when starting mid-surah while choosing to omit the Basmalah: two forms:

1. Connecting the Isti'adhah to what follows it.
2. Separating the Isti'adhah from what follows it.

The Basmalah between two surahs, except between Al-Anfal and At-Tawbah: three forms:

1. Separating all three: stopping at the end of the first surah, then stopping on the Basmalah, then beginning the second surah.
2. Separating the first, connecting the second to the third: stopping at the end of the preceding surah, then connecting the Basmalah to the start of the following surah.
3. Connecting all three: connecting the end of the first surah to the Basmalah, then the Basmalah to the start of the second surah.

A fourth form — connecting the end of the first surah to the Basmalah, then separating the Basmalah from the following surah — is not permitted, since the place of the Basmalah is at the start of surahs, not their end.

The Basmalah between Al-Anfal and At-Tawbah: three forms:

1. Connecting the end of Al-Anfal to the start of At-Tawbah.
2. Stopping at the end of Al-Anfal, then beginning At-Tawbah (without the Basmalah).
3. As-Sakt (stopping without breathing) at the end of Al-Anfal, then beginning At-Tawbah.