RECITE THE NAME OF ALLAH!

SOME BENEFITS OF RECITING BISMILLAHIR RAHMAANIR RAHEEM
Bismillaahir Rahmaanir Raheem - In the Name of Allah, the Most Kind, the Most Merciful

AN INCIDENT WITH ISA-JESUS (Alaih Salaam)
It is reported that Sayyidina Isa (Alaih Salaam) passed by a grave whose inmate was being tormented. After some days he happened to pass by the same grave again. This time there was no punishment. The inmate was in great comfort. This surprised him a great deal. He asked Allah: "Lord, what brought about Your Mercy so that You have lifted the punishment from this person?" Allah Ta'ala replied: "0 Isa, when the man died, he left behind a child. When his mother took him to the Madressa and he, the child, said Bismillaahir rahmaanir raheem in the presence of the teacher, it is not like me to keep on punishing his father while he called me Rahmaan and Raheem. Hence, I forgave him."

BASHR HAAFI'S INCIDENT
Bashr Haafi once saw a paper with the inscription "Bismillahir Rahman nir Raheem" lying on the ground. He picked it up. He had 2 Dirhams in his pocket. He bought perfume with these and smeared it on the paper. That night he saw (the Noor (light)) of Allah Ta'ala in his dream. Allah said to him: "0 Bashr Haafi, just as you have honoured my name, in the same way I shall make you popular in the world and hereafter."

ABU MUSLIM KHAULANI'S INCIDENT
Abu Muslim Khaulani had a servant who used to serve him. For some time she began feeding him food mixed with poison so he could die. After a number of weeks she saw no signs of illness. So, she told him what she had been doing and asked him why no harm was coming to him. He, in turn asked her why she was doing this. She replied that he has grown old and it was her desire to become free as soon as possible. This could only happen if he died. He replied that no harm came to him because it is his practice to say "Bismillahir Rahman nir Raheem" before taking any food or drink. Thereafter, he set her free so she could be free.

A FASCINATING STORY OF A JEWISH GIRL
It is mentioned in Lam'aate Soofiyyah that a pious man was once lecturing on the virtues of "Bismillahir Rahman nir Raheem". A Jewish girl was also listening to his lecture. She was so moved by the lecture that she accepted Islam. Now, whenever she did anything she always said "Bismillahir Rahman nir Raheem" first. When her father, who was the king's minister, discovered that she had embraced Islam, he became very upset. He feared that the people would look down upon him. So, he began threatening her in the hope that she would forsake Islam. But she would not. Finally, he decided, the only solution was to kill her. Thus, he thought of a plan: he gave her the ring, which was used for sealing letters and documents in the king's court. He said to her: "Keep it until I ask for it." Saying "Bismillahir Rahman nir Raheem" she took it and put it in her pocket.'

That night the father tip-toed into her room and stole the ring and flung it into the river. That would give the king all the reason to hang her.

The following day a fisherman came along to the minister and gave him a fish as a gift. The minister took it and gave it to his daughter to prepare it. As soon as she opened the stomach to clean the fish she found the ring. She was shocked! For it looked exactly like the ring her father had given her! She searched for the ring in her pocket but couldn't find it. She read "Bismillahir Rahman nir Raheem" and put the ring back into her pocket.

She then prepared the fish and presented it to her father. After he had his meal. He then asked for the ring. She said "Bismillahir Rahman nir Raheem" and produced it from her pocket. The father was shocked for he had thrown it into the river! How could she take it out from her pocket! He then told her what he had done and enquired where the ring came from. She told him she found it from the fish's stomach. Witnessing the Barakah (blessing) of Bismillah he accepted Islam straightaway.