BENEFITS OF RECITING "BISMILLAHIR RAHMANIR RAHEEM" (In the name of Allah, the Most Beneficent, the most Merciful)

If we were to give an exhaustive account of the benefits of the recitation of "Bismillahir Rahmanir Rahim" we would need more than a single volume to do justice to it. Apart from being part of every chapter in the Holy Qur'an (except the chapter of repentance - surah at-tawba), it is also the most often repeated verse in the
Holy Qur'an.

It is narrated in Tafseere Burhaan that the Holy Prophet (Sallal Laahu Alayhi Wa Sallam) has said that when a person recites "Bismillahir Rahmanir Rahim" then five thousand ruby palaces are built for him in Jannah. Each palace has a thousand chambers made of pearls and in each chamber has seventy thousand thrones of emerald and each throne has seventy thousand carpets made from special fabrics and upon each carpet is seated a Hur-ul-Ein. A person asked for the condition necessary to get this great reward and the Holy Prophet (Sallal Laahu Alayhi Wa Sallam ) replied that the person should recite the "Bismillahir Rahmanir Rahim" with conviction and understanding.

The Holy Prophet (Sallal Laahu Alayhi Wa Sallam ) has also said that when a believer will have to cross the Pul-e-Siraat on the Day of Judgement, and he will say "Bismillahir Rahmanir Rahim" then the
flames beneath him will start dying down until Jahannam will cry out, 'O believer, pass through quickly, your presence is causing my fire to die out!'

When a teacher teaches a child to recite "Bismillahir Rahmanir Rahim" the child, his parents and the teacher are all guaranteed freedom from hellfire. It is narrated that Prophet Isa (alahi.salaam) was once passing by a graveyard and he saw a grave upon which the Wrath and Punishment of Allah (subhana wata alah) was descending, so he quietly walked past. When he passed the same place after some time, he noticed that the Mercy and Blessings of Allah (subhana wata alah) was being showered on the same grave. He was surprised at this and asked Allah (subhana wata alah) about what has happened and it was revealed to him that the man inside the grave was a sinner and was thus being punished for his sins. When he died, his wife was pregnant and soon gave birth to a son. When the boy grew older, his mother took him to a teacher who taught him to recite "Bismillahir Rahmanir Rahim" and I felt that it would not be justice that this man's son was calling My Name and I was punishing his father in the grave.

It is also mentioned that recitation of "Bismillahir Rahmanir Rahim" with a loud voice is from the signs of a true believer. Imam Ali Ridha (alahi salaam) said that "Bismillahir Rahmanir Rahim" is very close to the chosen name of Allah (subhana wata alah) [Isma A'adham].