In the name of Allah...

Bismillah.

Bismillah. What does this word means? Bismillah? It is an Arabic word which brings the meaning, "In the name of Allah, Most Gracious, Most Compassionate."

I feel moved to share a scene in my life that has to do with this common word, which is being cited countlessly everyday by a Muslim.

This happened when I was in Bosnia. In my office cubicle, there were four of us. All man except me. And the one who had always have the time to 'entertain' my long listed queries is Haris. He was sitting next to my desk plus he is more fluent in English than the rest in the cube so that explains why he had to answer me. Hehe. 

One day, he offered me a snack , Štapići, a salty stick biscuits. 

I took it right away and after the first bite, Haris said to me in puzzled face; 


Haris  : " Hey, you were saying something". 


I stopped chewing and asked him back.


Me      :  " What did I say?".
Haris  :  "You were saying something right before you eat."


Then only I understood what he meant.


Me     : " I was saying Bismillah."
Haris  :"I know but we say that only when we are having a feast like when iftaar and during eid etc."
Me     :"Oh. I suppose we say that everytime before we eat or drink. No matter how big is the   
            meal." 

                                                                                ...

What I would like to highlight from the story above is that, I would not have realized that I recited Bismillah if Haris did not mention it to me. It is good that he asked. That made me think that, one could actually done something naturally, if it is done repeatedly. That when it becomes a habit or natural, one might not notice it anymore.

I read it somewhere from religious storybook when I was little. There is a story of a woman who always say Bismillah everytime she is about to do anything. Before cooking, before eating, before working. Her husband just could not get his wife's behaviour. So one day he put her on trial. He emptied a wheat jar his wife usually use in cooking before his wife comes into the kitchen that day. When the wife came to the kitchen to cook, she took the wheat jar and before opened it, as usual she said "Bismillah". MashaAllah, as God has willed, she scooped out the wheat and start cooking. The husband who was hiding behind was very surprised to see that there the jar is filled! He was very sure that no one get into the kitchen after he emptied the jar and went into hiding and was waiting all the way for his wife to come in. Unbelievable but true. Allahu akbar!

Such a wonderful story we can learn from. Now, I try to make it a habit too. To say Bismillah before getting into vehicles, before making telephone calls, or when I am about to step out from the elevator. ;) 

Because I believe in the word. Because you know that you are asking Allah for his blessings on whatever you do. I don't think a person would say Bismillah before committing a crime or stealing. That would be twisted. ;) 

"Sayyidina Ali (ra) was reported to have said that saying Bismillahir Rahmanir Rahim is a duaa that helps simplify a hard task and removes grief and brings happiness to the heart."

Bismillah. It may be just a word. But it has made and will make a difference!