Which surah has two bismillah?
The surah that contains two instances of “Bismillah al-Rahman al-Rahim,” meaning “In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful,” is Surah An-Naml, the Ant. This is the 27th chapter of the Quran and consists of 93 verses. The second Bismillah appears before verse 30, within the context of the story of Prophet Solomon, peace be upon him, and the Queen of Sheba.
The inclusion of a second Bismillah within the surah has been a subject of scholarly discussion and interpretation. Some scholars suggest that the second Bismillah serves to emphasize the gravity and importance of the letter that Solomon sends to the Queen of Sheba. Others propose that it is an indication of the significance of beginning any important task with the name of Allah for blessings and guidance.
It is also worth noting that the second Bismillah is part of the verse itself, unlike the Bismillah that appears at the beginning of each surah, which is considered a separate verse by some scholars and simply an opening formula by others. Understanding this distinction helps readers appreciate the pure spirit of the practice and its place within Islamic tradition.
Which surah has no Bismillah?
The only surah in the Quran that does not start with the basmala is Surah At-Tawbah. Muslims begin reciting it by seeking refuge with Allah instead, saying, “I seek refuge with Allah from the accursed Shaytan.”
According to scholarly opinion, one reason there is no Bismillah at the beginning of Surah At-Tawbah is that the companions considered it a continuation of Surah Al-Anfal, since the Prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him, did not confirm otherwise before his death.
Other scholars clarified that the Basmalah simply did not fit the surah, since it opens with the theme of combating disbelievers rather than a message of peace. It was reported that Ali, may Allah be pleased with him, was asked about the reason why the surah has no Basmalah, and he said that Al-Basmalah signifies peace, while this chapter was revealed with a command to fight, and therefore does not carry that same tone of peace.
Which surah equals one-third of the Quran?
Surah Al-Ikhlas equals one third of the Quran in terms of reward, according to a well known hadith, even though it is only four verses long. This is because the surah concentrates entirely on the oneness of Allah, tawhid, which represents one of the three central pillars of the Quran’s overall message, alongside legislation and stories of previous nations.
To understand the Quran in its original language, our Quranic Arabic course helps students learn Arabic as it is used specifically in the Quran, giving them direct access to the meaning behind verses like these rather than relying solely on translation.
How many Bismillah are in the Quran?
The phrase Bismillah al-Rahman al-Rahim appears 114 times in the Quran. It is generally found at the beginning of each of the 114 surahs except for one, Surah At-Tawbah, the ninth chapter. However, the unique feature of Surah An-Naml, the 27th chapter, is that it contains a second Bismillah within its text, specifically before verse 30. This keeps the total count of Bismillah occurrences in the Quran at 114, despite its absence from the beginning of Surah At-Tawbah.
What to say if you forgot Bismillah
If a person forgets to say Bismillah before beginning an activity, such as eating or starting a task, Islamic tradition recommends saying a specific phrase to compensate for the oversight. The phrase is “Bismillahi Awwalahu wa Akhirahu,” meaning “In the name of Allah, at the beginning and at the end.”
This expression serves to invoke the name of Allah both retroactively for when the activity began and for the remainder of the activity. It is a way to seek divine blessings and guidance even after initially forgetting to say Bismillah. Islamic scholars and jurists emphasize the importance of remembering Allah in all actions, and this phrase provides a practical means to maintain that remembrance even when it was initially overlooked.
The linguistic structure of the Bismillah
The phrase Bismillah al-Rahman al-Rahim is built from three connected elements. The word “bism” means “in the name of,” setting the tone of dedication before any action begins. “Allah” refers to the one true God in Islamic belief. The final two words, “Ar-Rahman” and “Ar-Raheem,” both derive from the same root related to mercy, yet scholars generally describe Ar-Rahman as referring to Allah’s all encompassing mercy extended to all of creation, while Ar-Raheem refers more specifically to the mercy reserved for believers, particularly in the Hereafter. This layered meaning is part of why the phrase carries such depth despite its brevity.
Why the story of Solomon and the Queen of Sheba features a second Bismillah
The context surrounding the second Bismillah in Surah An-Naml adds meaningful depth to its placement. Prophet Solomon, peace be upon him, sends a letter to the Queen of Sheba inviting her to worship Allah alone, and that letter itself opens with the Bismillah. Many scholars view this detail as a model for believers, illustrating that even correspondence carrying a serious, important message should be opened in the name of Allah. The letter’s brevity paired with its powerful opening is often cited as an example of how concise, sincere communication can carry significant weight when it begins with the right intention.
Broader lessons from Surah At-Tawbah’s missing Bismillah
Beyond the scholarly explanations already mentioned, the absence of Bismillah at the start of Surah At-Tawbah also serves as a reminder that context shapes tone throughout the Quran. Verses of mercy and peace open with an invocation of mercy, while verses addressing conflict and confrontation with active enemies of the early Muslim community carry a different tone altogether. Recognizing this pattern helps readers appreciate the Quran’s internal consistency, where even small structural details like the presence or absence of an opening phrase reflect the surah’s underlying message.
Frequently asked questions
Is the Bismillah considered a verse of every surah?
Scholars differ on this point. Some consider the Bismillah a separate verse at the start of most surahs, while others view it as an introductory formula rather than a numbered verse, with Surah Al-Fatiha being a notable exception where most scholars do count it as part of the first verse.
Why is Surah Al-Ikhlas considered equal to one third of the Quran?
This is based on a hadith in which the Prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him, described Surah Al-Ikhlas as equivalent to one third of the Quran in reward, due to its concentrated focus on the oneness of Allah, one of the Quran’s three major themes.
Does forgetting Bismillah invalidate an action?
No. Forgetting to say Bismillah does not invalidate the action itself. Islamic tradition simply provides a phrase to say afterward as a means of seeking Allah’s blessing retroactively.
Why does Surah An-Naml specifically contain the second Bismillah?
The second Bismillah appears as part of the letter Prophet Solomon sends to the Queen of Sheba, marking the seriousness and divine backing of his message within the narrative of the surah.
Practical ways to reflect on these lessons
- Pay attention the next time you recite Surah An-Naml, and notice how the second Bismillah appears within the story rather than at the surah’s opening.
- Practice starting your own daily tasks, even small ones, by saying Bismillah, building the habit the surah’s example encourages.
- Memorize Surah Al-Ikhlas if you have not already, given its concentrated meaning and the reward associated with its recitation.
- Reflect on the phrase “Bismillahi Awwalahu wa Akhirahu” as a simple, accessible tool for moments when Bismillah is forgotten.
Deepening your understanding with structured study
Details like these, the second Bismillah in Surah An-Naml, the missing Bismillah in Surah At-Tawbah, and the concentrated meaning of Surah Al-Ikhlas, reward careful, guided study far beyond a quick search online. At Quran House, our online Tafseer courses walk students through these kinds of structural and historical details, connecting them to the Quran’s broader themes. Instructors trained at Al-Azhar help students move from simply knowing these facts to genuinely understanding the reasoning and context behind them.
How scholars historically approached questions like these
Questions about the placement, presence, or absence of the Bismillah have occupied Quranic scholars for centuries, forming an entire subfield within the broader study of Quranic sciences known as ulum al-Quran. Early scholars carefully documented the exact wording, placement, and even the number of times specific phrases appear throughout the text, driven by a deep commitment to preserving the Quran with total precision. This meticulous approach is part of why questions like these, which surah has two Bismillah, which has none, and which equals a third of the Quran, have well documented, scholarly answers rather than vague or uncertain ones.
This tradition of precise textual study continues today, with modern scholars and institutions building on centuries of careful documentation rather than starting from scratch, which is part of why answers to these specific questions remain remarkably consistent across different schools of thought and historical periods.
Comparing the three central themes of the Quran
Understanding why Surah Al-Ikhlas equals one third of the Quran requires some familiarity with how scholars traditionally divide the Quran’s overall content into three broad categories. The first category concerns tawhid, the oneness of Allah, which Surah Al-Ikhlas addresses directly and exclusively. The second category involves legislation, the practical rulings and guidance for daily life found throughout many Medinan surahs. The third category consists of stories, particularly accounts of previous prophets and nations, which serve as lessons and warnings for later generations.
Since Surah Al-Ikhlas concentrates its entire, brief message on the first of these three categories with total clarity and precision, scholars have explained its reward as equivalent to a third of the Quran’s overall content, even though its actual length represents only a small fraction of the full text.
Why precise details like these matter for everyday recitation
It might be tempting to view questions like these as purely academic trivia, interesting but disconnected from daily worship. In practice, understanding details like the second Bismillah in Surah An-Naml or the missing Bismillah in Surah At-Tawbah tends to deepen a person’s engagement with recitation itself. A reader who understands why a specific surah opens or does not open a certain way brings more attention and reflection to that moment of recitation, rather than moving through it as a purely mechanical habit.
This kind of informed attention is part of what separates recitation as a rushed daily obligation from recitation as a genuinely reflective act of worship, connecting the reader more directly to the meaning and history behind the words being spoken.
How this knowledge can shape a personal study plan
For students building a structured plan for Quranic study, questions like these offer a natural starting point for deeper exploration. Rather than moving randomly from surah to surah, a student might choose to study the surahs mentioned here together, comparing Surah An-Naml’s narrative style, Surah At-Tawbah’s direct tone, and Surah Al-Ikhlas’s concentrated theology side by side. This kind of comparative study often reveals patterns that would otherwise go unnoticed when surahs are studied only in isolation, strengthening a student’s overall grasp of how the Quran’s different sections relate to one another, and how they collectively build toward a coherent, unified message across the entire text.
Final thoughts
These questions, about which surah carries two Bismillah, which carries none, and which equals a third of the Quran in reward, point to a wider truth about the Quran’s structure: even small details carry deliberate meaning. Surah An-Naml’s second Bismillah reflects the seriousness of a message meant to guide a queen toward faith. Surah At-Tawbah’s missing Bismillah reflects its confrontational tone. Surah Al-Ikhlas’s concentrated focus on Allah’s oneness earns it a reward equal to a third of the entire Quran. Exploring these details transforms familiar recitation into a richer, more thoughtful engagement with the text, turning ordinary daily reading into an opportunity for deeper reflection on the Quran’s careful, deliberate design.
