The Holy Quran has numerous Meccan and Medinan surahs. The virtue of reciting Quranic surahs lies in protecting Muslims from harm and bestowing blessings upon them. These surahs also intercede for their reciters on the Day of Judgment. In this article, we will explore Which Surah has Two Basmalahs? and its order in the Holy Quran.
Which Surah has Two Basmalahs?
The surah containing two Basmalahs is Surah An-Naml. It begins with the Basmalah and mentions it again in verse 30:
إِنَّهُ مِنْ سُلَيْمَانَ وَإِنَّهُ بِسْمِ اللَّهِ الرَّحْمَٰنِ الرَّحِيمِ
Innahu min Sulaimana wa innahu bismillahi r-Rahmani r-Rahim
And indeed, it is from Sulaiman, and indeed, it is in the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful.
Surah An-Naml is a Meccan surah, revealed to Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) in Mecca. It has 93 verses and is located between Surah Ash-Shu’ara and Surah Al-Qasas, and is considered one of the Al-Mathani (surahs of moderate length).
Surah An-Naml, containing two Basmalahs, is one of the magnificent surahs that include several Quranic stories, such as the story of Prophet Sulaiman (PBUH). The central theme of Surah An-Naml revolves around the oneness of Allah (Tawhid), affirming the concepts of eternity and resurrection. It narrates stories of the prophets to draw lessons and morals.
Surah An-Naml is the 27th surah according to the Uthmani order of the Mushaf, while its order of revelation is the 48th. It was revealed before Surah Al-Qasas. In Sahih Al-Bukhari, it’s referred to as “Surah Sulaiman” because it mentions the story of Prophet Sulaiman (PBUH). According to Ibn Arabi, it’s also known as “Surah Al-Hudhud” (The Hoopoe).
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The Meaning of Surah An-Naml
Surah An-Naml is named after the story of the ants with Prophet Sulaiman (PBUH), as mentioned in the following verse:
حَتَّىٰ إِذَا أَتَوْا عَلَىٰ وَادِ النَّمْلِ قَالَتْ نَمْلَةٌ يَا أَيُّهَا النَّمْلُ ادْخُلُوا مَسَاكِنَكُمْ لَا يَحْطِمَنَّكُمْ سُلَيْمَانُ وَجُنُودُهُ وَهُمْ لَا يَشْعُرُونَ
hatta itha ataw ‘ala wadi n-namli qalat namlatun ya ayyuha n-namlu udkhulu masakinakum la yahtimannakum sulaimanu wa junuduhu wa hum la yash’urun
“Until, when they came to the Valley of the Ants, an ant said, ‘O ants! Enter your homes so that Solomon and his soldiers do not crush you unknowingly.’ “
Allah granted Prophet Sulaiman a kingdom unlike any seen before or since, and He subjugated the Jinn to him to do whatever he wished. He also subjected the wind to his command and taught him the language of birds and animals. Thus, Prophet Sulaiman (PBUH) could converse with birds and animals and understand their speech.
Surah An-Naml is one of the magnificent surahs that mention several fundamental religious principles, including:
- Affirming the oneness of Allah in the universe (Tawhid).
- The creation of the heavens and the earth, and the sending down of rain from the sky to grow gardens and orchards.
- That Allah alone knows the unseen and the seen, and He does not reveal His unseen to anyone.
Several stories are mentioned in Surah An-Naml to illustrate the consequences for believers and their rewards, as well as the punishment of disbelievers in this world and the Hereafter. The surah also narrates the story of Prophet Moses (PBUH), highlighting the greatness of Prophethood and the strength of faith in Allah.
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Why Does Surah An-Naml Contain Two Basmalahs?
Surah An-Naml contains two Basmalahs; it begins with a Basmalah like other surahs, but another Basmalah appears within the surah, unlike other surahs in the Holy Quran, as Allah says:
إِنَّهُ مِنْ سُلَيْمَانَ وَإِنَّهُ بِسْمِ اللَّهِ الرَّحْمَٰنِ الرَّحِيمِ
Innahu min Sulaimana wa innahu bismillahi r-Rahmani r-Rahim
“It is from Sulaiman, and it reads: ‘In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful.’ “
Surah An-Naml describes the Holy Quran as guidance for all people, highlighting its virtues and greatness. It also explains the characteristics of believers and their rewards, the characteristics of disbelievers and their punishments, and narrates stories of several prophets, such as Moses, Lot, Saleh, and Sulaiman (peace be upon them), to draw lessons and morals.
Surah An-Naml includes Allah’s command to believers to travel the earth to understand their place in it, and as a reminder of the signs of the Day of Judgment, such as the emergence of the beast from the earth. It warns people that Allah will show them His signs so they may recognize them and learn from them, strengthening their faith in Him.
Surah An-Naml is a magnificent surah, emphasizing that religion is a matter of both worship and knowledge. Muslims should strive to be a unified nation excelling in both religion and knowledge, which distinguishes the Islamic nation from others. Among the virtues of this surah is the answering of the supplication of those in distress when they turn to Allah sincerely, seeking His help and relief.
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Which Surah Does Not have the Basmalah?
Surah At-Tawbah, also known as Surah Al-Bara’ah (Dissociation), does not contain the Basmalah. It is sufficient to begin with seeking refuge in Allah from Satan. It is a Medinan surah, revealed in Medina in the 9th year of Hijra, and is among the last surahs revealed to Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) during the battles against the Romans. Surah At-Tawbah discusses the hypocrites and includes events from the Battle of Tabuk. It’s called “Surah At-Tawbah” because it mentions three stories of Muslims who stayed behind during the Battle of Tabuk but later repented to Allah, and Allah accepted their repentance.
One of the main reasons for the absence of the Basmalah at the beginning of Surah At-Tawbah, as narrated by Ibn Abbas (may Allah be pleased with him), is:
«سألتُ عليَّ بنَ أبي طالبٍ لِمَ لَمْ تُكْتَبْ في بَراءةَ بِسْمِ اللهِ الرَّحْمَنِ الرَّحِيمِ؟ فقال: لأنَّ بِسْمِ اللهِ الرَّحْمَنِ الرَّحِيمِ أمانٌ، وبراءةُ أُنزِلَت بالسَّيفِ، ليسَ فيها أمانٌ».
“I asked Ali ibn Abi Talib why ‘Bismillah ar-Rahman ar-Rahim’ was not written in Bara’ah. He said: ‘Because Bismillah ar-Rahman ar-Rahim is a sign of peace, and Bara’ah was revealed with the sword, there is no peace in it.’ ”
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How Many Basmalahs are in the Quran?
The Basmalah is mentioned 114 times in the Holy Quran, appearing at the beginning of every surah except Surah At-Tawbah, and it’s mentioned twice in Surah An-Naml.
Which Surah is Equivalent to One-Third of the Quran?
Surah Al-Ikhlas is equivalent to one-third of the Quran because it encompasses the three types of Tawhid (Oneness of God): Tawhid Ar-Rububiyyah (Oneness of Lordship), Tawhid Al-Uluhiyyah (Oneness of Worship), and Tawhid Al-Asma’ was-Sifat (Oneness of Allah’s Names and Attributes). It holds immense virtue, as the Prophet (PBUH) said:
احْشُدُوا فَإِنِّي سَأَقْرَأُ عَلَيْكُمْ ثُلُثَ الْقُرْآنِ، فَحَشَدَ مَنْ حَشَدَ، ثُمَّ خَرَجَ نَبِيُّ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ فَقَرَأَ {قُلْ هُوَ اللَّهُ أَحَدٌ} ثُمَّ دَخَلَ، فَقَالَ بَعْضُنَا لِبَعْضٍ: إِنِّي أَرَى هَذَا خَبَرٌ جَاءَهُ مِنَ السَّمَاءِ فَذَاكَ الَّذِي أَدْخَلَهُ، ثُمَّ خَرَجَ نَبِيُّ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ، فَقَالَ إِنِّي قُلْتُ لَكُمْ سَأَقْرَأُ عَلَيْكُمْ ثُلُثَ الْقُرْآنِ، أَلَا إِنَّهَا تَعْدِلُ ثُلُثَ الْقُرْآنِ
“Gather, for I will recite to you one-third of the Quran.” So those who wished to gather, gathered. Then the Prophet of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) came out and recited: ‘Say: He is Allah, the One,’ then he went in. Some of us said to others: ‘I think this is news that has come to him from heaven and that is what made him go in.’ Then the Prophet of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) came out and said: “I told you that I would recite to you one-third of the Quran. Verily, it is equivalent to one-third of the Quran.’”
Surah Al-Ikhlas is a magnificent surah addressing the oneness of Allah. It is emphasized that whoever recites it every day is as if they have recited one-third of the Quran, as the Prophet (PBUH) said:
أَيَعْجِزُ أَحَدُكُمْ أَنْ يَقْرَأَ فِي لَيْلَةٍ ثُلُثَ الْقُرْآنِ؟ قَالُوا كَيْفَ يَقْرَأُ ثُلُثَ الْقُرْآنِ؟ قَالَ {قُلْ هُوَ اللَّهُ أَحَدٌ} تَعْدِلُ ثُلُثَ الْقُرْآنِ
“Can any of you not recite one-third of the Quran in a night?” They said, “How could anyone read one-third of the Quran?” He said, “Say: He is Allah, the One; it is equivalent to one-third of the Quran.” It was also narrated from Abu Sa’id Al-Khudri that he heard a man reciting.
What Do I Say If I Forget to Say Bismillah?
If a Muslim forgets to say “Bismillah ar-Rahman ar-Rahim” before eating or drinking, they should say “Bismillah awwalahu wa akhirahu” (In the name of Allah at its beginning and its end). The Basmalah is prescribed to mention Allah before doing anything, seeking His help to complete the task and attain blessings.
Scholars agree that forgetting to say “Bismillah ar-Rahman ar-Rahim” before reciting the Quran does not render one disbelieving or sinful, but it is recommended. Reciting without the Basmalah is still valid.
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