 Bismillahirrahmanirrahim. Alhamdulillah Rabbil Alameen. Thumma salatu wa salamu ala ashraf al-anbiya'i Muhammedin wa alhi t-tayyibina al-taahireen. Dear viewers, As-salamu alaikum wa rahmatullahi wa barakatuh. Once again, it's an honor to be amongst you discussing the holy verses of Quran and the narrations of Ahl al-Bayt, alayhum wa salam. As you know, we have started a series of lectures discussing the commentaries of the Holy Quran based on the narrations and the teachings of Ahl al-Bayt, alayhum wa salam. We started with the first chapter of Quran, Surah al-Hamd. According to the commentators of the Holy Quran, Surah al-Hamd was the first Surah that revealed to the Holy Prophet in complete format. We know the first verses that revealed to the Holy Prophet Muhammad SAW was from Surah Al-Alaq, Iqra' Bismarabbika Ladi Khalaq. But within that chapters, only five verses revealed upon the Holy Prophet at the beginning. But this chapter, Surah al-Hamd, was the first chapter that's revealed upon the Holy Prophet Muhammad SAW in a complete format, basically in the format of seven verses starting with Bismillah al-Rahman al-Raheem, all the way until the end, Ghayr al-Maghdoubi al-Alayhim wa al-Adhaal, al-Deen. These seven verses, they all revealed to the Holy Prophet at once. And according to the commentators, this chapter revealed two times to the Holy Prophet, one time in Mecca and one time in Medina. According to the shia commentators, unanimously, they believe that Bismillah al-Rahman al-Raheem was and is the first verse of the Holy Quran and this chapter. That is why it becomes seven verses starting with Bismillah al-Rahman al-Raheem, Al-Hamdullilah Rabb al-Alamin, Al-Rahman al-Raheem, Malik yawm al-Deen, Iyaka na'abudu wa Iyaka nasta'een, Ehden al-Sarata al-Mustaqeem, Sarata al-Ladina al-An'amta al-Alayhim, Ghayr al-Maghdoubi al-Alayhim wa al-Adhaal, al-Deen. So these become seven verses according to the shia commentators that we believe Bismillah to be the first verse. Also, within the non-shia commentators, we have, for example, Muhammad ibn Ibn Ibn Riz al-Shafi'i also supports this idea that Bismillah al-Rahman al-Raheem is the first verse of Surah al-Ham and every chapter except Surah al-Bara'a, the first verse is Surah al-Bismillah al-Rahman al-Raheem, hence it must be read. Also, Fakhr al-Razi, within his famous tafsir, or the book of commentary of the Holy Qur'an, he also brings 17 reasons why he argued that Bismillah al-Rahman al-Raheem is the first verse of all these chapters. But unfortunately, we see some of the school of thoughts within Islam, they don't consider Bismillah to be the first. And hence, in their prayer, they will cut Bismillah al-Rahman al-Raheem. They start with Bismillah al-Rahman al-Raheem, Surah al-Hamd, and then the second chapter, they will go quiet, and then suddenly they start a verse of Holy Qur'an. We have Imam and Abi Ja'far, alayhi salam, where he states, they stole the most honorable verse of the Holy Qur'an by not saying it, which is Bismillah al-Rahman al-Raheem. This hadith is in tafsir al-Ayashi, volume 1, page 19, that we see within some of the Muslims, when they read, when they pray, sometimes they even don't mention the first Bismillah of Surah al-Hamd, or sometimes some mention Bismillah al-Rahman al-Raheem. They read Surah al-Hamd, and then the next chapter, they don't read the Bismillah, and basically they take it off, where again Imam says they took and they stole the most honorable verse of the Holy Qur'an. We have a narration where a person comes to the Imam, alayhi salam, and he says, Imam is Bismillah, the first verse of Surah al-Hamd, and all the other chapters, Imam said yes. He said, must I read it? Imam said yes. He said, when I go to the second chapter, you know, we have Surah al-Hamd, and Tawheed, or Surah al-Hamd, and Na'a, any other chapter that we read, Imam said you have to read Bismillah al-Rahman al-Raheem also. And as you know, within the Shia school of thought, Bismillah al-Rahman al-Raheem must be read, jahran, with loud voice, even Salat al-Duhr and Asr, where we have to read Surah al-Hamd, and Qulhu Allah al-Ahad, or any other chapter. We must read it silently and quietly, but the Bismillah must be read loud. Basically, this is the way we go, Bismillah al-Rahman al-Raheem. Then we go quiet. And it is a sign of a believer that where Imam Hassan al-Askali, alaihi salam, said, a believer has five signs. One of them al-Jahrab al-Bismillah al-Rahman al-Raheem, saying it loudly, Bismillah al-Rahman al-Raheem is a sign of a believer. So it is very important. As we have mentioned within the first couple of episodes, and couple of sessions of this series of lecture, that we take the teachings of Quran from Ahl al-Bait, alaihi salam. We go to Ahl al-Bait, alaihi salam, and to their narrations to see what we can learn of what is the meaning of the Holy Quran. Imam Al-Raza, alaihi salam, states, Bismillah al-Rahman al-Raheem, You know, we have Bismillah al-Azam, that a person who knows one or two or three, they can do a lot of miracles. For example, by reciting one Bismillah al-Azam, one can travel, for example, from America, by reciting that Bismillah, by knowing that Bismillah, he can make an intention, and by the next minute, he will be in Karbala, doing Ziyarah of Aba Abdullah al-Hussain, alaihi salam. And other miracles, where Allah grants some people with that name, which they can do miracles, which they can do things that are beyond the capability of mankind, basically a game coming from America, to Karbala with remember and with mentioning one name of A'zam, great name of Allah, subhanahu wa ta'ala. They can do this. Imam says, Bismillah al-Rahman al-Raheem, akrabu ila bismillah al-Azam, bismillah al-Azam, min sawadi al-Ain ila bayadaha. How close it's our pupil, the white part of the pupil, basically it's next to one another, they're inside one another. Basically, Bismillah al-Rahman al-Raheem has so much value and significance. It's the most honorable, as Imam said, verses of the Holy Quran. Hadith, and Abi Ja'far al-Alayhi salam, also in Tafsir al-Aiyashi, where he states, During his Salah, outside Salah, he would say Bismillah al-Rahman al-Raheem loudly for people to remind them. Basically, one thing we can learn that for Rasulullah, teaching people that, okay, this is the way that you should always remember Bismillah al-Rahman al-Raheem loudly and start everything that you do with Bismillah al-Rahman al-Raheem, especially Salah, the first chapter and the second chapter needs to be Bismillah al-Rahman al-Raheem, said, loudly. So, one can argue, most probably, one can guarantee a task with a good initiation to have a good conclusion. When we start our task with Bismillah al-Rahman al-Raheem, anything that we do, I remember this was, we're continuing our discussion from the last episode about the importance of starting everything we do with Bismillah al-Rahman al-Raheem and I mean everything that we do from a very, very simple act to a great and big act that we want to partake, starting with Bismillah al-Rahman al-Raheem, starting with a good initiation, starting with bringing the name of Allah, involving Allah, and remembering Allah, within our task, can have a higher chance of good conclusion than starting it without Bismillah al-Rahman al-Raheem where shaytan will be present in what we are doing. By remembering and uttering Bismillah before every task, we can eternalize that endeavor that we are taking. Very, very important for us to get into the habit of remembering saying Bismillah al-Rahman al-Raheem before everything, before meal, before leaving the house, before washing our face, before wudu, after wudu, when we are sitting in the car, turning on the car, leaving our house, we're going to school to work everywhere, we state Bismillah al-Rahman al-Raheem on and on and on and on. And it wasn't only the Book of Allah, this Quran that we have that started with Bismillah al-Rahman al-Raheem. We have verses of the Holy Quran that illustrates that the prophets before our Holy Prophet also, they used to start anything they wanted with Bismillah al-Rahman al-Raheem where we have in Chapter 11, verse 41, where a prophet, Nuh, when he wanted the animals and the people to get onto the ark that he built, he says, وَقَالَرْكُبُواْ فِيهَا بِسْمِ اللَّهِ مَجْرَاهَا وَمُرْسَاهَا He said, Prophet Nuh or Noah, al-Anabina wa alaihi salam, said, board it, in the name of Allah, it shall set, sail, and cast anchor. Indeed, my Lord is all forgiving, all merciful. So Bismillah, in the name of Allah, subhanahu wa ta'ala, was the start of people getting to the ark of Prophet Nuh, al-Anabina wa alaihi salam. Also, as we mentioned, we brought the verse of the Holy Quran, Prophet Sulaiman al-Anabina wa alaihi salam, when he wrote the letter to the Queen of Saba, he says in Chapter 27, verse 30, where Allah narrates the story for you and I, انه من سulaimana وأنه بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم This letter, it is from Sulaiman and it begins in the name of Allah, the all-beneficent, the all-merciful. So even prophets before the Prophet of Islam, they, everything that they did, started a letter, started a movement, anything that they did, small to big, they started with Bismillah ar-Rahman ar-Rahim. And we have bringing, mentioning the name of Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala, it's very important because it is, it gives meaning and it gives purpose to what we are doing. If I get into the habit of remembering Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala, before everything I do, that will definitely reduce the amount of sin that I might commit. Because I say, okay, Bismillah ar-Rahman ar-Rahim, before every act and that needs practice. That needs remembrance of Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala, where the remembrance of Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala brings assurance, our hearts will be assured and will be rest at peace when we keep remembering Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala. What better way than remembering Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala than saying Bismillah ar-Rahman ar-Rahim before everything we do. So if we get to this habit, every time Bismillah ar-Rahman ar-Rahim, Bismillah ar-Rahman ar-Rahim, I'm about to do something which is not, I'm not allowed to do it. It's prohibited. I will not do it because, okay, Bismillah ar-Rahman ar-Rahim that I'm going to commit sin. It's not possible. That remembrance of Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala, insha'Allah it will keep me away from committing sin. And also, for example, we need to bring and mention the name of Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala when we slaughter an animal. Even that act, if not this animal, it's not permissible for us to consume it. It gives meaning even to slaughtering an animal, it gives meaning to this action. It gives purpose that I am sacrificing this animal by the name of Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala. I'm not just sacrificing animal for the sake of fun, which if it's that it's not allowed and we cannot consume it. Well, by remembering Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala, I'm bringing meaning to this sacrifice that I want to consume this and have energy to worship Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala and to be a good servant of Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala. By bringing the name of Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala within every task, we are giving a color. We're giving a title. We're giving, as we said, a brand. We are reminding ourselves. This is very, very important. We are, again, we are eternalizing that endeavor. And by saying Bismillah ar-Rahman ar-Rahim, before everything, we're taking the first step in showing our obedience to Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala that, oh Allah, I'm starting everything by your name and we are securing. We are basically by saying Bismillah ar-Rahman ar-Rahim, we're buying an insurance and we're making Allah to ensure what we do, insha'Allah, to start good, to be good throughout what we are doing and to have a good conclusion, insha'Allah, to see the reward and the benefit of what we are doing. And it shows our intention. When we say Bismillah ar-Rahman ar-Rahim, everything becomes for the sake of Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala. Everything becomes for his satisfaction. Everything becomes for seeking nearness to him if we keep reminding ourselves of Bismillah ar-Rahman ar-Rahim, Bismillah ar-Rahman ar-Rahim and Bismillah ar-Rahman ar-Rahim. Let's get to the meaning of these words. Bismi, Ba, Asm, Allah. Ba, Asm, Allah, what we call, we read it Bismillah. According to commentators, there are more than 14 meanings for the word Ba. That's the beauty of the Arabic language where one, even one letter can have that much meaning. Ba, Harfajar, as we read in Arabic, grammar means I did some, I, for example, qatabtu bil qalam. I wrote with pen. Basically, I took aids from pen and I wrote. I couldn't write without having a pen. In here, asti'ana, Ba of Bismillah. It means asti'ana, seeking aid from Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala. Turning for help or aid to Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala in everything that we do. That O Allah, I'm starting something. I'm initiating something. I need your assistance. I need your aid. I need your supervision. I need you to secure what I'm doing to make sure it is getting me closer to you. It is on the path of obedience to you. O Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala. Ba means we seeking Allah's assistance in whatever we do from the beginning to an end for Allah to remove also the obstacles from our path. O Allah, I started this. I need your aid because there are a lot of obstacles. Everything that we have started, everything that we have started, they have obstacles in front of it. So, Bismillah ar-Rahman ar-Rahim. O Allah, I'm seeking in your names ar-Rahman ar-Rahim, insha'Allah. We will discuss it. Meaning of Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala. Bismi, Bismi insha'Allah. Bism will be for our next episode, insha'Allah. So, the action plan will be we keep reminding ourselves, our kids, our brothers, our sisters, our families, our relatives, those people who are around of us that are Muslim to start everything. Bismillah ar-Rahman ar-Rahim. And us saying Bismillah ar-Rahman ar-Rahim, as soon as we sit on a table, we don't have to say, oh, did you say Bismillah? Did you say Bismillah? Us say Bismillah ar-Rahman ar-Rahim. We start our meal. The kids are reminded. The wife is reminded. The husband is reminded. Parents are reminded. We need as a community to come together, give hand in hand together, remind one another of starting everything, insha'Allah, with Bismillah ar-Rahman ar-Rahim. We conclude, insha'Allah, this episode by praying to Allah, subhanahu wa ta'ala, to Heistan that we appearance of our beloved mama, Mahdi Ajar Allah, ta'ala, Farid al-Sharif, which is the most important dua, insha'Allah. Bismillah ar-Rahman ar-Rahim. Allahumma kulli wa liyika al-Hujjat ibn al-Hasan. Salawatu ka alayhi wa ala aba'ih. Fi haathih sa'ata wa fi kulli sa'ah. Waliyan wa hafida wa qa'idan wa naasara wa dalilan wa'ina. Hatta tuskinan wa ardaka tawa'a wa tumatta'ahu fiha taweela. Rahmatika ya arham ar-Rahmeen.