Surah Taubah: Why No Bismillah?

[ummtaalib]

The following answer was given by Faqihul Ummah Hadhrat Mufti Mahmood Gangohi (rahmatullah alayhi) to the question why Surah Taubah has no Bismillah at the beginning.

 

When Hadrat Uthman رضى الله عنه was asked why there was no bismillah at the beginning of Surah al-Tawba like how there is bismillah at the beginning of other surahs, he replied that there was some doubt as to this surah being a separate surah, because Nabi صلى الله عليه و سلم passed away without explicitly mentioning anything regarding it. This is why Bismillah was not written at the beginning of Surah Taubah. However, since its subject-matter is similar to that of Surah Anfal, it was placed after it and a space for Bismillah has been kept because it is possible that this is a separate surah. (Tirmizi, Vol 2, Pg.139)

 

In Bukhari Shareef (Vol 2,Pg 271) it is mentioned that this surah was revealed to cancel the peace treaty. In it appears the command of killing the mushrikeen (polytheists) and the expression of Allah Ta`ala’s anger over them. Therefore, Bismillah was not written at the beginning of the surah since Bismillah signifies peace and mercy.

 

It appears in Shaatbi: لتنزيلها بالسيف لست مبسملا (Bismillah does not appear at the beginning of this surah, because it was revealed in connection to war.) This is not the actual reason though it is a point to consider. The actual reason is that which is narrated from Hadrat Uthman رضى الله عنه (Bayanul Qur’an, Vol 4, Pg 95)

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[ummtaalib]

Why is there no Bismillah before Surah Tawbah?

 

In the name of Allah, the most Beneficent, the most Merciful.

Answer

The Holy Quran was revealed bit by bit during the period of twenty three years.  The verses of a surah were revealed at different times.  When Saaiduna Jibraeel Alayhis Salam would come with a revelation, he would also point out to the intended arrangement of each revealed verse explaining that it should be placed in such and such surah after such and such Ayah (verse).  And when at the end of one surah the next was to begin, Bismillahir-Rahmanir-Rahim would be revealed before the next actually did.

However, with Surah Tawbah, Bismillah was not revealed nor did the Prophet of Allah Sallallahu Alahi Wasalam instruct the scribe of the revelation to so.

When Saaiduna Usman Radiallahu Anhu arranged the Holy Quran in the form of a book during the period of his Khilafah, Bismillah was not there at the beginning of Surah Tawbah.  Therefore a doubt arose that perhaps this is not an independent Surah but was part of another surah, in which case what would this other surah be?  In terms of its subjects, Surah Al-Anfal seemed to fit the slot.

Also it is narrated by Saaiduna Usman Radiallahu Anhu that during the blessed period of the Prophet of Allah Sallallahu Alahi Wasalam, both these surah’s were called “Qarinatayn” (the connected ones).

From the above we learn that the reason for not writing ‘Bismillah’ at the beginning of Surah Tawbah lies in the probability that Surah Tawbah may not be an independent surah but being part of Surah Anfal.  On this basis Muslim jurists have said that a person who was already been reciting Surah Anfal from above and is going to begin Surah Tawbah then he or she should not recite Bismillah.  But a person who is starting his or her recitation of the Holy Quran or from somewhere in the middle of Surah Tawbah should say ‘Bismillahir-Rahmanir-Rahim”.   (Maariful Quran p.300-p.302 v.4)

Only Allah Knows Best

Mohammed Tosir Miah

Darul Ifta Birmingham

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