Encyclopedia of Islam

Basmachi

  

93  J

---

economic concessions, Basmachi-style revolts had 

been quashed.

See also b

Ukhara

; t

Urkey

.

David Reeves

Further reading: Edward Allworth, The Modern Uzbeks 

from the Fourteenth Century to the Present (Stanford, 

Calif.: Hoover Institution Press, 1990); Shoshana Keller, 

To Moscow, Not Mecca: The Soviet Campaign against 

Islam in Central Asia, 1917–1941 (Westport, Conn.: 

Praeger, 2001).

basmala

The  basmala, also known as the tasmiya, is an 

Arabic word for the phrase bi-smillah ir-rahman 

ir-rahim, “In the name of God most compassion-

ate, most merciful.” This is the first verse of the 

q

Uran

; it begins all of its chapters but one (Q 

9), and it is recited before reading any part of the 

Quran. According to religious authorities, people 

should pronounce it before any worthwhile activ-

ity, such as a formal speech, a meal, taking medi-

cine, using the toilet, slaughtering an 

animal

 for 

food, sexual intercourse with one’s spouse, and 

traveling. Many recite it when they awake each 

day and before going to sleep. It is believed that 

whoever repeats the basmala will be granted his 

or her wishes, and it is also supposed to keep 

s

atan

 away. Important documents and religious 

books begin with the basmala, and Muslim stu-

dents write it at the beginning of their homework 

and exams. Also, Quran inscriptions on the walls 

of 

mosqUe

s and other buildings begin with this 

phrase. Indeed, it is perhaps the most frequently 

used verse in Arabic 

calligraphy

, where it is writ-

ten in many styles and forms. According to the 

hadith

, “Whoever writes the basmala beautifully 

will obtain many blessings” or “enter 

paradise

.” 

Because its words are believed to be so powerful 

and beneficial, it is frequently used in amulets 

to help people obtain a blessing or protect them 

from harm. Car bumper stickers and decals often 

feature it or its numerical equivalent, 786, which 

is popular in i

ndia

, p

akistan

, and b

angladesh

.

The basmala has been accorded special status 

in Islamic stories and commentaries, too. For 

example, it is said that g

abriel

 once told Adam,

the first human being, that the basmala was “the 

word whereby the heavens and the earth came 

to be, by which the water was set in motion, by 

which the mountains were established steadfast 

and the earth made firm, and whereby the hearts 

of all creatures were strengthened” (Jeffrey, 556). 

Sunni Quran commentaries mention that the 

basmala contains all of the 

sharia

 in it, because 

in it God gives both his essence and attributes. 

The Shia respect a hadith which says that all of 

the Quran is contained in the basmala and that 

Ali represents the dot under the Arabic letter b in 

that word, meaning that Ali, the first Shii Imam, 

embodies not only the basmala, but the entire 

Quran.

See also a

llah

; 

baraka

; 

names

 

oF

 g

od

; s

Unn

-

ism

; 

travel

.