Honorable Muslims!
Allah the Almighty, through His prophets, has taught us two important phrases that protect us from various troubles and difficulties, while at the same time opening the doors to goodness and benevolence. These two phrases are what we know as Isti’adhah and Basmalah:
اَعُوذُ بِا للّٰهِ مِـنَ الشَّيْطَانِ الرَّجِيــمِ and بِسْــــمِ اللّٰهِ الرَّحْمَـنِ الرَّحِيـمِ It means “I seek refuge in Allah from the evil of Satan the accursed.” and “I begin my words and actions in the name of Allah, the Entirely Merciful, the Especially Merciful.” It is an expression of determination to organize our lives in accordance with the commandments and prohibitions of our Lord (swt).
Dear Believers!
Isti’adhah and Basmalah are a treasure too precious and valuable to be confined within books and plates. Our Lord (swt) has revealed them to us so that we may understand them and take them as a guide in every aspect of our lives. Indeed, all the prophets, who set an example for people with their immaculate lives, began their invitations by reciting the Isti’adhah and Basmalah. They called people to tawhid and wahdat through the Isti’adhah and Basmalah. They sought refuge in Allah (swt) from haram, from illegitimate deeds, from hatred and anger, and from useless knowledge. They sought Allah’s (swt) help against Satan, evil thoughts and feelings, and all kinds of evil and evil foci. Allah the Almighty’s commandment in this regard is very clear: “If you are tempted by Satan, then seek refuge with Allah.”1
Dear Believers!
Our beloved Prophet (saw) would always recite Isti’adhah and Basmalah when leaving his house, entering his house, going to bed, and waking up. He (saw) would begin his words and actions with Isti’adhah and Basmalah, and he would pray to Allah (swt) with Isti’adhah and Basmalah. On the three holy months, let us sincerely open up our hands in supplication to our Almighty Lord (swt). Let us humbly bow our heads before Allah the Almighty. Let us seek refuge in Allah (swt) with the following supplication of our Prophet (saw), who asks us to take him as our example: O Allah! We ask You for the good that our Prophet Muhammad (saw) has asked You for, and we seek refuge with You from the evil from which he (saw) sought refuge. You are the One Whose help is to be sought. There is no power and no strength except with You.2
[1] Fussilat, 41/36.
[2] Tirmidhi, Da’awat, 88.