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)
Filed under: Qur'an
I hope people will keep in mind that despite these debates over the number of ayat and surat in the Qur`an, what was revealed to Rasul Allah صلى الله عليه وسلم was the Arabic text and not the ayah markings, etc. It has never been disputed that the Qur`an we read today is exactly the same as the Words of Allah revealed to the Prophet عليه الصلاة والسلام. A good book on the Qur`anic sciences (which discusses the different opinions about the order of the Qur`an) is ‘Ulum al-Qur`an by Mufti Muhammad Taqi Usmani حافظ الله, and is available in English by the title An Approach to the Quranic Sciences.
Jazak Allahu khayr for the post; it was very interesting.
I have a question: what does Shaatibi say about Surat al-Anfal, as it also deals with war, and has a basmalah? I would be interested in finding out.
Following are MY openion only.
Please don’t focus on little things such as OH MY GOD!!! I didn’t put PBUH after prophet’s name OR I spelled prophet w/ a small “p” or things of that nature. I hope you(the reader)is mature enough to look past through these things. And yeah, don’t mind the spelling errors either. b/c I suck.
Islam started from the day Allah created/sent Adam to the earth (Hence Hazrat Adam = 1sth prophet). Prophet Mohammad PBUH finished/completed the religion of Islam.
— Prophet Mohammad = Last Prophet.
First let me mentioned that Quran is the book (or words of Allah whatever makes you happy) of Allah. Through this book, Allah is passing his message (hence Prophet Mohammad PBUH = Messenger) to his creation.
From the 1st prophet to last prophet, Allah sent 4 books to his creation along with 4 different prophets and each one them were true to its own time/place/people.
When the 1st book was revealed it had a specific message and it served its own purpose. and so did the 2 more books after that. Quran was the last book which summarized the gist of first 3 and completed the religion ISLAM. Let me give you my example/compression: When a parents sends their children to school to learn something so he can grow up to be a doctor/lawyer/engineer etc. the kids are not handed high level books. Kids are first introduced to latter/number/colors & etc. Gradually their mental capabalities are brought up to the level b/f high level books are handed to them. Exact same thing happened when Allah sent his initial books. He also sent prophets along w/ the book so they can convey/explain Allahs message(just like a school teacher would do)
Also let me make a point that the reason we needed those prophets is b/c book can not teach itself to the reader. You NEED a guide(someone who can explain). Allah’s words are not any regular joe’s word that anyone can just pickup and start understanding what Allah is talking about. Heck, you sometimes need help understanding Shakespeare’s writing also. We are talking GOD the almighty so we deffinetly needed someone (prophet’ help conveying Allah’s message.
NOW, let me comment on your posting what “Hadrat Uthman said”. First I have an issue when a Caliph has any input on religious part of the matter. Caliphs were chosen/elected/appointed by the people to rule the land left behind after Prophet’s death. – it was for only political reasoning only. All this political hoopla was going on while Prophet Mohammad PBUH was on his death bed. Let me say that again, while “Prophet Mohammad PBUH was on his death bed !!!” Are you kidding me….Here is the LAST PROPHET, Allah’s best creation, on his death bed and you(suppositly Caliph) are in a different town altogether fighting over who is going to be ruling the state after prophet passes away.
Prophet was in Makkah or Madina,– not sure which town. Call me lazy or whatever for checking my facts, — but regardless, prophet was in a differnet town with this family “Ahl-e-bait” and Hazrat Abu-Bakar and rest of the fellows were in a different town. ****Google it up or do some research and you’ll find this fact yourself if you don’t bealive me.
My point is that I just don’t feel comfortable believing somebody’s word who was appointed by the people who was supposed to be political figure. Don’t get me wrong, they could have been very religious also, but again Prophet Mohammad PBUH would rub off on you also if you lived in the same neighborhood. It wouldn’t be a tough decision for people to elect an older(with beard), rich person with some rubbed of Prophet, specially if your daughter was married to Prophet Mohammad. (Prophet married Aisha, daughter of Hazrat Abu Bakr, after Khatija has passed away)
Things to ponder.
Surah Taubah couldn’t be reavlied upon Prophet Mohammad PBUH, c/ prophet was in Madina and surah Taubah is a Makah’s surah (or vise versa Prophet in Makah & surah in Madina) – What I mean is if you look at the certain detailed Quran, it tells you where was the following surah revealed. Compare this info with Prophets timeline and you will notice something out of place.
My reasoning why I think there is a Bismillah at the start of every surah:
• Known fact that the Prophet Mohammad was untaught(couldn’t read). Hence when angel brought the first word from Allah and said “Iqra (read)”, Prophet replied w/ I can not read. Upon which the angel said :IQRA’ BIS MIRAP BIKAL LAZI HALAQ!!!
If you ask any scholar they would not deny that the way Quran is written, is if someone has written a poem ( that Quranic surah’s rhyme and like the wording in poem, it has deeper meanings than as it appears) – since these are the qualities of a learned men Prophet Mohammad had to use Bimillah as Allah’s reference, so people would believe him otherwise without any legitimate reference he was running a risk that people might not believe what he had to say (convey the message)
Beside, Allah would not say “In the name Allah…..” just like if I was speaking to my own audience I wouldn’t say “Mr. Rahim said…..” I would say: “I want to tell you…..” Another e.g: If your boss, “Mr. Smith”, gives you a message to pass along to your co-worker ,you would use your boss as a reference and convey the message as “Mr. Smith has said that you can go home early today.” By using Mr. Smith has a reference your message gets validity. If you don’t use Mr. Smith as a reference, such as “You can go home early today” your co-workers might not believe you.
So the question still remains…Why no bismillah in surah Taubah??? I think the rightfull person would be Hazrat Ali, as Shia’s claim that he was a rightful individual to take a lead in the realigous matter after Prophet Mohammad departure from this material world.
Your logical questions woud be:
Q1: “Wasn’t Hazrat Ali a Caliph also?”
Q2: Who gave Harat Ali any authority to lead religious matter of Islam?
Ans1: From the day 1, when prophet Mohammad PBUH passed away he claimed his authority on realigous matter but he would he would be shutt off from electorial candidate (Hazrat Abu-Baker & etc) and watch someone else take the lead command. Hazrat Ali never accepted the 1st three Caliphs as “true” caliphs, as in his rightful mind he was supposed to be the leader. After Abu Baker, came Umar and Utman as the choosen Caliph’s of the people. After Utman, people couldn’t find any prominent person as a Caliph. So they came running to Hazrat Ali to accept the title of Caliph, which he first refused to accept but did so out of fear that it would bring chaos among followers w/o any true leader.
Ans2: Multiple reason why Hazrat Ali can be accepted as a right authority to lead the religious matter.
1: Hadith: “I am the city of knowledge and ‘Ali is the gate”
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hadith_of_the_door_to_knowledge
Asalamu Alaykum Wa Rahmatullah,
now I think you misunderstood something brother. Hadhrat Uthman (radhiallaho anho) didn’t voice his own opinion or made his own ruling wether Surah Tawbah starts with Bismillah or not. That Surah Tawbah doesn’t start with Bismillah is a fact and all Ulema agree upon that, I as well never heard that Ali (karamullah wajuhu) said there was Bismillah at the start of Tawbah Sharif. He was simply explaining the reason to someone who asked and I think Ali (radhiallaho anho) would have given a similar reply.
And judging if Ali is better than Usman or vice versa is not our business. We don’t know who is higher in Allah’s eyes and we won’t be asked after it at Yaumul Qiyamah wether Ali or Uthman have more rights to give rulings. In my humble opinion both have the same right to give rulings. And it’s vicious slander of Hadhrat Ali (radhiallaho anho) himself to say that he didn’t accept the other for Caliphs. It would mean, that when he took bayat at their hands his heart wouldn’t accept it. Some sort of the Shia belief of Taqiyah. Auzubillah.
I don’t want to go into details, because this can always be discussed back and forth and secondly it has nothing to do with my post.
Jazak’Allah khair for the time and effort you took for the comment. May Allah Ta’ala guide us all right.
Was Salam
that is wrong dont pass lies to people
assalamualaykum, what are the benefits of reciting surah tawbah and do you have to recite the whole thing.
Do you have to recite the whole surah if you can or are there certain places that we can read, like surah kahf the 1st and last rukuh will protect you from dajjal if recited
Assalamualaykum wa rahmatullah wa barakato
THnaks for all muslim Not just for sunni nor shia
we all muslim any question u might to know about it just follow the quran carefully and Inshallah U will find Ur answer. Dont think He is shia or sunni and telling about religion reason on surah taubah. actually i really dont know why surah taubah start with out bismillai rahman rahim. but i try to find it in quran with tafser and search from hadiths. never ever say any thing that u hear form ur father or grandfather etc. any thing u want to mantion u have to show proof in quran or hadith . thats it. But i want to tell u some thing that plz never forget ur pray and pay zakat and go away from zina or guna kabira or saghira and always pray for Allah.
I 101% Agree with Rahim !!
ALLAHU AKBAR
[...] [...]
The absence of Basmalah from this sura is not only a profound sign from the Almighty Author of the Quran that this sura has been tampered with, but also represents an awesome miracle in its own right.
This is the only sura that is not prefixed with the Basmalah. This phenomenon has puzzled the students of the Quran for 14 centuries, and many theories were advanced to explain it. Now we realize that the conspicuous absence of the Basmalah serves three purposes: (1) It represents an advance divine proclamation that the idol worshipers were destined to tamper with the Quran by adding 2 false verses (9:128-129). (2) It demonstrates one of the functions of God’s mathematical code in the Quran, namely, to guard the Quran against any alteration. (3) It provides additional miraculous features of the Quran’s code.
Pls what went wrong with the 2 last verses of Quran chapter 9 Suratu Taobah verses 128-129.