UAE Friday sermon: start every action with the name of Allah

Mosque-goers will be reminded of the value of Bismillah on Friday

Start every actions by reciting the name of Allah, the sermon will remind mosque-goers on Friday.

Many aspects of Islam start with what is known as Bismillah, a statement that says: “in the name of God, the most gracious, the most merciful”.

One says it before reciting the Quran, before eating, in prayer and before doing everyday actions such as giving a lecture, writing a letter or performing surgery.

“The name of Allah the Almighty has a glorified status in each Muslim's heart, and for His mention there is a gracious standing and honour in each believer's soul,” the sermon will say.

Glorifying Allah can be achieved in several ways. “One can glorify Him by mentioning His name before saying anything as well as before performing any act.”

Such tradition was followed by all prophets. The sermon will tell of Prophet Noah who told the people who accompanied him on his ark, "embark therein; in the name of Allah is its course and its anchorage. Indeed, my Lord is Forgiving and Merciful."

This means: in the name of Allah the ship will sail on water, and in His name it will reach to its destination safely.

Another example the sermon will give is when Prophet Suleiman sent a letter to the Queen of Sabaa (Sheba), he wrote in it: "in the Name of Allah, the Entirely Merciful, the Especially Merciful. Be not haughty with me but come to me in submission [as Muslims]." It is said he was the first to write the words Bismillah.

Furthermore, Allah taught Prophet Mohammed to recite His name before any act. For instance, the first Aya of the holy Quran that was revealed to the Prophet reads: "recite in the name of your Lord who created."

The Bismillah contains three of the beautiful names of Allah: Allah, the most gracious, the most merciful.

"Allah" is believed to be the greatest among Allah's names, so when a person calls Him with it, He will grant them what they asked for and respond to their supplications. Moreover, no one has ever been given this name, neither was it used for anyone except for Him. The Quran says, "do you know of any similarity to Him?"

It is the duty of every Muslim to mention the name of Allah at all times and in all of one's daily affairs. They are also responsible for teaching their children to do so.

Prophet Mohammed would begin ablution with the mention of Allah's name. He also said it upon slaughtering the sacrifice.

The same way we start our day, the Prophet taught us to also end our day by saying "in the name of Allah".