The Untapped Power of ‘Bismillah’: Journey through Spiritual Wisdom
Unlocking spiritual wisdom with the power of ‘Bismillah’.
Table of Contents
1. Understanding the Power of ‘Bismillah’
2. The Allegorical Tale: Humble Traveler vs Arrogant Traveler
3. Realize Your Weakness in this Worldly Desert
4. The Three Asks of the Almighty: Remembrance, Thankfulness, Reflection
5. Acting in God’s Name: A Path to Salvation
1. Understanding the Power of ‘Bismillah’
In the name of God, ‘Bismillah’, is the commencement of all goodness. We too should thus initiate with it. Know, O my soul! As much as this blessed phrase is a symbol of Islam, it is also the articulation of all existences in their unspoken language. If you wish to fathom the grandeur of this inexhaustible strength and endless bounty encapsulated in ‘Bismillah’, pay heed to this illustrative parable:
Imagine a man traveling through the desolate deserts of Arabia. To ensure his safety from the treacherous and to fulfill his needs, it is necessary for him to take the name of a tribal chief and seek his protection. Else, alone he stands helpless against countless adversaries and needs. Consider now two such travelers venturing into the wilderness. One of them is humble and takes the name of a chief, the other, filled with arrogance, does not. The humble traveler journeys safely across all lands, and upon encountering a bandit, he declares, ‘I travel in the name of such-and-such chief.’ The bandit dares not touch him. Entering a tent, he receives respect and honor for the name he carries. On the other hand, the arrogant traveler suffers countless adversities throughout his journey, living in constant fear and always begging for help. He becomes both pitiful and disgraceful.
So, O arrogant soul, you are the traveler and this world is a vast desert. Your helplessness and poverty are limitless, and your enemies and needs are endless. Therefore, take the name of the Eternal King and the Everlasting Judge of this desert. In this way, you can avoid begging from all creation and shaking in the face of every event.
Indeed, this phrase ‘Bismillah’ is a blessed treasure. It connects your endless poverty and helplessness with His endless Power and Mercy, making your weakness and poverty the most effective intercessors at the Court of the All-Powerful One who is full of Mercy. Remember the power of ‘Bismillah’ as you work, for it is akin to enlisting in the army. You act in the name of the government and don’t fear anyone. ‘In the name of the law, in the name of the state,’ you say, and perform your duties, and stand firm against all difficulties. We had mentioned earlier: All existences, through their unspoken language, say ‘Bismillah.’ Is this true?
Indeed, if you see a single man driving the whole town to a place forcefully and making them work forcefully, you can be sure that this man is not working in his own name or with his own power. He must be a soldier, acting in the name of the state, relying on the power of the king. Similarly, all things act in the name of God. For, just like tiny particles, seeds and cores bear huge trees on their heads, and lift loads as heavy as mountains, it is evident that each tree, saying ‘Bismillah’, fills its hands from the treasures of Mercy and offers them to us. Like obedient servants, they serve us various fruits. Each garden, saying ‘Bismillah’, becomes a cauldron from the kitchen of God’s Power, wherein different varieties of tasty foods are cooked together.
Each of the animals like cows, camels, sheep, and goats, in the name of ‘Bismillah’, become a fountain of milk from the abundance of His mercy and provide us with the most delicate and pleasant food in the name of the Provider. The roots and delicate fibers of all plants, saying ‘Bismillah’, pierce and pass through hard rock and soil. They say, ‘In the name of God, the Most Gracious,’ and everything submits to them. Just as the spreading of branches in the air and bearing of fruit is easy, so too is the spreading of roots in the solid ground and their bearing fruits. And for delicate, green leaves to remain fresh for months in the intense heat, which are resistant to decay, is a slap in the face of naturalists. They point to the blind eyes and say, ‘Even the hardness you trust is under command. Those soft roots and fibers work like the staff of Moses and split the rock.’
And those delicate, thin leaves like cigarette paper, are resistant to decay for months against severe heat, working like the members of Abraham, reciting, ‘O fire, be cool and safe for Abraham!’ Thus, since everything says ‘Bismillah’ and acts in the name of God and gives us His bounties in His name, we too should say ‘Bismillah.’ We should act in God’s name, give in God’s name, take in God’s name. Therefore, we should not take from heedless people who do not give in God’s name.
Question: We pay a price to those who are acting as agents. But what price does the real owner, God, want? Answer: Yes, the actual Benefactor, who bestows upon us those valuable bounties, asks us for a price in return. And that price is three things: remembrance (zikr), gratitude (shukr), and reflection (fikr). ‘Bismillah’ at the start is remembrance, ‘Alhamdulillah’ at the end is gratitude, and in between, considering those valuable, miraculous creations of art to be miracles of His Power and gifts of His Mercy, is reflection. Ignoring the king when a beggar brings the king’s valuable gift is an intense form of rudeness. So too, praising and loving apparent benefactors and forgetting the True Benefactor is intense ingratitude. O soul! If you do not want to be rude and ungrateful, give in the name of God, take in the name of God, start in the name of God, and act in the name of God. Peace be upon those who follow the guidance.
2. The Allegorical Tale: Humble Traveler vs Arrogant Traveler
Reflect, dear reader, on an allegory to comprehend our position in this vast universe. Picture two travelers navigating through the intimidating expanses of the Arabian deserts. One, with humble disposition, seeks the protection of a tribal chieftain. He takes the chief’s name as his shield, his declaration of association serving as his refuge against the ruthless desert. The other, teeming with self-reliance, declines to seek help from any superior force.
The humble traveler, armed with the potent name of the chieftain, effortlessly treads across the challenging terrains, incites respect in the desert inhabitants, and stands untouched by the bandits who dare not violate the name he carries. His path, though traversed in the raw harshness of the desert, is made comfortable through the name he invokes.
Contrarily, the arrogant traveler, burdened by the weight of his pride, staggers under the desert sun, subjected to countless adversities. He remains ever fearful, plagued by his vulnerabilities, and constantly on the mercy of strangers for help. He indeed epitomizes pitifulness and disgrace, and is a poignant sight for the observing eyes.
Let us now transpose this allegory onto our own journey through life. Dear reader, realize that we are these travelers and our world, a vast desert. Our frailty and indigence are limitless and we face countless adversities and needs. The way of the humble traveler should thus be our guide, calling upon the Eternal King, the Everlasting Judge of this desert, to guard and guide us. In the name of ‘Bismillah’, we can navigate the trials of life, for when we act in His name, we no longer rely on the ever-changing whims of creation but on the unchanging, infinite power of the Creator.
Through this tale, my dear reader, you may begin to understand the transformative power that ‘Bismillah’ offers us. By humbling ourselves, recognizing our inadequacies, and submitting to the Ultimate Power, we are not weakened but empowered. We trade our transient strength for His eternal might, and in doing so, we truly start to comprehend the untapped power of ‘Bismillah’.
3. Realize Your Weakness in this Worldly Desert
As we journey through the daunting expanse of life, our consciousness dances on the precipice of an abyss filled with challenges, hardships, and, above all, our own weaknesses. I implore you, dear reader, to meditate on this inherent frailty. Like the humble traveler in our allegory, we must acknowledge our vulnerabilities.
Indeed, why should we feign strength in the face of the inevitable hardships that befall every soul? Is it not humbling to accept our transient existence, our limitations, and our dependence on forces beyond our control? Our susceptibility to illness, our need for sustenance, our reliance on others for emotional solace, do these not illuminate our inherent weakness?
But, within this acceptance of weakness, a beautiful transformation occurs. For, when we say ‘Bismillah’, we are recognizing our limitations and actively seeking the protection, guidance, and support of the One who is devoid of any weakness, the Eternal, the Most Powerful. It is a declaration of our frailty and His Majesty, our ignorance and His Knowledge.
Through ‘Bismillah’, we do not merely vocalize our dependence, but we embrace it, internalize it, and derive strength from it. It becomes an expression of utmost trust in our Creator, a submission to His will, a profound statement that liberates us from the burden of self-reliance and anchors us in divine guidance and support.
Thus, my dear reader, as we traverse the desert of life, let us invoke the name of our Eternal Guide with ‘Bismillah’. In doing so, we accept our weaknesses and place our trust in His Infinite Power. Only then can we start to tap into the profound spiritual wisdom inherent in ‘Bismillah’.
4. The Three Asks of the Almighty: Remembrance, Thankfulness, Reflection
Our journey through life, as difficult and turbulent as it may be, is illuminated by the guiding light of ‘Bismillah’. This powerful invocation, when uttered with sincere faith and humility, brings us closer to our Creator. And, in doing so, it opens our hearts to three divine calls: remembrance, thankfulness, and reflection.
Remembrance, or ‘Dhikr’ in Arabic, is the spiritual practice of remembering Allah throughout our daily lives. But, what does it truly mean to remember Allah? Does it simply involve repeating His Name? I believe it goes much deeper. Remembrance is our spiritual lifeline, constantly reminding us of our divine origin and destination.
Next comes thankfulness, or ‘Shukr’. To be thankful is to acknowledge and appreciate the blessings that our Creator has bestowed upon us. This could be as profound as the gift of life or as subtle as the breath we just took. It is an acknowledgement of His Grace and Benevolence, expressed with a heart full of gratitude.
Finally, reflection, or ‘Tafakkur’, is the practice of contemplative introspection. It involves deep thinking about the signs of Allah in the world around us, our own selves, and our purpose. It’s a process that ultimately leads us to the realization of our finite existence within the infinite divine design.
In essence, the utterance of ‘Bismillah’ invites us to embark on a profound spiritual journey of remembrance, thankfulness, and reflection. It’s a journey that elevates our consciousness, nurtures our hearts, and brings us closer to our Creator. I implore you, dear reader, to embrace this divine call with sincerity and humility, for it is the key to unlocking the untapped power of ‘Bismillah’.
5. Acting in God’s Name: A Path to Salvation
The essence of ‘Bismillah’ goes beyond a mere utterance; it’s a life-philosophy, a worldview that asks us to act in God’s name. This might seem daunting at first, but once we dive deeper, we realize it’s a path of liberation, a path to salvation. But how does one act in God’s name?
Firstly, to act in God’s name means to uphold the highest moral and ethical standards in our actions. It means treating others with kindness and compassion, honoring our promises, and being fair in our dealings. For, we are representatives of our Creator on Earth, and our actions should reflect His attributes.
Secondly, acting in God’s name implies serving His creation. All around us, there are opportunities to serve — it could be a struggling neighbor, a wounded animal, or even a wilting plant. In these acts of service, we realize our interconnectedness and the divine wisdom in creation.
Lastly, and most importantly, to act in God’s name is to surrender to His will. It is to accept the unfolding of life, its joys and sorrows, victories and defeats, with grace and humility, recognizing that He is the best of planners.
As we align our actions with the divine, we embark on a path to salvation, a journey towards a state of peace and tranquility. I invite you, dear reader, to step onto this path, for there is no nobler quest than to act in God’s name. So, as you navigate through life, let your compass always be ‘Bismillah’, for in His name lie endless possibilities and profound wisdom.
Resource: Risale-i Nur Collection
