The Way of Love

The Arabic phrase Bismillah ir-Rahman ir-Rahim  is a beautiful phrase that is, very powerful and inspiring.

It has been said that the phrase Bismillah ir-Rahman ir-Rahim contains the true essence of the entire Qur’an, as well as the true essence of all religions. The phrase is considered by some to be a major pillar of Islam, and Muslims often say the phrase when embarking on any significant endeavor.

The phrase is often translated as

               “In the name of God, most Gracious, most Compassionate”.

But that common literal translation lacks any real depth of meaning or inspiration for me. 

This phrase is so magnificent and so concise that all but one chapter of the Qur’an  begins with Bismillah ir-Rahman ir-Rahim.

bismillah

The common translation for bismillah is “In the name of Allah”, which is actually an idiom, an expression that really does not make much sense on a literal word-by-word basis.

The phrase In the name of  is an idiom having the connotation of  with the blessings of, under the guidance of, with the support of or  for the glory of. In each of these cases, the idiom In the name of means submitting to, honoring or glorifying that which is referred to.

Now, taking a deeper look into the Arabic roots of this magnificent word bismillah.

 The term bismillah, is a combination of three words:

1. The particle bi  which can mean by, for, with the aid of, through or by means of and points toward that which happens next.

2. The root of ism indicates the means by which something is distinguished, whether by use of an identifying mark, or by being raised up high so that it may be distinguished, and would include  a name, reputation, light or vibration, and points toward the very essence of something, the inherent qualities and signs of the existence of something, the underlying reality of something.

3. The ending of the term is the word Allah, which is the Arabic name of the One. The Semitic roots of the word Allah extend back several thousand years to the Canaanite Elat, Hebrew El and Elohim, and Aramaic Alaha. These roots point toward unity, oneness, the eternal power which includes all of existence and of non-existence. In modern English this would generally be translated as God (which is old English, based on the Sanskrit word hu, meaning that which is worshipped, honored or adored).

Using these basic roots, the term bismillah might be literally translated as:

- By means of the very essence of God

- For the glory of our Creator

- With the light of the One

- With the guidance of The Divine

The central idea here is that whatever we do, every step that take, every breath that we breathe, is done because of and through the essence of the One who has created us.

That is, we alone are powerless. The Creator has given us life and given us the ability to move and think and feel. We are totally dependent upon the Creator for the very essence of life and everything that transpires.

Thus, this beautiful word bismillah is a magnificent reminder of our relationship to our Creator and our relationship to all of creation.

In one simple word bismillah expresses our wonder, awe and thankfulness while it also expresses our innermost prayer that we may have the blessing of another breath and that we may walk on a path of truth and understanding.

ir rahman ir rahim

These two terms rahman and rahim refer to attributes of the Creator. While they are often translated simply as Merciful and Compassionate, the roots of the words point to a deeper meaning.

Both rahman and rahim are derived from the Semitic root rhm which indicates something of the utmost tenderness which provides protection and nourishment, and that from which all of creation is brought into being. And indeed, the root rhm has meanings of womb, kinship, relationship, loving-kindness, mercy, compassion, and nourishing-tenderness.

So, both rahman and rahim have the sense of being that which emerges from the source of all creation, while also conveying a sense of tenderness, loving-kindess, protection and nourishment.

The term rahman is a very emphatic statement, and then the sentiment is echoed by being immediately followed by the use of another form of the same root-word. Such repetition is a joyful celebration of this Divine attribute, much the same as saying “The One who is the Supreme Loving-Kindness, oh such Loving-Kindness”.

These two words, rahman and rahim, also have come to express slightly different variations of meaning, as described in the following paragraphs.

rahman:

The term rahman describes that aspect of the source of all creation which is endlessly radiating, endlessly nourishing, regardless of who or what is receiving the endless flow of blessings.

Rahmân conveys the idea of fullness and extensiveness, indicating the great quality of love and mercy which engulfs all of creation without regard to any effort or request on our part.

According to Ibn Qayyum (1350 AD), rahmân describes the quality of abounding Grace which is inherent in and inseparable from the Almighty.

rahim:

On the other hand, the term rahim describes that aspect of the source which is issued forth only in response to the actions and behavior of the recipient. It is in this manner that God takes ten steps toward us when we take even a single step toward God.

Rahîm conveys the idea of constant renewal and giving liberal reward in response to the quality of our deeds and thoughts.

According to Ibn Qayyum (1350 AD), rahîm expresses the continuous manifestation of the Grace in our lives and its effect upon us as a result of our own activities.

ir rahman ir rahim:

Rahman points toward the Beneficent One whose endless outpouring of love and mercy are continually showered upon all of creation, while Rahim points toward the Merciful One whose love and mercy are manifested in that which is received as the consequence of one’s deeds.

So, phrase ir rahman ir rahim is a recognition and honoring of the very source of all existence, the source of all blessings, the source of all compassion, the source of all mercy who gives endlessly to us and who also responds according to our moral integrity, our harmony with all of creation and our love of God.

Source: http://wahiduddin.net/words/bismillah.htm

It is a known fact that every language has one or more terms that are used in reference to God and sometimes to lesser deities. This is not the case with Allah. Allah is the personal name of the One true God. Nothing else can be called Allah. The term has no plural or gender. This shows its uniqueness when compared with the word god which can be made plural, gods, or feminine, goddess. It is interesting to notice that Allah is the personal name of God in Aramaic, the language of Jesus and a sister language of Arabic.

The One true God is a reflection of the unique concept that Islam associates with God. To a Muslim, Allah is the Almighty, Creator and Sustainer of the universe, Who is similar to nothing and nothing is comparable to Him. The Prophet Muhammad was asked by his contemporaries about Allah; the answer came directly from God Himself in the form of a short chapter of the Quran, which is considered the essence of the unity or the motto of monotheism. This is chapter 112 which reads:

Some non-Muslims allege that God in Islam is a stern and cruel God who demands to be obeyed fully. He is not loving and kind. Nothing can be farther from truth than this allegation. It is enough to know that, with the exception of one, each of the 114 chapters of the Quran begins with the verse: “In the name of God, the Merciful, the Compassionate.” In one of the sayings of Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) we are told that “God is more loving and kinder than a mother to her dear child.”

But God is also Just. Hence evildoers and sinners must have their share of punishment and the virtuous, His bounties and favors. Actually God’s attribute of Mercy has full manifestation in His attribute of Justice. People suffering throughout their lives for His sake and people oppressing and exploiting other people all their lives should not receive similar treatment from their Lord. Expecting similar treatment for them will amount to negating the very belief in the accountability of man in the Hereafter and thereby negating all the incentives for a moral and virtuous life in this world. The following Quranic verses are very clear and straightforward in this respect:

All Glorifies Allah (swt)	Allah (swt) – Knowing ALLAH as the Infinite Whole and Only Being Alone beyond any concept and stages	Allah (swt) – Knowing ALLAH as the Infinite Whole and Only Being Alone beyond any concept and stages
Allah (swt) – Knowing ALLAH as the Infinite Whole and Only Being Alone beyond any concept and stages	Allah (swt) – Knowing ALLAH as the Infinite Whole and Only Being Alone beyond any concept and stages	Allah (swt) – Knowing ALLAH as the Infinite Whole and Only Being Alone beyond any concept and stages
Allah (swt) – Knowing ALLAH as the Infinite Whole and Only Being Alone beyond any concept and stages	Allah (swt) – Knowing ALLAH as the Infinite Whole and Only Being Alone beyond any concept and stages	Allah (swt) – Knowing ALLAH as the Infinite Whole and Only Being Alone beyond any concept and stages
Allah (swt) – Knowing ALLAH as the Infinite Whole and Only Being Alone beyond any concept and stages	Allah (swt) – Knowing ALLAH as the Infinite Whole and Only Being Alone beyond any concept and stages	Allah (swt) – Knowing ALLAH is the base of ISLAM.

Born in Ankara in 1956, Adnan Oktar is a prominent Turkish intellectual. Completely devoted to moral values and dedicated to communicating the sacred values he cherishes to other people, Oktar started his intellectual struggle in 1979 during his education at Mimar Sinan University’s Academy of Fine Arts. During his university years, he carried out detailed research into the prevalent materialistic philosophies and ideologies around him, to the extent of becoming even more knowledgeable about them than their advocates. As a result of his accumulation of knowledge, he has written various books on the fallacy of the theory of evolution. His dedicated intellectual effort against Darwinism and materialism has grown out to be a worldwide phenomenon. Quoting from the 22 April 2000 issue of New Scientist, Mr. Oktar became an “international hero” in communicating the fallacy of the theory of evolution and the fact of creation. The author has also produced various works on Zionist racism and Freemasonry and their negative effects on world history and politics. Besides these, Oktar has written more than a hundred books describing the morals of the Qur’an and faith related issues.

His pen-name, Harun Yahya, is formed from the names “Harun” (Aaron) and “Yahya” (John) in the esteemed memory of the two Prophets who struggled against infidelity.

Read “The Global Impact of the Works of Harun Yahya”.

His works include; The New Masonic Order, The ‘Secret Hand’ in Bosnia, Behind the Scenes of Terrorism, Israel’s Kurdish Card, A National Strategy for Turkey, Solution: The Morals of the Qur’an, The Winter of Islam and Its Expected Spring, Communism in Ambush, The Bloody Ideology of Darwinism: Fascism, Darwin’s Antagonism Against the Turks, The Disasters Darwinism Brought to Humanity, The Evolution Deceit, Articles 1-2-3, A Weapon of Satan: Romanticism , Truths 1-2, The Western World Turns to God, Perished Nations, The Prophet Moses, The Prophet Joseph, The Golden Age, Allah’s Artistry in Colour, Glory is Everywhere, The Truth of the Life of This World, Confessions of Evolutionists, Precise Answers to Evolutionists, Evolutionary Falsehoods, The Dark Magic of Darwinism, The Religion of Darwinism, The Collapse of the Theory of Evolution in 20 Questions, The Qur’an Leads the Way to Science, The Real Origin of Life, The Creation of the Universe, Miracles of the Qur’an, Consciousness in the Cell, A String of Miracles, The Design in Nature, Self-Sacrifice and Intelligent Behaviour Models in Animals, Eternity Has Already Begun, Children Darwin Was Lying!, The End of Darwinism, Deep Thinking, Timelessness and the Reality of Fate, Knowing the Truth, Never Plead Ignorance, The Secrets of DNA, The Miracle in the Atom, The Miracle in the Cell, The Miracle of the Immune System, The Miracle in the Eye, The Miracle of Creation in Plants, The Miracle in the Spider, The Miracle in the Ant, The Miracle in the Gnat, The Miracle in the Honeybee, The Miracle of the Seed, The Miracle of the Termite, The Green Miracle: Photosynthesis, The Miracle of Hormone, The Miracle of the Human Being, The Miracle of Man’s Creation, The Miracle of Protein.
The author’s children books are; Children Darwin Was Lying!, The World of Animals, The Splendour in the Skies, The World of Our Little Friends: The Ants, Honeybees That Build Perfect Combs, Skillful Dam Builders: Beavers.

Among his booklets are; The Mystery of the Atom, The Collapse of the Theory of Evolution: The Fact of Creation, The Collapse of Materialism, The End of Materialism, The Blunders of Evolutionists 1, The Blunders of Evolutionists 2, The Microbiological Collapse of Evolution, The Fact of Creation, The Collapse of the Theory of Evolution in 20 Questions, The Biggest Deception in the History of Biology: Darwinism.

The author’s other works on Quranic topics include: The Basic Concepts in the Qur’an, The Moral Values of the Qur’an, Quick Grasp of Faith 1-2-3, Ever Thought About the Truth?, Crude Understanding of Disbelief, Devoted to Allah, Abandoning the Society of Ignorance, The Real Home of Believers: Paradise, Knowledge of the Qur’an, Qur’an Index, Emigrating for the Cause of Allah, The Character of the Hypocrite in the Qur’an, The Secrets of the Hypocrite, The Names of Allah, Communicating the Message and Disputing in the Qur’an, Answers from the Qur’an, Death Resurrection Hell, The Struggle of the Messengers, The Avowed Enemy of Man: Satan, The Greatest Slander: Idolatry, The Religion of the Ignorant, The Arrogance of Satan, Prayer in the Qur’an, The Importance of Conscience in the Qur’an, The Day of Resurrection, Never Forget, Disregarded Judgements of the Qur’an, Human Characters in the Society of Ignorance, The Importance of Patience in the Qur’an, General Information from the Qur’an, The Mature Faith, Before You Regret, Our Messengers Say, The Mercy of Believers, The Fear of Allah, The Nightmare of Disbelief, Jesus Will Return, Beauties Presented by the Qur’an for Life, A Bouquet of the Beauties of Allah 1-2-3-4, The Iniquity Called “Mockery”, The Mystery of the Test, The True Wisdom According to the Qur’an, The Struggle with the Religion of Irreligion, The School of Yusuf, The Alliance of the Good, Slanders Spread Against Muslims Throughout History, The Importance of Following the Good Word, Why Do You Deceive Yourself?, Islam: The Religion of Ease, Enthusiasm and Excitement in the Qur’an, Seeing Good in Everything, How does the Unwise Interpret the Qur’an?, Some Secrets of the Qur’an, The Courage of Believers, Being Hopeful in the Qur’an, Justice and Tolerance in the Qur’an, Basic Tenets of Islam, Those Who do not Listen to the Qur’an.

Many works of Harun Yahya are being currently translated into English, French, German, Italian, Russian, Spanish, Arabic, Portuguese, Albanian, Serbo-Croat (Bosnian), Polish, Urdu, Indonesian, Kazakh, Azeri, Malay and Malayalam. The target is to translate all books into English and many other languages in the near future, and thus to make them available for the benefit of all people.

The common point in all the writer’s works is that all the topics covered by his works are in full agreement with the Qur’an, and strongly affirmed by Qur’anic understanding. Even the topics addressed by science and mostly considered complicated and confusing are narrated very lucidly and explicitly in the books of Harun Yahya. For this reason, these books appeal to everyone, from every age and social group.

Harun Yahya’s books on faith-related topics communicate the existence and oneness of God and are written with the main purpose of introducing Islam to those who are strangers to religion, and reconciling their hearts to the truth. For Muslims, these books are advice as well as a reminder. The writer has published works on all the basic issues referred to in the Qur’an that expand the dedication and contemplation of Muslims.

Each of the author’s books on science-related topics stresses the might, sublimity, and majesty of God in minute detail based on well-structured research and evidence, along with extensive contemplation. These books display, for non-Muslims, the signs of the existence of God, and the excellence of His creation in a very explicit and precise way. On the other hand, they add to the faith and submission of believers, and can serve as perfect materials for communicating Islam to other people (where religion is not practiced in its full sense). A sub-group within this series are the “Books Demolishing the Lie of Evolution”. The main purpose of these books is to demolish the materialistic and atheistic philosophy which has been put forward as an alternative and rival to religion and has been imposed on the whole world since the 19th century. The great impact the books make on readers signifies that this purpose is fulfilled to a great extent. These books, just as it is stated in the Qur’an in the words “We hurl the Truth against falsehood, and it knocks out its brain” (Surat’Al-Anbiya, 18), demolish the brain, i.e., the thought system and ideology of the faithless system; and help complete (the revelation of) God’s light (Surat’As-Saff, 8). For these reasons, these books play a significant role in the intellectual war against non-belief.

The symbolic meaning of the seal of the Prophet Muhammed on the covers of all of the books by the writer is related to the content of the books. This seal is an indication that the Qur’an is the last book and the last word of God, and our Prophet Muhammad is the last of His messengers. By taking this attribute of the Qur’an and the Prophet, the writer seeks, in all of his works, to refute all the basic claims of the systems of disbelief and utter the “last word” which will put a definite end to the assertions of infidelity. The stamp of the Prophet Muhammed who has the greatest honour and wisdom, is used as a prayer for the intention of saying this last word.

A Further Note on The Books of Harun Yahya

In all the books by the author, faith-related issues are explained in the light of the Qur’anic verses and people are invited to learn Allah’s words and to live by them. All the subjects that concern Allah’s verses are explained in such a way as to leave no room for doubt or question marks in the reader’s mind. The sincere, plain and fluent style employed ensures that everyone of every age and from every social group can easily understand the books. This effective and lucid narrative makes it possible to read them in a single sitting. Even those who rigorously reject spirituality are influenced by the facts recounted in these books and cannot refute the truthfulness of their contents.

All the books of the author can be read individually or discussed in a group at a time of conversation. Those readers who are willing to profit from the books will find discussion very useful in the sense that they will be able to relate their own reflections and experiences to one another.

In addition, it will be a great service to the religion to contribute to the presentation and reading of these books, which are written solely for the good pleasure of Allah. All the books of the author are extremely convincing. For this reason, for those who want to communicate the religion to other people, one of the most effective methods is to encourage them to read these books.

You will not find, as in some other books, the personal views of the author, explanations based on dubious sources, styles that are unobservant of the respect and reverence due to sacred subjects, nor hopeless, doubt-creating, and pessimistic accounts that create deviations in the heart.