Intermediate
Intermediate
Surah: Al-Fatiha (1)
Bismillah Between Surahs — Connection, Separation, and Full Stop
بِسۡمِ ٱللَّهِ ٱلرَّحۡمَٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ
— الفاتحة الآية 1
Subject:
After finishing a surah and starting another (other than Al-Tawbah) — how does the reader handle "Bismillah Al-Rahman Al-Raheem" between the two surahs?
Three Permissible Readings:
The Forbidden Reading:
Connecting so that Bismillah is read with the end of the previous surah then stopping — this makes Bismillah the ending of the previous surah when it is actually independent.
Bismillah in Surah Al-Tawbah:
Bismillah is not recited at the start of Al-Tawbah — whether starting from it or connecting from Al-Anfal, begin directly with "Bara-atun mina-llah" without Bismillah.
After finishing a surah and starting another (other than Al-Tawbah) — how does the reader handle "Bismillah Al-Rahman Al-Raheem" between the two surahs?
Three Permissible Readings:
- Full Stop (Qat): Stop at the end of the previous surah, stop at the Bismillah, then start the next surah — three breaths.
- Full Connection (Wasl): Connect the end of the previous surah with Bismillah and the start of the next without stopping — one breath.
- Separation (Fasl — preferred): Stop at the end of the previous surah, recite Bismillah, then connect it to the start of the next — two breaths.
The Forbidden Reading:
Connecting so that Bismillah is read with the end of the previous surah then stopping — this makes Bismillah the ending of the previous surah when it is actually independent.
Bismillah in Surah Al-Tawbah:
Bismillah is not recited at the start of Al-Tawbah — whether starting from it or connecting from Al-Anfal, begin directly with "Bara-atun mina-llah" without Bismillah.
Source: Al-Nashr by Ibn Al-Jazari (1/262); Al-Tayseer by Al-Dani; Hidayat Al-Qari by Al-Mursifi
Test Yourself
What is the forbidden way of reading Bismillah between surahs? Why is it forbidden?
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