What Are the Rulings on Seeking Refuge (Al-Isti‘adha) and the Basmala?

Answered by Shaykh Anas al-Musa

Question

What are the rulings on seeking refuge (al-isti‘adha) and the basmala?

Answer

In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful.

All praise is due to Allah, Lord of all worlds, and peace and blessings be upon the Messenger sent as a mercy to the worlds, our Master and Prophet, Muhammad, and his Family and Companions.

The Quran begins with the basmala (بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم), and indeed, every sura starts with the basmala as well. The basmala is part of the words of Allah (Most High); it is mentioned in Surat al-Naml in His statement:

“The Queen (later) announced, ‘O chiefs! Indeed, a noble letter has been delivered to me. It is from Solomon, and it reads: “In the Name of Allah—the Most Compassionate, Most Merciful.”’” [Quran, 27:29-30]

Likewise, the command to seek refuge (isti‘adha) is mentioned in His statement:

“When you recite the Quran, seek refuge with Allah from Satan, the accursed.” [Quran, 16:98]

So, is it obligatory to recite the isti‘adha and basmala at the beginning of every recitation of the Quran and at the start of each sura?

First: Isti‘adha (Seeking Refuge)

Scholars unanimously agree that the isti‘adha is not part of the Quran, but it is required before reciting it because recitation is one of the greatest acts of worship, and Satan’s effort to obstruct it is considerable. Additionally, the reciter is conversing with his Lord through His words, and Allah loves the good reciter and listens to him. Therefore, He commanded the reciter to seek refuge to repel Satan when Allah listens to him. [al-Mawsu‘a al-Fiqhiyya al-Kuwaytiyya]

The majority of jurists hold that reciting the isti‘adha at the beginning of the recitation is sunna, because the Prophet (Allah bless him and give him peace) did not consistently maintain its recitation.

However, ‘Ata’ and Thawri narrated that its recitation is obligatory, whether the reading starts at the beginning of the sura or in the middle, based on the apparent meaning of His statement: “When you recite the Quran, seek refuge with Allah.” [Quran, 16:98] and because it repels the evil of Satan. What is necessary to complete an obligation is itself obligatory.

There are two cases for reciting isti‘adha when starting the recitation: aloud or silently.

Aloud Recitation

It is recommended to recite it aloud in two scenarios:

• When the reciter is reciting aloud and there are people listening to his recitation.
• When the reciter is among a group of people reciting the Quran and he is the one starting the recitation.

Reciting it aloud ensures that the listener pays attention to the recitation from the beginning and does not miss anything, as the isti‘adha is a sign and marker of the recitation.

Silent Recitation

It is recommended to recite it silently in four scenarios:

• When the reciter is reading silently.
• When the reciter is reading aloud, but there is no one listening to his recitation.
• When the reciter is praying, whether he is leading the prayer, following an imam, or praying alone, especially if the prayer is recited aloud.
• When the reciter is among a group and he is not the one starting the recitation.

The reason for reciting it silently is to distinguish between what is Quran and what is not Quran.

Note: If the reciter interrupts his recitation for a sudden reason, such as sneezing or clearing his throat, or for a matter related to the recitation, he does not need to repeat the isti‘adha. However, if he interrupts it to turn away from recitation, or for a matter unrelated to the recitation, even to respond to a greeting, he should resume the isti‘adha. [Ibn Qasah, Siraj al-Qari’; ‘Atiyya Saqr, Ghayat al-Murid fi ‘Ilm al-Tajwid]

Imam Shatibi said:

“When you want to recite the Quran forever, seek refuge aloud from Satan with Allah, clearly,

As is easy in the bees, and if you add more exaltation to your Lord, you are not ignorant.”

Second: Basmala

The majority of reciters agree that the basmala must be recited at the beginning of any sura of the Quran, except for Surat al-Tawba. If the reciter wishes to begin reading this sura, he does not recite the basmala. However, if he wants to read from the middle of the sura (al-Tawba), he has the option to recite the basmala or not.

Imam Shatibi said in his poem Hirz al-Amani:

“And it must be recited at the beginning of a sura except for it, and in parts, the reciter has the choice.”

He also said:

“Whenever you join it or start al-Tawba, due to its revelation with the sword, you do not recite the basmala.”

Shatibi explained in this verse the reason for not reciting the basmala at the beginning of al-Tawba; because it was revealed with the command of the sword, and it includes the verse known as the verse of the sword, where Allah (Most High) says:

“Fight those who do not believe in Allah and the Last Day, nor comply with what Allah and His Messenger have forbidden, nor embrace the religion of truth from among those who were given the Scripture, until they pay the tax, willingly submitting, fully humbled.” [Quran, 9:29]

This reasoning was narrated from ‘Ali Ibn Abi Talib (Allah be pleased with him) when Ibn ‘Abbas (Allah be pleased with them) asked him about the reason for not writing it at the beginning of al-Tawba. He said: Because “In the name of Allah” signifies safety, and al-Tawba does not contain safety; it was revealed with the sword, and there is no compatibility between safety and the sword.

The Arabs used to write it at the beginning of their letters during peace, safety, and truce, and if they broke the covenant and violated the oaths, they did not write it. The Quran was revealed according to this convention, so it became a sign of safety, and its absence a sign of its breach. [‘Azimabadi, ‘Awn al-Ma‘bud Sharh Sunan Abi Dawud ; ‘Abd al-Fattah Qadi, al-Wafi Sharh al-Shatibiyya]

Imam Sakhawi said: It is specific to those to whom it was revealed, and we recite it for blessing. [‘Aqila, al-Ziyada wa al-Ihsan]

May Allah bless the Prophet Muhammad and give him peace, and his Family and Companions.

And Allah knows best.
[Shaykh] Anas al-Musa

Shaykh Anas al-Musa, born in Hama, Syria, in 1974, is an erudite scholar of notable repute. He graduated from the Engineering Institute in Damascus, where he specialized in General Construction, and Al-Azhar University, Faculty of Usul al-Din, where he specialized in Hadith.

He studied under prominent scholars in Damascus, including Shaykh Abdul Rahman al-Shaghouri and Shaykh Adib al-Kallas, among others. Shaykh Anas has memorized the Quran and is proficient in the ten Mutawatir recitations, having studied under Shaykh Bakri al-Tarabishi and Shaykh Mowfaq ‘Ayun. He also graduated from the Iraqi Hadith School.

He has taught numerous Islamic subjects at Shari‘a institutes in Syria and Turkey. Shaykh Anas has served as an Imam and preacher for over 15 years and is a teacher of the Quran in its various readings and narrations.

Currently, he works as a teacher at SeekersGuidance and is responsible for academic guidance there. He has completed his Master’s degree in Hadith and is now pursuing his Ph.D. in the same field. Shaykh Anas al-Musa is married and resides in Istanbul.