The full English translation of "Bismillah" is "In the name of God, Most Gracious, Most Merciful".
"Bismillah" is actually an abbreviated version of the longer Arabic phrase "Bismillahir Rahmanir Raheem" (بِسْمِ ٱللَّٰهِ ٱلرَّحْمَٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ). This phrase is a fundamental part of Islamic tradition and is recited before beginning any important task. Let's break down the translation:
- Bismi: In the name of
- Allah: God (The Supreme Name)
- Ar-Rahman: The Most Gracious
- Ar-Raheem: The Most Merciful
Therefore, "Bismillahir Rahmanir Raheem" translates to "In the name of God, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful." Because "Bismillah" is a shorter version of this phrase, it carries the same core meaning: invoking the name of God before starting an action.
