Reciting the Basmalah in the prayer

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As-Salaamu-Alaikum wa Rahmatullahi wa Barakatuh. (May Allah's Peace, Mercy and Blessings be upon all of you)
One of our brothers/sisters has asked this question:
Must he say "Bismillahi rahman nirahim" quietly after finishing al-fatihah in order to begin the sura he will recite? What if he begins reciting in the middle of a sura?.
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Answer:
Praise be to Allaah.

Reciting the Basmalah (i.e., the phrase “Bismillaah ir-Rahmaan ir-Raheem (in the name of Allaah, the most Gracious, the Most Merciful)” is mustahabb (encouraged), not obligatory. It is mustahabb if you are going to recite a soorah from the beginning, so the worshipper says it before al-Faatihah. With regard to the soorah after al-Faatihah, if he is reciting it from the beginning of the soorah, then he should say the Basmalah, apart from Soorat al-Tawbah, because the Basmalah is not recited at the beginning of it. If he is reciting from the middle of a soorah, then it is not mustahabb to recite the Basmalah. 

The Standing Committee said: 

The sound Sunnah indicates that the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) recited the Basmalah in prayer before al-Faatihah and before other soorahs, apart from Soorat al-Tawbah, but he did not recite it out loud in the prayers in which he recited Qur’aan out loud. 

Fataawa al-Lajnah al-Daa’imah, 6/378 

They also said: 

It is prescribed to recite the Basmalah in every rak’ah before al-Faatihah and before every soorah apart from Soorat Baraa’ah (i.e., Soorat al-Tawbah). 

Ibid. 

And they said: 

If (the worshipper) is going to recite a soorah after al-Faatihah, he should recite the Basmalah silently beforehand. But if he is going to recite a brief passage from the middle or end of a soorah, then it is not prescribed for him to recite the Basmalah. 

Fataawa al-Lajnah al-Daa’imah, 6/380 

And Allaah knows best.

Whatever written of Truth and benefit is only due to Allah's Assistance and Guidance, and whatever of error is of me. Allah Alone Knows Best and He is the Only Source of Strength.

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