Mu' meneen Brothers and Sisters,

As Salaam Aleikum 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:

Assalam o Alaikum Sir,

Is 786 right to write in somewhere instead of "Bismillah Hirahman

Nirahim". Is it allowed in Islam? Is it not Biddat?

Please tell as soon as possible. Thanks in Advance.

wassalam o Alaikum

(There may be some grammatical and spelling errors in the above statement. The forum does not change anything from questions, comments and statements received from our readers for circulation in confidentiality.)

Answer:

Number 786 for Bismillah

In the name of Allah, We praise Him, seek His help and ask for His forgiveness. Whoever Allah guides none can misguide, and whoever He allows to fall astray, none can guide them aright. We bear witness that there is no one (no idol, no person, no grave, no prophet, no imam, no dai, nobody!) worthy of worship but Allah Alone, and we bear witness that Muhammad (saws) is His slave-servant and the seal of His Messengers.

There is absolutely no significance or importance or reverence of numbers like 786 in Islam! They should be treated like numbers just like all the other numbers!

Some ignorant people have from themselves assigned a number to each alphabet of the Arabic language, and then they conveniently add up the numbers given in a word or a phrase of their liking; and substitute the word, term or phrase with the sum of the numbers!

Apparently if one adds up these self-assigned and fixed numbers to the Arabic alphabets of ‘Bismillah ar Rahmaan ar-Raheem’, the total sum comes up as 786! This is a ridiculous formula some people have invented, and it has absolutely no basis or relevance in Islam.

To substitute this beautiful and blessed phrase ‘Bismillah ar-Rahmaan ar-Raheem’, with a mere number is nothing more than ignorance and mis-guidance! ; and the believers must abstain from it.

Just imagine if someone calls you or me by a number, and not by our name!!! Or if someone says a phrase using the sum of its numbers; would it make any sense? Similarly numbers like 786, 110, or 52, or whatever, have no meaning and no relevance in the deen of Islam. These system of fixing each Arabic alphabet with a particular number is found mainly in the Indian Subcontinent; the rest of the believers of the world do not even know this (fake) science exists!

Your Question: Is it not Biddat?

Indeed, if one believes that the declaration or documentation of the number ‘786’ is a part of Islam, or believes that its declaration would earn him a reward in the Presence of Allah, etc. then indeed it would constitute as an innovation (bida) in the deen brought by Prophet Mohamed (saws); and every innovation in Islam would be an error!

Sahih Muslim Hadith 1885 Narrated by Jabir ibn Abdullah

That the Prophet of Allah (saws) said in a sermon: “The best speech is that which is embodied in the Book of Allah, the Al Quran; and the best guidance is the guidance given by me, Mohamed (saws). The most evil affairs are the innovations, and every innovation is an error.”

The Prophet of Allah (saws) said: “Whoever introduces a ‘bida’ (innovation) in this deen brought by me (saws), it will be rejected.”

Sunan of Abu-Dawood Hadith 4515 Narrated by Ali ibn AbuTalib

That the Prophet of Allah (saws) said: “If anyone introduces an innovation (in religion), he will be responsible for it. If anyone introduces an innovation or gives shelter to a man who introduces an innovation (in religion), he is cursed by Allah, by His Angels, and by all the people.”

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.

Your brother and sincere well wisher in Islam,

Burhan