['Aalim Network QR] Bismillah - A part of Most Surahs

[Mustafa Rawji <mrawji@sciborg.uwaterloo.ca>]

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|       In the Name of Allah, the Compassionate, the All-Merciful       |\
|  Greeting of Allah be upon Muhammad and the pure members of his House |\
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Salamun alaykum,

	The reply to the following question was kindly provided by Shaykh
Rasheed.

Wasalaam,

Mustafa Rawji
Moderator, 'Aalim Network
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QUESTION:

Assalamu alaikum

I am 15 years old and have been raised following Sunni interpretations of
Islam without adhering to any particular madhab.  I have done much
research on Shi'i interpretations of Islam and I find them to be much more
valid than the former.  Therefore, I would like to ask whether or not
'bismillahir rahmanir raheem' is part of every surah, or just Suratul
Fatiha?  Is it necessary to recite it before Suratul Fatiha during salah. 
Could you please explain this using information from any hadith (Sunni or
Shi'i) or any scholar. 

ANSWER: 

Wa Alaikum As-Salaam,

May Allah bless you and make you successful. Shi'ah scholars are virtually
unanimous in their view that the Basmallah (i.e.
Bismillahir-Rahmanir-Raheem) is a part of every surah except Surah Taubah
(Chapter 9). As a rule of prayer, Shi'ahs must recite it for that reason
and to intentionally not recite it while it is known to be part of the
Surah will invalidate the prayer.

Imam Ali (AS) was asked: "Is Bismillahir-Rahmanir-Raheem a part of the
opening of the book (i.e. Surah Fatihah)? He (Imam Ali-AS) said: Yes. The
Messenger of Allah (S) recited it and counted it as a verse (of the Surah) 
and he says 'the opening of the Book is seven oft-repeated verses." 
(Wasaa`il Ash-Shi'ah, Vol. 6, pg. 59, No. 34511) 

I hope that this suffices as an answer. 

Was-Salaam.

Ali Rasheed