786-Does it stands for Bismillah Hirahmaan Niraaheem

In the name of Allah,Most Gracious,Most Merciful

786-Does it stands for 'Bismillah Hirahmaan Niraaheem'

We are meant to understand that '786' stands for 'Bismillah Hirahmaan Niraaheem'.How did it come about,and who started it?The numerals 786 in no way represent 'Bismillah Hirahmaan Niraaheem' and is not the sunnah way.If one fears abuse of the letter,etc.'Bismillah Hirahmaan Niraaheem' should be recited verbally at the beginning of the letter which will suffice for the written script.

The innovation of writing '786' replacing 'Bismillah Hirahmaan Niraaheem'has been adopted for a long time and the majority of the ummah is still indulged in it advertenly.Apart from the common folk,the scholars also heed no attention towards it and to avoid disrespect to the holy words they use it in their letters and documents.They adopt it as 'correct' and 'better' way to invite Allah's blessings and have also started replacing the Holy Words by this number on their houses,offices,buildings,etc. Unfortunately,this tendency is gradually going momentum. But,do we see this number instead of the Holy words in the in the Holy qur'aan?or can we write it there as well? can we remove 'Bismillah Hirahmaan Niraaheem' from the top of surah al-faatiha and replace it with the number 786? Obviously not. If we study the Qur'aan,we see it carries the holy words in a letter from prophet solomon(pbuh) to the Queen of sheeba-Bilqis-who was an infidel at that time.Even Prophet muhammad(pbuh) in his letters to different heads of states and governments,used the holy words at the top.Therefore,whosoever uses 786 with the intention to obtain Allah's blessings,is a misguided person and any attempt to justify it, is ignorance. The letters by the prophet(pbuh) to non-muslim kings and chiefs bear the holy words 'Bismillah Hirahmaan Niraaheem'. This was also the case of his noble companions.Did the prophet(pbuh) and his companions respect the holy words less than we do? Was the verse, 'Today i completed your religion for you', revealed to the prophet(pbuh) or to the so called scholars of our age who are all bent to amend the Divine principles.

Similarly,some Muslims replace Allah's name by the number '66' and the prophet's name by '92'. But if one ask, the number '420' is used against somebody's name and he is called '420'. can he bear such an insult? Calling someone by a nick name is a sin. Allah(SWT) says, 'Don't call one another by nick names'. If Allah prohibits the use of nicknames for fellow human beings,how can He allow the use of such an insulting replacement number for Himself and His Prophet(PBUH).

'Bismillah Hirahmaan Niraaheem' great significance in the Qur'aan and Muslims are ordered to begin any work in the name of Allah, not in the number '786' or any other substitution.

Source from:Sisters of the islamic society

ASH SHAMS