بِسْمِ ٱللَّهِ ٱلرَّحْمَٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ﴿١﴾
- 1:1 (opens Quran.com)
- Bismillaahir Rahmaanir RaheemIn the name of Allah, the Entirely Merciful, the Especially Merciful.
About this verse
The Basmala opens every surah of the Quran except Surah At-Tawbah, and in the most widely used numbering it is the first verse of Al-Fatiha.
Muslims say it before eating, travelling, and beginning any good work, so Bismillah calligraphy is often placed where a household's day begins.
Displaying Bismillah in your home
- Entrance halls, kitchens and dining areas, and above a study desk.
- Its horizontal flow makes it ideal for long, narrow panoramic canvases.
- Small sizes work well as a first piece in a gallery wall of Islamic art.
- Hang sacred text at or above eye level, in a clean space, and away from bathrooms — see the calligraphy size guide for measurements and what scholars say about displaying Quranic verses.
Bismillah calligraphy is a thoughtful gift for new businesses and offices, students, and first homes.
Commission Bismillah calligraphy
Choose your size, palette, and script. The studio confirms the exact wording and reference with you before work begins, and shares progress along the way.
Related verses
Arabic text: Tanzil Quran Text (Uthmani), tanzil.net, via api.alquran.cloud. English meaning: Saheeh International. A translation conveys the meaning of the Quran in another language and is not the Quran itself; follow the verse links to read each ayah in its full context.