“In the name of Allah, the Entirely Merciful, the Especially Compassionate”
— every beginning echoes the womb of creation, where mercy overcomes all. 

 At the beginning of every chapter of the Qur’an (except one), and at the start of every act of meaning, Muslims invoke the sacred words: bismillāhir raḥmānir raḥīm — In the name of Allah, the Entirely Merciful, the Especially Compassionate. It is not merely a formula. It is a return. A remembrance of the womb of mercy from which all existence flows.

The Love Letter of Bismillah

 In Surah An-Naml, we are told the story of the Prophet Solomon (Sulayman, peace upon him) sending a letter to the Queen of Sheba. He instructs the hoopoe bird:
“Go with this letter of mine and deliver it to them, then stand aside and see how they will respond.” (27:28)

When the Queen reads the letter, she declares:
“O you chiefs! A truly distinguished letter has been conveyed unto me. Behold, it is from Solomon, and it says, ‘In the name of Allah, the Entirely Merciful, the Especially Compassionate. Do not be arrogant with me, but come to me, fully submitting to Allah.’” (27:29–31)

Before asserting power, before making demands, Solomon begins with mercy. Even in politics and statecraft, mercy frames the dialogue. Every relationship — between people, between nations, between heart and heart — is meant to begin in the name of mercy.

The Womb of Creation

The Arabic root ر ح م (rā ḥā mīm) — from which Raḥmān and Raḥīm are derived — is intimately connected to raḥm, the womb.

Allah reminds humanity:
“O humanity! Be mindful of your Lord Who created you from a single soul, and from her He created her mate, and through both He spread countless men and women. And be mindful of Allah—in Whose Name you appeal to one another—and the wombs. Surely Allah is ever Watchful over you.” (4:1)

The womb is not just a biological vessel; it is a sign, a sacred reality. The Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, said in a sacred narration (Hadith Qudsi):
“When Allah decreed the creation, He pledged Himself by writing in His Book, which is laid down with Him: ‘My Mercy prevails over My Wrath.’”
(Muslim, Bukhari, an-Nasa’i, Ibn Majah)

Mercy is the origin of all things.
The womb is the first mercy a soul encounters in existence — a place of absolute protection, nourishment, and unseen care. No wonder the Prophet narrated this to his companions.

Jahima (r.a.) came to the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, and he said, “O Messenger of Allah, I intend to join the military expedition, and I seek your counsel.” The Prophet said, “Do you have a mother?” He said yes. The Prophet said, “Stay with her, for paradise is beneath her feet.”
(Sunan al-Nasā’ī)

In another Hadith Qudsi, sacred narration, the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said that Allah said:
“I am Ar-Raḥmān and created the raḥm (womb) – And I named it after Me.”
(Ahmad)

Pain and Mercy

“The wound is the place where the light enters you.”
Rumi’s words evoke not only pain but transformation. The womb is a site of life-giving pain — a space where creation ruptures comfort. It is the most literal place where light enters: the emergence of life into a world of awareness, form, love.

In verse 18:81, the Qur’an speaks of a child being taken away so another, “more virtuous and nearer in affection,” may come. Pain and replacement. Loss and mercy. Mercy is not always softness — it may come dressed in fire, thunder, or sacrifice.

No wonder Allah states, “And My Mercy encompasses everything” (Quran 7:156). This verse reinforces the idea that God’s mercy is vast and all-encompassing, extending to every aspect of existence. This verse highlights the inclusive nature of divine mercy, encouraging believers to seek forgiveness and strive for a compassionate life. It serves as a call for Muslims to practice mercy in their daily lives, fostering a community built on compassion and understanding.

Bismillah in Everyday Life

The Messenger of Allah, mercy of God and peace upon him, taught:
“Any matter of importance that is not begun with ‘In the name of Allah’ will remain devoid of blessing.”
(Sunan Abi Dawud, Sahih Ibn Hibban)

And regarding daily purification (wudhu), he said:
“There is no valid ablution for he who did not mention Allah’s Name.”
(Ahmad, Sunan compilers)

Every act, every moment, every step must be wrapped in remembrance. By invoking Bismillah, we are not just seeking blessing; we are anchoring ourselves back to the womb of mercy — to the beginning of all things — where Allah’s Compassion and Care cradle us unseen.

Closing Reflection: A Womb of Light

To begin with Bismillah is to step into the womb of mercy. A place where something is made of us. A place of constriction, gestation, and eventual emergence.

Ibn al-ʿArabī described mercy as the first veil between us and the Real. To know mercy is to be veiled, yes — but also to be protected, incubated until we are ready to face the fullness of the Divine.

And so, like the Queen of Sheba, we receive the letter.
And like the hoopoe, we deliver it.
And like the child, we are born through pain.
And like Rumi, we remember that it is the wound — the rupture — that lets in the Light.

And this is why we celebrate the wombs.