This may have been answered here before, but does anyone know why ‘Muslims’ from the subcontinent write 786 instead of Bismillah?
and this may not answer your question but people from the sub-continent have this ugly habit of finding shortcuts for everything.
Oh PA, I'm aware of the laziness gene in most desis, and I know why people use 786, I'm just curious if the people who DO use it know why they use it...
please see this thread
786 i snot bismillah
786 is not bismillah. If anyone wants to know about 786, mail me at [email protected]. I will let you know the history of 786.
^ why don't you post it here? so maybe everyone could benefit?
below is an article which was published in the saudi gazzette in 1995, regarding the “786” issue
The numerals 786 or any other numerals in no way represent ‘Bismillaah al-Rahmaan al-Raheem’ or other Surahs of the noble Qur’aan and is not the Sunnat way.
If one fears abuse of the letter, etc. ‘Bismillaah al-Rahmaan
al-Raheem’ should be recited verbally at the beginning of the letter which will suffice for the written script. Refer attached
The innovation of writing ‘786’ replacing ‘Bismillaah al-Rahmaan al-Raheem’ has been adopted for a long time and the majority of the Ummah is still indulged in it inadvertently.
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 gaining momentum.
But, do we see this number instead of the Holy Words in the Holy Qur’aan? Or, can we write it there as well? can we remove ‘Bismillaah al-Rahmaan al-Raheem’ 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.
More astonishing is that fact that ‘786’ is an aggregation of the numbers of Hindu ‘Lord Hari Krishna’.
H(a)iri Kr(i)shna
h-5, r-200, r-10, k-20, r-200, sh-300, n-50, a-1 = Aggregate of 786
Thus, the aggregate number of these letters (Hari Krishna) equals 786.
This is also the case of ‘Bismillaah al-Rahmaan al-Raheem’. Therefore, it is necessary to avoid using this number to avoid the danger of being indulging in infidelity.
Islam’s foundation is laid on the belief in Tawheed (oneness of God). If we associate anyone with Allah’s exalted names orally or practically, we would be committing infidelity which is an unpardonable sin.
The Qur’aan warns us, one who finds a rival against Allah, Allah will never allow him to enter paradise, and his abode is the hell.
The letters by the Prophet (pbuh) to non-Muslim Kings and chiefs bear the holy words ‘Bismillaah al-Rahmaan al-Raheem’.
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 socalled scholars of our age who are all bent to amend the Divine principles.
Now, when it became known that ‘786’ is written in place of Hindu, ‘Lord Krishna’, and has no significance in the Holy Qur’aan and Sunnah, it is obviously an innovation and goes against the Divine doctrine of ‘Obey Allah and His Prophet’.
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 Ta’ala 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 insulting replacement number for Himself and His Prophet :saw: .
‘Bismillaah al-Rahmaan al-Raheem’ great significance in the Qur’aan and Muslims are ordered to begin any work but in the names Allah, not in the number of ‘786’ or any other substitution.
** Fozail Aqdas Ghazali The Message
Saudi Gazette, Friday - September 29 1995 **
I don’t think there is much dispute that it is wrong to use 786, and to think that it can replace “Bismillah -ir-Rahmaan ir-Raheem”. However, just for informational purposes, here is the background of 786
Q. I never quite understood the idea behind the number “786”. Is it possible for you to explain its significance at your earliest convenience?
A. “786” is the total value of the letters of “Bismillah al-Rahman al-Rahim”. In Arabic there are two methods of arranging letters. One method is the most common method known as the alphabetical method. Here we begin with Alif, ba, ta, tha etc. The other method is known as the Abjad method or ordinal method. In this method each letter has an arithmetic value assigned to it from one to one thousand. The letters are arranged in the following order: Abjad, Hawwaz, Hutti, Kalaman, Sa’fas, Qarshat, Sakhaz, Zazagh. This arrangement was done, most probably in the 3rd century of Hijrah during the 'Abbasid period, following other Semitic languages such as Phoenician, Aramaic, Hebrew, Syriac, Chaldean etc.
If you take the numeric values of all the letters of the Basmalah, according to the Abjad order, the total will be 786. In the Indian subcontinent the Abjad numerals became quite popular. Some people, mostly in India and Pakistan, use 786 as a substitute for Bismillah. They write this number to avoid writing the name of Allah or the Qur’anic ayah on ordinary papers. This tradition is not from the time of the Prophet -peace be upon him- or his Sahabah. It developed much later, perhaps during the later 'Abbasid period. We do not know of any reputable Imams or Jurists who used this number instead of the Bismillah.
Also, this one
Thanks. Very interesting.
thanks Faisal for a very interesting explanation.
very helpful.