preferable at a particular time because that form suits the circumstances of that time. Certain forms of remembrance and supplication may likewise be better at certain times. In one situation, seeking forgiveness may benefit a person more; in another, affirming Allah’s oneness may be better for him; and in another, glorifying and praising Allah, declaring that none is worthy of worship but Him, and proclaiming His greatness may be better for him.
As for those who favour some prescribed practices and dislike others, Allah, glorified be He, raises up one group advocating this, another advocating that, and yet another advocating another view, and they dispute. For (1), through this disagreement, each group brings to light those aspects of the Sunnah that it upholds and the other has abandoned. Such is the disagreement over the basmala (“In the name of Allah”): is its recitation obligatory, and should it be recited aloud? Or is reciting it disliked, whether silently or aloud? The former need to present the evidence that it is part of the Quran—an independent verse accompanying the surahs. The latter need to present the evidence that it is not part of the surahs and that its recitation is not obligatory. Both statements are true.
Surah Iqra’ (“Recite”) was the first revelation of the Quran. Both groups have cited it as evidence, and it supports the truth held by each. Those who say that the basmala is not part of the surah argue that when Gabriel came to the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, he did not instruct him to recite it. Rather, he instructed him to recite:
“In the name of your Lord who created.”
Had the basmala been the beginning of the surah, he would have instructed him to recite it. This is established in the two Sahih collections through the hadith of ‘Ā’isha.
Those who advocate reciting it argue that He said:
“Recite in the name of your Lord who created.”
This commands everyone who recites to recite in the name of his Lord. Thus, when someone is told, “Slaughter in the name of Allah”