Before you recite the Quran, you say the isti'adhah (a'udhu billahi minash-shaytanir-rajim), and at the start of a surah the basmalah (bismillahir-rahmanir-rahim). But should you stop after each one, or join them together? And what do you do between two surahs, or at Surah At-Tawbah? This guide explains the rules simply, with tables you can follow.
The two phrases
Phrase | Meaning | When |
|---|---|---|
Isti'adhah: أَعُوذُ بِاللَّهِ مِنَ الشَّيْطَانِ الرَّجِيمِ | I seek refuge with Allah from Satan, the outcast | When you begin reciting, wherever you start |
Basmalah: بِسْمِ اللَّهِ الرَّحْمَٰنِ الرَّحِيمِ | In the name of Allah, the Most Merciful, the Especially Merciful | At the start of every surah except At-Tawbah |
The isti'adhah comes from the command: "When you recite the Quran, seek refuge with Allah from Satan, the outcast" (An-Nahl 16:98).
Starting at the beginning of a surah: 4 ways
When you start reciting at the beginning of a surah, you have three parts: the isti'adhah, the basmalah, and the first verse. All four ways below are allowed:
Way | How it sounds | Name |
|---|---|---|
1 | Isti'adhah — stop — basmalah — stop — first verse | Separate all (qat' al-jami') |
2 | Isti'adhah — stop — basmalah joined with the first verse | Separate the first, join the rest |
3 | Isti'adhah joined with basmalah — stop — first verse | Join the first two, separate the last |
4 | Isti'adhah, basmalah and first verse all in one breath | Join all (wasl al-jami') |
Starting in the middle of a surah
If you start in the middle of a surah, the isti'adhah is still said. The basmalah is optional: you may say it or leave it. Most teachers suggest leaving it out if the verse you start with mentions Satan or punishment, so that it doesn't sound joined to Allah's name in an unsuitable way.
Moving from one surah to the next: 3 ways
When you finish one surah and go straight on to the next, there are three parts: the end of the first surah, the basmalah, and the start of the next surah.
Way | How it sounds | Allowed? |
|---|---|---|
1 | End of surah — stop — basmalah — stop — next surah | Yes |
2 | End of surah — stop — basmalah joined with the next surah | Yes |
3 | End of surah, basmalah and next surah all joined | Yes |
4 | End of surah joined with basmalah — stop — next surah | No |
Way 4 is not allowed because it makes the basmalah sound like the end of the previous surah, when it belongs to the beginning of the next one.
The special case: Surah At-Tawbah
Surah At-Tawbah (chapter 9) is the only surah that does not begin with the basmalah.
- Starting at the beginning of At-Tawbah: say the isti'adhah only, then begin the surah.
- Moving from Al-Anfal to At-Tawbah (in the Hafs narration): you can stop with a breath, make a short pause without breath (saktah), or join them directly. No basmalah in any of the three.
- Starting in the middle of At-Tawbah: many teachers advise not to say the basmalah here either.
Tajweed points in the two phrases
Word | Rule |
|---|---|
billāhi | The word Allah after a kasrah: the lam is light |
minash-shayṭāni | Lam shamsiyyah: the lam is silent and the shin is doubled. See sun and moon letters |
ar-rajīm, ar-raḥīm (stopping) | Madd before a stop: 2, 4 or 6 counts — keep it the same each time. See what is madd |
bismillāhi | The word Allah after a kasrah: light lam. The s must be a clear sin, not a ṣad |
ar-raḥmān | Lam shamsiyyah again, and the ḥa comes from the middle of the throat. See throat letters |
For practice, start with Surah Al-Fatiha with tajweed and the three Quls, where you can try all of these ways. For the bigger picture, see our tajweed guide and where to stop in recitation.
FAQ
Do I say a'udhu billah before every surah?
You say the isti'adhah once when you begin reciting. If you go on from one surah to the next without stopping your recitation, you don't need to repeat it — only the basmalah.
Is the basmalah part of every surah?
It is written at the start of every surah except At-Tawbah. Scholars differ on whether it counts as a verse of each surah; in the common Mushaf it is numbered as a verse only in Al-Fatiha.
Why doesn't Surah At-Tawbah start with bismillah?
It was written in the Mushaf without the basmalah, as the Companions received it. Scholars give several reasons, including that it begins with a declaration about breaking treaties, which differs from the mercy of the basmalah.
Which way is best for beginners?
Separating all three parts (stopping after the isti'adhah and after the basmalah) is the easiest, because it gives you time to breathe and focus.
Can I join the end of a surah with bismillah and then stop?
No. That is the one way not allowed, because it makes the basmalah sound like part of the previous surah.
Sources
- Surah An-Nahl 16:98 — Quran.com
- Surah At-Tawbah 9 — Quran.com
- Basmala — Wikipedia
- Ta'awwudh — Wikipedia