2/132. Chapter:
Sunan Abi Dawud 788 — Bismillah as a Surah Separator
Those Who Recited It Out Loud
Bismillah Hadith: How Surahs Were Distinguished
Sunan Abi Dawud : 788
Sunan Abi DawudHadith Number 788
حَدَّثَنَا قُتَيْبَةُ بْنُ سَعِيدٍ، وَأَحْمَدُ بْنُ مُحَمَّدٍ الْمَرْوَزِيُّ، وَابْنُ السَّرْحِ، قَالُوا حَدَّثَنَا سُفْيَانُ، عَنْ عَمْرٍو، عَنْ سَعِيدِ بْنِ جُبَيْرٍ، - قَالَ قُتَيْبَةُ فِيهِ - عَنِ ابْنِ عَبَّاسٍ، قَالَ كَانَ النَّبِيُّ صلى الله عليه وسلم لاَ يَعْرِفُ فَصْلَ السُّورَةِ حَتَّى تُنَزَّلَ عَلَيْهِ { بِسْمِ اللَّهِ الرَّحْمَنِ الرَّحِيمِ } . وَهَذَا لَفْظُ ابْنِ السَّرْحِ .
Ibn 'Abbas Narrated from:
The prophet (ﷺ) did not distinguish between the two surahs until the words “In the name of Allah, the Compassionate, the merciful” was revealed to him. These are the words of Ibn al-sarh.
Reference : Sunan Abi Dawud 788In-book reference : Book 2, Hadith 398English translation : Book 2, Hadith 787
Summary of Sunan Abi Dawud Hadith 788
This hadith gives a short but clear point about Bismillah and the separation of surahs. Ibn Abbas says that the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم did not know the separation between two surahs until the words Bismillah ir-Rahman ir-Rahim were revealed to him. The narration is not giving a long discussion of all Qur'an arrangement. It simply connects the revealed phrase Bismillah with knowing the division between surahs. For readers searching for Bismillah separates surahs hadith, the main teaching is direct: the coming of Bismillah showed a boundary between one surah and another in this report. The hadith also fits with nearby narrations that discuss Bismillah, Al-Anfal, and Bara'ah.
What we learn from this hadith
- Bismillah is linked here with knowing the separation of surahs.
- The report is from Ibn Abbas about the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم.
- The hadith focuses on Qur'an recitation and surah boundaries.
- It should be read within its own wording without adding extra claims.
