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chapter was revealed for the dissolution of the alliance between the Prophet and the idolaters, the former sent Ali ibn Abi Talib (whose face God honour) therewith [from Medina to Mecca] at the season of the greater pilgrimage;[1] and he read the chapter to them, but did not read “In the name, etc.”’[2] (Q.) ‘What of the excellence of the formula and the blessing that attaches to it?’ (A.) ‘It is told of the Prophet that he said, “Never is ‘In the name, etc.’ pronounced over aught, but there is a blessing in it;” and it is reported, on his authority, that the Lord of Glory swore by His glory that never should the formula be pronounced over a sick person, but he should be healed of his sickness. Moreover, it is said that, when God created the empyreal heaven, it was agitated with an exceeding agitation; but He wrote on it, “In the name, etc.,” and its agitation subsided. When the formula was first revealed to the Prophet, he said, “I am safe from three things, earthquake and metamorphosis and drowning;” and indeed its virtues are great and its blessings too many to enumerate. It is told of the Prophet that he said, “There will be brought before God, on the judgment day, a man with whom He shall reckon and finding no good deed to his account, shall order him to the fire; but the man will say, ‘O my God, Thou hast not dealt justly by me!’ Then shall God (to whom belong might and majesty) say, ‘How so?’ and the man will answer, saying, ‘O Lord, for that Thou callest Thyself the Compassionate, the Merciful, yet wilt Thou punish me with the fire!’ And God (extolled be His majesty) shall say, ‘I did indeed name myself the Compassionate, the Merciful. Carry My
