Distinguishing between sermons and letters regarding the opening with praise
Machine translationRead the Arabic original
Question:
He says: Honorable Shaykh, may Allah grant you success. Some students of knowledge say that praise is only for sermons, whereas letters and writings begin with the basmalah. Is this distinction correct?
Answer:
Both begin with the basmalah and praise to Allah; they are combined in letters and in sermons. However, it is the custom of people that they do not mention beginning letters with praise. This is one of the customs of people, and there is nothing preventing it.
He says: Honorable Shaykh, may Allah grant you success. Some students of knowledge say that praise is only for sermons, whereas letters and writings begin with the basmalah. Is this distinction correct?
Answer:
Both begin with the basmalah and praise to Allah; they are combined in letters and in sermons. However, it is the custom of people that they do not mention beginning letters with praise. This is one of the customs of people, and there is nothing preventing it.
Source
شرح كتاب المنتقى من أخبار المصطفى صلى الله عليه وسلم، المقدمة، وأول كتاب الطهارة — islamhouse.com (59:57)
The Arabic text is a machine transcription of the audio recording.