Is the full basmalah recited, or only "In the name of Allah," in matters other than reciting the Qur'an? And what is the ruling on the hadith: "Every matter that is not begun with 'In the name of Allah' is severed"?

The questioner : What is the ruling regarding "In the name of Allah, the Most Merciful, the Bestower of Mercy" in matters other than reciting the Qur'an? Do we recite it in full, or do we say only "In the name of Allah"? I have read in a history book, which is a required text for high school students, that I believe the Prophet's (peace and blessings be upon him) letter to the Caesar of Rome was headed with "In the name of Allah, the Most Merciful, the Bestower of Mercy." Do we follow this in our food, our drink, and our transactions by saying "In the name of Allah, the Most Merciful, the Bestower of Mercy," or does it have a different ruling? May Allah reward you with good?

The Shaykh : As for heading letters with "In the name of Allah," our example in this is the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him), as in the story of his (peace and blessings be upon him) addressing the kings, including Heraclius, the King of Rome, and the Caesar, and others. This is also following the Book of Allah (Mighty and Majestic). As for other places, there are restrictions and adherence to what the Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him) did. For example, regarding food, the full basmalah is not recited for food as is customary among most Muslims today, who think that this is the sunnah. But the sunnah is to restrict oneself to only . This is established from his (peace and blessings be upon him) saying and his action. When he used to eat, he would say and not add to it. And when he taught the boy, when he sat to eat with the Messenger, he (peace and blessings be upon him) said to him, "O boy, " and told him to say: . And the Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him) did not add to it. There is no doubt that adhering to the sunnah is obligatory for every Muslim. This is a place where one should restrict oneself to saying only "In the name of Allah." Similarly, when a Muslim goes to the place of relief and prepares to go, he says and does not say . In these places, however, if there is another matter for which no specific text has come, the full basmalah is recited. We have heard, we do not see... on the sunnah . This hadith, despite its fame, contains a man named 'Abd al-Rahman ibn Qura, who is weak due to his poor memory. Therefore, the hadith is weak because of this and is not used as evidence. What is preserved and established from the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) is only his saying with praise. This is what is established in Sunan Abu Dawud and others.