113 of the 114 surahs begin with "Bismillah ir-Rahman ir-Rahim" (the Basmalah) — there's exactly one exception: Surah At-Tawbah. No single, definitive reason for this is clearly stated in the Quran or hadith; scholars report several different narrations and views. Below: these views, the surah's general content, and notes on reciting it in prayer.
The Only Surah That Begins Without the Basmalah: At-Tawbah
All 114 surahs in the Quran begin with the Basmalah, the sole exception being Surah At-Tawbah (the 9th surah, also known by the name "Al-Bara'ah"). You can read and listen to Surah At-Tawbah's Arabic text, translation, and audio recording on our Surah At-Tawbah page. The surah's first verse begins as follows: "[This is a declaration of] disassociation, from Allah and His Messenger, to those with whom you had made a treaty among the polytheists."
Why Does It Begin Without the Basmalah? — Reported Views
There is no single, definitive view among scholars on this matter; several different explanations are reported. According to the most frequently cited narration, some Companions (the most famous narration on this attributed to Uthman) reported that because At-Tawbah and the preceding surah, Al-Anfal, were so close to one another in content and style — with some Companions even thinking the two might be a single surah — they chose not to place a Basmalah where the division was not certain. According to another view, because the Basmalah carries a promise of safety and peace (aman) for the text it opens, its absence at the beginning of this surah — which contains the annulment of treaties made with the polytheists and a stern warning (bara'ah) against them — was seen as fitting with the surah's harsh, admonishing tone. The TDV Encyclopedia of Islam's entry on "Surah At-Tawbah" notes that none of these views rests on definitive proof, and that the matter remains a subject of scholarly reasoning (ijtihad).
The Relationship Between Surahs At-Tawbah and Al-Anfal
While Surah Al-Anfal deals with the spoils of war and relationships among the believers, Surah At-Tawbah continues this subject through the status of treaties made with the polytheists and the conduct of the hypocrites. This thematic closeness is reported as one of the reasons some Companions saw the two surahs as very closely connected. The absence of the Basmalah between these two surahs is also regarded as an example of the meticulousness the Companions showed while compiling the Quran: no addition not firmly established by revelation was made at a point that was not certain.
What Does Surah At-Tawbah Cover?
Surah At-Tawbah was revealed toward the end of the Medinan period and covers topics such as the characteristics of the hypocrites, the status of treaties made with the polytheists, jihad, and infaq (spending in the way of God). The surah also contains verses about the acceptance of repentance; this is why the surah takes the name "At-Tawbah" (repentance, turning back).
Is the Basmalah Recited When Reading Surah At-Tawbah in Prayer?
Although Surah At-Tawbah has no Basmalah at its beginning, reciting the Basmalah when starting a surah in prayer is generally accepted as a common practice and virtue; there are some differences in detail between schools of jurisprudence on this matter. If a portion of Surah At-Tawbah is to be read, not reciting the Basmalah is preferred if starting partway through the surah rather than from its beginning, and according to some scholars it is preferred not to recite it even when reading from the surah's very start; the most accurate approach on this is to consult your own school's religious reference sources or a religious authority.
Is This Unique Only to Surah At-Tawbah?
Yes, of the Quran's 114 surahs, only Surah At-Tawbah begins without the Basmalah; all of the other 113 surahs open with it. This is a singular and exceptional case in the mushaf order; no other surah has a similar practice. The fact that this exception is confined to a single, clear surah is an important indication that, despite being debated among scholars for centuries, the matter rests not on a definitive revealed ruling, but on the meticulous approach the Companions took while compiling the Quran.
Which Juz Does Surah At-Tawbah Fall In?
Surah At-Tawbah consists of 129 verses and fills most of the 10th and 11th juz; the preceding surah, Al-Anfal, falls in the 9th and 10th juz. The fact that these two surahs are positioned so close to one another in terms of juz is a further observation supporting the thematic closeness between them. See our 30 Juz Index page to see which juz all surahs fall in.
Practical Plan
You can visit our Surah At-Tawbah and Surah Al-Anfal pages to read Surah At-Tawbah alongside the preceding surah, Al-Anfal, for comparison.
Surah At-Tawbah is the only surah in the Quran that begins without the Basmalah; although no definitive reason for this has been reported, there are several reasonable views among scholars, and none of these views affects the surah's status as revelation or its ruling. Those curious about the shortest and longest surahs in the Quran can see our article Which Is the Shortest Surah In the Quran?. For other questions, see our FAQ page.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does this mean mercy is absent from this surah?
No. The absence of the Basmalah does not mean God's mercy or the door of repentance is absent from Surah At-Tawbah. The surah itself also covers repentance, faithfulness to treaties, granting safety to someone seeking refuge, and a merciful relationship with believers; portraying the surah as consisting only of statements about war distorts its context.
Note: This content is for general information; different schools of thought and scholars may hold differing views. Consult a scholar you trust for personal religious decisions.
Sources
- Tanzil Project — Uthmani Mushaf
- QuranEnc — English Translation
- TDV Encyclopedia of Islam, 'Tevbe Sûresi' maddesi