Unit 3 · Words Muslims Say Every Day

Almost every surah in the Qur’an begins with the same line. Muslims call this line the Bismillah. It is the very first line of the whole book.

The Bismillah says, "In the name of God, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful." Gracious means kind. Merciful means forgiving. Muslims believe these are two names of God.

In Arabic, the Bismillah is only four words. Many Muslim children learn it very young. Often it is the first line of the Qur’an they know.

Yusuf said Bismillah before he ate. Many Muslims say it before a meal. It is a way of starting with God’s name. Some families say it out loud. Some whisper it.

Muslims say Bismillah at other times too. Some say it before they start homework. Some say it before they get in the car for a trip. Some say it before a game.

Muslims believe that saying God’s name first makes a good beginning. You might hear a friend say it at lunch. Now you will know what it means.

After lunch, Yusuf said Alhamdulillah. This word means "thanks be to God." It can also mean "praise be to God." Praise means saying that someone is good.

Alhamdulillah is in the Qur’an. It is the second line of the first surah, Al-Fatiha. The line says, "Praise be to God, Lord of the Worlds."

Muslims say Alhamdulillah when something good happens. They say it after a meal. They say it when they feel well. Some say it even after a sneeze!

You heard the word Allah inside Bismillah and Alhamdulillah. Allah is the Arabic word for God. Arabic is the language of the Qur’an.

Muslims believe there is only one God. When Muslims speak English, many still say Allah. Others say God. Both words mean the same thing to them.

Some Christians who speak Arabic also say Allah when they mean God. It is a word, like "Dios" in Spanish. Different languages have different words for God.

When Muslims meet, they often say As-salamu alaykum. It means "peace be upon you." It is a way to say hello. It is also a kind wish.

The answer is "Wa alaykum as-salam." That means "and upon you, peace." So both people wish each other peace. The Qur’an tells people to answer a greeting with one as good or better.

You might hear this greeting at school. Muslim families in Chicago say it every day. Now you know what it means. You know how to answer, too.

The Qur’an has words about how to treat people. It says many times to be kind to your parents. Parents are your mother and father.

One surah talks about parents who are old. It says not to say even a small unkind word to them. It says to speak to them with respect. Respect means treating someone as important.

Muslims read these lines and try to follow them. Many other families teach the same thing. Being kind to parents is a rule that many people share.

The Qur’an says to share. It says to give food and money to people who are poor. It says to help orphans. An orphan is a child whose parents have died.

The Qur’an also says to tell the truth. One line tells people to speak words that are straight and true. Muslims believe lying is wrong.

You already know some of these rules. Share. Help. Tell the truth. The Qur’an says them in Arabic. Many books and families say them too.

The Qur’an tells a story about Nuh. In English, his name is Noah. Muslims believe Nuh was a prophet, a person who brings a message from God. He told people to worship one God.

The Qur’an says most people did not listen. So God told Nuh to build a big boat, an ark. Then rain came, and water rose. Nuh, his family and the animals were safe on the boat.

The Bible tells a story about Noah too. The two books tell it in different ways. But many families know a story about Noah and a boat. Muslim, Jewish and Christian families all do.

The Qur’an tells about Yunus. In English, his name is Jonah. The Qur’an says Yunus left his people and got on a ship. Then he was thrown into the sea.

A big fish swallowed him. Inside the dark fish, Yunus called out to God. He said he was sorry. The Qur’an says God heard him, and the fish put him on the shore.

There is a surah named Yunus. The Bible tells about Jonah and a big fish too. Many children know this story from home. Some know it from a book or a song.

The Qur’an tells about Musa. In English, his name is Moses. When Musa was a baby, a king called Pharaoh was hurting the baby boys of Musa’s people.

The Qur’an says Musa’s mother put him in a basket on the river. Pharaoh’s wife found him. She loved him and kept him. Musa’s sister watched and helped bring him back to his mother to be fed.

Musa is named more times in the Qur’an than any other prophet. The Bible tells the basket story too. Many families know the baby in the basket.

Musa grew up. Muslims believe God sent him as a prophet. The Qur’an says Musa told Pharaoh to let his people go free. Pharaoh said no.

Musa led his people away. Pharaoh’s army chased them. They came to the sea. The Qur’an says God told Musa to strike the sea with his stick. The water split, and each side stood up like a mountain.

Musa’s people walked across on dry ground. They were safe. The Bible tells about the sea opening too. It is one of the most famous stories in both books.

The Qur’an tells about Ibrahim. In English, his name is Abraham. Muslims believe he was a prophet who worshiped one God. Jews and Christians tell about Abraham too.

The Qur’an says Ibrahim and his son Ismail built the Kaaba. The Kaaba is a square building in Mecca. As they built, they prayed. They asked God to accept their work.

Today Muslims face the Kaaba when they pray. Many travel to Mecca to see it. When they do, many think of Ibrahim and Ismail.

The Qur’an tells about Maryam. In English, her name is Mary. One whole surah has her name. Muslims believe an angel told her she would have a baby boy.

The Qur’an says her baby was Isa. In English, his name is Jesus. The Qur’an says Maryam rested under a palm tree. Fresh dates fell for her to eat.

Muslims believe Isa was a prophet. They believe he healed people and taught them. Christians tell about Mary and Jesus too. They believe some different things about him. Both books honor Maryam.

You read the story of the ant at the start of this chapter. The king was Sulayman. In English, his name is Solomon. The Qur’an says he understood the speech of birds and animals.

The ant told her friends to hurry into their homes. Sulayman heard her and smiled. Then he thanked God. The Qur’an says he asked to be a person who does good.

This story is in the surah called The Ant, surah 27. The Bible tells about King Solomon too, but not about the ant. That part is in the Qur’an.

The Qur’an tells about Nuh, Yunus, Musa and Maryam. The Bible tells about Noah, Jonah, Moses and Mary. These are the same people. They have different names in each book.

The two books do not tell the stories the same way. Some parts are alike. Some parts are different. Muslims, Jews and Christians each read their own book.

Some surahs are named for these people. When you hear a story about a boat, a big fish or a basket, you can say, "The Qur’an tells that story. The Bible tells it too."