´It was narrated that ‘Aishah said:` “The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ), Abu Bakr, ‘Umar and ‘Uthman used to start their recitation with “All praises and thanks are to Allah, the Lord of all that exists. (Al- hamdu Lillahi Rabbil-‘Alamin).’” [1:2]
Explanation & Benefits
Maulana Ataullah Sajid
Benefits and Issues:
(1)
Beginning the recitation with ﴿اَلْحَمْدُ لِلّٰهِ رَبِّ الْعٰلَمِيْنَ﴾ can have two meanings.
One is that in recitation, Surah al-Fatihah was certainly recited.
After that, another surah or verses would be recited.
In this case, (Bismillah) would also be proven to be recited aloud,
because it is included together with Surah al-Fatihah.
The second meaning is that the verse (Bismillah) was not recited aloud.
They would begin with ﴿اَلْحَمْدُ لِلّٰهِ﴾.
Both types of narrations have come from the noble Companions (radi Allahu anhum ajma‘in).
Imam al-Tirmidhi rahimahullah has mentioned the names of Abu Hurayrah radi Allahu ta‘ala anhu, Ibn ‘Umar radi Allahu ta‘ala anhu, Ibn ‘Abbas radi Allahu ta‘ala anhu, and Ibn al-Zubayr radi Allahu ta‘ala anhu among those who held the view of reciting (Bismillah) aloud,
and he has mentioned the names of the four Rightly Guided Caliphs among those who recited (Bismillah) quietly.
See: (Jami‘ al-Tirmidhi, Kitab al-Salat, Chapter: What Has Been Reported Regarding Not Reciting Bismillah al-Rahman al-Rahim Aloud, Hadith: 244, and Chapter: Whoever Held the View of Reciting Bismillah al-Rahman al-Rahim Aloud, Hadith: 245)
Source: Commentary on Sunan Ibn Mājah by Mawlānā ‘Atā’ullāh Sājid, Page: 812