Musannaf Ibn Abi Shaybah

Hazrat Ibn Sirin narrates that a man wrote to Hazrat Ibn Umar (may Allah be pleased with them both) in a letter as follows: "In the name of Allah, for so-and-so person." Upon this, Hazrat Ibn Umar (may Allah be pleased with them both) said: "Stop! Surely, the name of Allah is reserved only for Him."

Hazrat Mughira narrates that Ibrahim considered it undesirable to write at the beginning of a letter: Bismillah ir-Rahman ir-Raheem li-fulan. And he did not consider it objectionable to write it at the beginning of an address.

Hazrat Humaid says that Hazrat Bakr said: Write like this: (Ila Fulan) To such and such person, do not write like this: Li Fulan, that is, for such and such person.

Hazrat Dinar narrates that Hazrat Ibn Hanafiyyah said: There is no harm in writing "Bismillah" for so-and-so.

This statement is narrated from Imam Shabi with this chain of transmission.