Making Bismillah a natural part of every little thing we do

I used to forget Bismillah a lot, even when eating. Once I realized how much it matters, I picked up the du'a for when you forget at the start of a meal: "Bismillahi awwalahu wa akhirahu" (In the name of Allah, at its beginning and its end). Alhamdulillah, over time, saying it before meals just became second nature. Getting into the habit of starting with Bismillah for all kinds of actions, even the small ones we usually ignore, can be such a lovely way to keep Allah in our thoughts throughout the day. Whether you're bending down to pick something up, beginning to read, write, study, cook, travel, or start any task, saying Bismillah is an easy way to remember Him. Our beloved Prophet (peace be upon him) used to prefer the right side in all things: when purifying himself, combing his hair, putting on shoes, and in every affair. And from the Qur'an and Sunnah, scholars tell us it's recommended to say Bismillah before any permissible act, especially important ones, to seek Allah's help, blessings, and protection. Saying Bismillah can bring barakah into even the simplest actions. It might also shield you from harms that Allah removes from your path, many of which you may never even know existed. We can't count how many troubles He has guarded us from, how much barakah He has placed in what we do, or how many mistakes He has helped us dodge just because we started with His name. But every time we say Bismillah, we're turning to Allah and asking His support, and that alone is a beautiful habit to nurture. May Allah make us among those who remember Him often, in the big moments and the small ones. Ameen.