The Myth of 786

Question:
Is it true that 786 = Bismillah?? Some even said it is the Holy Number..

Answer:
'786' is a number derived from adding the value of each letter of the alphabet that is contained in 'Bismillah.' When corresponding with someone, it is a Sunnah to start with 'Bismillah'. But, in the sub-continent people tend to use the number '786' of which there is 'no proof from the Islamic Shari'ah, whether you write '786' or '786/92'. This does not symbolise 'Bismillah' in any way. Those who do use this, say that people do not respect letters/papers and therefore it is disrespectful to 'Bismillah'.

Table 5. The 19 Arabic letters of the Basmalah and their corresponding gematrical values. They all add to 786.
Letter No.	Arabic	English	Gematrical Value
1	Baa'	B	2
2	Siin	S	60
3	Miim	M	40
4	'Alif	A	1
5	Laam	L	30
6	Laam	L	30
7	Haa'	H	5
8	'Alif	A	1
9	Laam	L	30
10	Raa'	R	200
11	H!aa'	H	8
12	Miim	M	40
13	Nuun	N	50
14	'Alif	A	1
15	Laam	L	30
16	Raa'	R	200
17	H!aa'	H	8
18	Yaa'	Y	10
19	Miim	M	40
Total			786

Using these numbers is wrong for the following reasons:
i) 786 does not symbolise or equalise 'Bismillah' as there is no proof from any scholar on this. If someone was to read just a number instead of a text, it would obviously be meaningless.

ii) Those who worry about disrespect to Islamic text, should not use words like 'Allâh' and 'Muhammad' in their letters either, but this is not the case. In the same letter headed by '786' we find Allâh's name in the text.

iii) The Prophet (صلى الله عليه وسلم) sent several letters to non-Muslims and there was a possibility that they would not respect these letters. Still, the Prophet (صلى الله عليه وسلم) started with the name of Allâh and did not use any numbers to symbolise it. Also, when Prophet Sulaiman (عليه السلام) sent a letter to the Queen of Saba', who was a Kafir at the time, he started his letter with 'Bismillah' and this is stated in the Qur' an. Surat An-Naml says:

إِنَّهُ مِن سُلَيْمَانَ وَإِنَّهُ بِسْمِ اللَّهِ الرَّحْمَنِ الرَّحِيمِ

"Verily it is from Sulaiman and verily it reads 'In the name of Allâh, the most Beneficent, Most Merciful'" (27:30)


Country Of Origin : Saudi Arabia
State : Riyadh

Author/Scholar : The Late Maulana Mahmood Ahmed Mirpuri