Isti'adhah
Isti'adhah (الاسْتِعَاذَة) is saying, before reciting, أعوذ بالله من الشيطان الرجيم ("I seek refuge in Allah from the accursed devil"). This wording is preferred by the reciters because it matches the words of the Quran: ﴿فَإِذَا قَرَأۡتَ ٱلۡقُرۡءَانَ فَٱسۡتَعِذۡ بِٱللَّهِ مِنَ ٱلشَّيۡطَٰنِ ٱلرَّجِيمِ ٩٨فَاِذَا قَرَاْتَ الْقُرْاٰنَ فَاسْتَعِذْ بِاللّٰهِ مِنَ الشَّيْطٰنِ الرَّجِيْمِ ٩٨﴾ (An-Nahl 16:98). Most scholars hold that it is recommended at the start of recitation; some hold it to be obligatory.
Aloud or silently
It is said aloud when the recitation is aloud and someone is listening, so that the listener attends from the beginning. It is said silently when reciting silently, when alone, in prayer, or in a group reciting in turns when one is not the first reader.
Basmalah
The Basmalah (البَسْمَلَة) is saying بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم. Hafs recites it at the beginning of every surah except Bara'ah (at-Tawbah), whether he starts with the surah or joins it to the one before. When starting in the middle of a surah the reciter may say it or leave it; many masters of recitation prefer saying it.
Ways of joining at the start of a surah
When starting at the beginning of a surah, four ways are permitted for the Isti'adhah, the Basmalah and the start of the surah:
| Way | How |
|---|---|
| Qat' al-jami' | Stop after the Isti'adhah, stop after the Basmalah, then begin the surah. |
| Stop after the first, join the second to the third | Stop after the Isti'adhah, then join the Basmalah to the surah. |
| Join the first to the second, stop before the third | Join the Isti'adhah to the Basmalah, stop, then begin the surah. |
| Wasl al-jami' | Join all three in one breath. |
The Basmalah between two surahs
When joining the end of a surah to the beginning of the next, three ways are permitted and a fourth is not:
| Way | How | Ruling |
|---|---|---|
| Qat' al-jami' | Stop at the end of the surah, stop after the Basmalah, then begin. | Permitted |
| Stop after the first, join the second to the third | Stop at the end of the surah, then join the Basmalah to the next. | Permitted |
| Wasl al-jami' | Join the end of the surah, the Basmalah and the next surah. | Permitted |
| Join the first to the second, stop before the third | Join the end of the surah to the Basmalah and stop on it. | Not permitted, as it suggests the Basmalah belongs to the end of the previous surah. |
Surat Bara'ah (at-Tawbah)
There is no Basmalah at the beginning of Bara'ah. When starting with it, the reciter says only the Isti'adhah, then either stops or joins it to the start: ﴿بَرَآءَةٞ مِّنَ ٱللَّهِ وَرَسُولِهِۦٓبَرَآءَةٌ مِّنَ اللّٰهِ وَرَسُوْلِهٖٓ﴾ (At-Tawbah 9:1). When joining it to the end of al-Anfal, there are three ways without the Basmalah: a stop with breath, Sakt (السَّكْت) without breath, or Wasl (الوَصْل). When starting in its middle, the masters of recitation differ about the Basmalah.