(Basmallah). This is the sacred formula of Bismillah-ir-Rahman-ir-Rahim (In the Name of Allah, Most Merciful, Most Compassionate). The recitation of the 'basmallah' sanctifies all of man's words and deeds and thoughts, and in so doing it keeps satanic influences at a distance. With his continually expanding awareness of Allah every moment and each breath of the 'one who remembers' becomes 'In the Name of Allah, Most Merciful, Most Compassionate'. It is said that the opening chapter of The Qur'an (al Fatihah) contains the Essence of the Qur'an, and that the 'basmallah' contains the Essence of al Fatihah. When speaking of the Declaration of Faith as an intellectual 'ascent' the basmallah is then regarded as an ontological 'descent'.