Tafsir of Bismillah

There has been a debate about whether "Bismillah" is a part of Surah Al Fatiha or not.
The 4 Khalifas didn't recite it out loud in Surah Al Fatiha. The Shafi madhab usually say it out loud, while the Hanafi madhab people don't. However, Bismillah is a part of the Quran, therefore you can't touch it without wudhu, even if it's on a piece of paper, or chain etc.

Meaning of Bismillah:
i) With the name of Allah
ii) With the help of Allah
iii) With the baraka of Allah

We should say "Allah" rather than God. The word "Allah" has no plural form and only has a masculine form, therefore there is no equivalent. The translation is not as powerful as the Arabic word.

"Bismillah" is a phrase that is open-ended, and so can be used for anything [like before eating, sleeping, traveling etc]. Helps us to remember blessings Allah gave us and thank Him. The more you thank Allah, the more barakah you get.

Meaning of "Ar-Rahman Ar-Rahim":
"Rahman" is mercy so vast that it reaches all parts of the universe.
"Rahim" is mercy which is complete and reaches perfection.
From so many names, Allah repeats His characteristic of being Merciful to highlight that this characteristic dominates all others. It's the mercy of Allah through which people can enter Jannah. Allah (SWT)'s mercy can be divided into 70 parts, in which just ONE part is bestowed upon us in this life, and the rest will be in the Hereafter. His mercy is beyond our comprehension.

It was a custom in the Age of Ignorance that people began everything they did with the names of their idols. To eradicate this practice, Angel Jibrael (AS) commanded the Prophet (SAW) to read in the name of Allah. He (SAW) said that no important work receives the blessings of Allah (SWT) unless it begins with His name.

May Allah (SWT) give us the tawfiq to start things by saying His name always. Ameen.