Bismillah is the First Ayah of Al-Fatihah
The Companions started the Book of Allah with Bismillah: [In the Name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful.]
The scholars also agree that Bismillah is a part of an Ayah in Surat An-Naml (chapter 27). They disagree over whether it is a separate Ayah before every Surah, or if it is an Ayah, or a part of an Ayah, included in every Surah where the Bismillah appears in its beginning. Ad-Daraqutni also recorded a Hadith from Abu Hurayrah from the Prophet (saw) that supports this Hadith by Ibn Khuzaymah. Also similar statements were attributed to 'Ali, Ibn 'Abbas and others.
The opinion that Bismillah is an Ayay of every Surah, except Al-Bara'ah (chapter 9), was attributed to (the Companions) Ibn 'Abbas, Ibn 'Umar, Ibn Az-Zubayr, Abu Hurayrah and 'Ali. This opinion was also attributed to the Tabi'in: 'Ata', Tawus, Sa'id bin Jubayr, Makhul and Az-Zuhri. This is also the view of 'Abdullah bin Al-Mubarak, Ash-Shafi'i, Ahmad bin Hanbal, (in one report from him) Ishaq bin Rahwayh and Abu 'Ubayd Al-Qasim bin Salam. On the other hand, Malik, Abu Hanifah and their followers said that Bismillah is not an Ayah in Al-Fatihah or any other Surah. Dawud said that it is a separate Ayah in the beginning of every Surah, not part of the Sura itself, and this opinion was also attributed to Ahmad bin Hanbal.
Tafsir ibn Kathir s.61
