InMandaeism, the bshuma (Classical Mandaic: ࡁࡔࡅࡌࡀ, romanized: b-šuma, lit. 'in the name [of]') is a religious formula that is often written at the beginnings of chapters in Mandaean texts and prayers.[1][2] The Islamic equivalent is the basmala.
The full form of the bshuma is "In the name of Hayyi Rabbi" (Classical Mandaic: ࡁࡔࡅࡌࡀࡉࡄࡅࡍ ࡖࡄࡉࡉࡀ ࡓࡁࡉࡀ, romanized: b-šumaihun ḏ-hiia rbia, lit. 'In the names of the Great Life'; modern Mandaic pronunciation: /biʃˈmeihon d-ˈheiji ˈrabbi/; Arabic: باسم الحي العظيم, bism al-Ḥayy al-ʿAẓīm).[3]
A simpler version is ࡁࡔࡅࡌࡀ ࡖࡄࡉࡉࡀ (b-šuma ḏ-hiia), which literally translates to "In Life's name."[4]
At the ends of Mandaean prayers and texts, the following formulas are often recited to conclude the prayer or text.[4]
