Few people object on 786 mentioning it as biddah and sometimes to the extent of kufr saying it coincides with name of few false gods that disbelievers have created.
Indeed every number/letter may add up to equate with numerical value of one of the thousands of false gods people have created, but what difference does it makes if it coincides with the numerical value of any other names? A Muslim writes 786 with the intention of "Bismillah...". It is mentioned in the first Hadith of Sahih al-Bukhari that for everyone it is their intention that matters. A person who performs Salah for the pleasure of Allah he is rewarded duly and the one who performs Salah to be noticed by people is not rewarded.
In the period of our beloved Prophet Peace and Blessings of Allah be Upon Him, numerology (the knowledge of interpretation of words according to numbers) was present, as evident from the following incident.
Hadrat Abdullah Ibn Abbaas narrates, Abu Yasir Bin Akhtab, his brother Hayy Bin Akhtab and Ka'b Bin Asharaf asked Rasoolullah Sallallaho Alaihi wa Sallam "to swear and tell us if the Alif Laam Meem has been revealed on you as is"? Our beloved Nabi Sallallaho Alaihi wa Sallam replied "yes". Hayy then said "if you are truthful then your Ummah will remain for a few years, so how can we accept this religion." They pointed out that according to the knowledge of numerical value it is obvious from the letters of Alif Laam Meem that this nation will be obliterated within 71 years. Hayy asked, "is there any other word like this." The Beloved Sallallaho Alaihi wa Sallam replied "yes, there is Alif Laam Meem Saad." Hayy said. "this value is 161 which is more than previous". Then he asked, "is there any more?" the Beloved Sallallaho Alaihi wa Sallam replied "yes there is Alif Laam Raa." Hayy said "this is even more than first and the second, and we bear witness that your Ummah will only be dominant till 231 years." Then he said "is there anything else besides these?" The beloved Rasool Sallallaho Alaihi wa Sallam replied "yes Alif Laam Meem Raa is also revealed on me." Hayy said, "we won't believe in you because we are not sure as to which one of your words we should believe." Then Abu Yasir spoke, "we bear evidence that our Prophets have informed us that this Ummah will rule but they did not tell us for how long, so if Muhammad Sallallaho Alaihi wa Sallam is truthful in his statement then according to my understanding Alif Laam Meem, Alif Laam Meem Saad, and Alif Laam Meem Raa all will be gathered for this Ummah." Then all the Jews got up and left by saying "your matter is doubtful to us." [Hashiya Saikh Zaadah, Tafsir al Baydawi, Vol. 1, Page 65]
It is clearly evident from this narration that the knowledge of Numerology was used in the discussion and the beloved Rasool was well acquainted with the subject matter, and answered questions according to their level of understanding. It also indicates that this knowledge was not hidden from Rasoolullah Sallallaho Alaihi wa Sallam However it must be noted that numbers cannot have the same significance as the actual recitation orally or in the written form of the complete Quranic words and cannot replace it.
So, To write 786 in lieu of the Bismillah is permitted. The numeral 786 represents the Abjad [letter-numeral] value of the Bismillah [Bismillaah al-Rahmaan al-Raheem]. If there is fear of disrespect for the Bismillah if written in full then it may be preferable to use the number 786 instead. Occasional use of Abjad numerals has long been current among the Ulama.
The objection that the numeral 786 does not represent the Bismillah, is simple ignorance of abjad values. Such an objection carries no weight at all.
The objection that using 786 is a novelty. This is correct but so is the spread of printed matter and worldwide literacy. The Sunnah way in this regard is to find ways to curb the risks of heedlessness and disrespect to sacred things in print. The use of 786 is one such way, the other ways are to write the Arabic letter Ba' to stand for the Bismillah or to write: Bismihi Ta`ala = "In his Name, Most High". Writing 786 full fills the intension, representation and count of entire sentence. In "ba" intension and representation is fulfilled but not the ayah, similarly in other sentence in which in which complete intension is fulfilled to start with name of Allah but does not represent the actual ayah, however all are permissible and depends on preference and intension.
The objection that it is potential kufr because 786 also happens to stand for the abjad value of any "False God" is a grave comparision & charge on many fronts. Those that leveled these false accusations of potential kufr and bid`a against Muslims should repent. The same applies to the propagators who blindly follow their masters without knowing the facts.
The numeral 786 might apply to any number of names or phrases. However, it is used by Muslims only and in the Bismillah sense only. Other senses are prohibited from the usage of those Muslims. If someone comes and claims that other senses are not disallowed: such a false judge is ignoring the fundamental principles that
## Deeds Count Only According to Intentions ##
and that
## The Lawful Is Crystal Clear and the Unlawful is Crystal Clear ##
He has put aside half of the Shari`ah by ignoring these two principles. Who will possibly follow him except those Allah misguides?
At the same time the reverse is also true also, even if 786 meant only "Bismillaah al-Rahmaan al-Raheem" and nothing else, still it would be meaningless to use it without the intention of Bismillah. 786 is not a replacement but a representation of bismillah to start with protection of its due respect towards Word of Quran.
May Allah the Almighty, give us the opportunity (tawfiq), of learning as many sciences there are that are in connection to Islam, and may He make it a means of success for us, in this world, and the hereafter
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