Q335: Any significance in the number 786?

Question

What is 786 and is this of any significance?

Does it even mean Bismillah?

Answer

Every letter in the Arabic alphabet has been given a numerical value and the numer “786” has been obtained from “bismillaahir-rahmaanir-raheem” by using these values for each of its letters and adding them up.  People would use this number in place of the tasmiyah, i.e. bismillah, so that no disrespect would be shown to it.  However, this use is incorrect, as”786” is, in itself, only a nubber and is not the tasmiyah and therefore should not be used as its substitute.