Bidāya (beginning) is to depart from the habitual life to a life that is commanded, then to what is decreed, and then to return again to what is habitual. It is essential to maintain the boundaries.
You depart from your temperament regarding eating, drinking, clothing, marriage, shelter, and turn to the commands and prohibitions of the sharia (the sacred law); you follow the Book of Allah and the sunnah of His Messenger (peace be upon him)... In your outward and inward being, you become annihilated from your caprice, your nafs (the lower self), and the selfhood of your nafs. Inwardly, nothing remains but the oneness of Allah (tawhid), and outwardly, nothing but servitude to Him in obedience to His commands and prohibitions.
Thus, this becomes your habit, your distinguishing mark, your garment in your movements and stillness, your night and day, your journeying and residence, in times of hardship and ease, in sickness and health, and in all your states (aḥwāl).
Then you are joined to the valley of destiny (qadar). There, destiny embraces you, and you become annihilated from your resolve, effort (gayret), power, and strength. Destiny directs you to the portions that the Pen has written and that (divine) knowledge has foreknown. You are enveloped by them. Protection and safety are granted from them, boundaries are preserved within them, and conformity with what the Lord has enacted is attained therein. The rule of the sharia does not permit heresy or the declaration of the unlawful as lawful. (Futūḥ, 132)
In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful (bismillāhi'r-raḥmāni'r-raḥīm). The people of realities (ahl al-ḥaqāʾiq) have said: The meaning of the basmala is auspiciousness, seeking blessing, and encouraging people to begin their words and deeds with the basmala. Indeed, Allah the Exalted began the Qur'an with the basmala... (Gunya, 1, 112)