Imam W. D. Mohammed's Commentary on Surat Al-Baqarah

"The first verse is Bismillaah Ar Rahmaan nir Raheem unlike the other chapters it’s the first verse of this chapter whereas the other chapters, Bismillaah ir Rahmaan ir Raheem is the opening and the first verse begins with something else.  Lets take for example the next chapter Suratul Baqara the first verse is Alif Lam Meem not Bismillaahir Rahmaan ir Raheem.  But for Al Fatiha the first verse is Bismillaahir Rahmaan ir Raheem and there are a total of seven verses the last being the path, the seventh of the verses." Imam Mohammed (ra)