The opening of Sūrat al-Tawbah is without the basmalah, but beginning from a later passage in the same sūrah is addressed in the book under the mid-sūrah choice.
Do not extend the opening exception to every possible start within this sūrah. Starting at its first verse and resuming from a later verse are not the same recitational case.
Opening interactive controls...
Al-Tawbah: beginning versus middle
Istiʿādhah, Basmalah and the Rules of Joining and Pausing
The opening of Sūrat al-Tawbah is without the basmalah, but beginning from a later passage in the same sūrah is addressed in the book under the mid-sūrah choice.
Do not extend the opening exception to every possible start within this sūrah. Starting at its first verse and resuming from a later verse are not the same recitational case.