سورة الْفَاتِحَة
Surat Al Fatihah
The Opening
- Classification: Meccan
- Other names: The Key, The Opener
- Position: Juzʼ 1 (Part no. 1)
- No. of verses: 7
- No. of words: 29
- No. of letters: 141
Introduction
Surat al-Fatiḥah (سُورَةُ الْفَاتِحَة) is the first chapter (surah) of the Quran. Its seven verses (ayat) are a prayer for the guidance, lordship and mercy of God. This chapter has an essential role in Islamic prayer (salat).
The primary literal meaning of the expression “Al-Fatihah” is “The Opener,” which could refer to this Surah being “the opener of the Book” (Fatihat al-kitab), to its being the first Surah recited in full in every prayer cycle (rakʿah), or to the manner in which it serves as an opening for many functions in everyday Islamic life.
Some Muslims interpret it as a reference to an implied ability of the Surah to open a person to faith in God.
Surat Al Fatihah Transliteration:
- Bismillaahir Rahmaanir Raheem
- Alhamdu lillaahi Rabbil ‘aalameen
- Ar-Rahmaanir-Raheem
- Maaliki Yawmid-Deen
- Iyyaaka na’budu wa lyyaaka nasta’een
- Ihdinas-Siraatal-Mustaqeem
- Siraatal-lazeena an’amta ‘alaihim ghayril-maghdoobi ‘alaihim wa lad-daaalleen
Surah Fatiha Translation:
- In the name of Allah, Most Gracious, Most Merciful.
- Praise be to Allah, the Cherisher and Sustainer of the worlds;
- Most Gracious, Most Merciful;
- Master of the Day of Judgment.
- Thee do we worship, and Thine aid we seek.
- Show us the straight way,
- The way of those on whom Thou hast bestowed Thy Grace, those whose (portion) is not wrath, and who go not astray.
Surat Al Fatihah Names
The popular names of this Surah are the following:
Al-Fatihah (The Opening) – It is named Al Fatihah, the Opening – because it opens the Book and by it the recitation in prayer commences.
Umm al-Quran (Mother of the Quran) – According to At-Tirmidhi on the authority of Abu Hurayrah that the Messenger of Allah (sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) said, “The chapter commencing with] “All praises and thanks are due to Allah the Lord of the Worlds” is the Mother of the Quran, the Mother of the Book, the Seven Oft Repeated Verses and the Great Quran.”
Ibn Jarir at-Tabari said that it was named so because the meaning of the entire Quran is summarized therein. The Arabs named anything that concisely summarizes something or comprises its most important part, Umm, or Mother.
Umm al-Kitab (Mother of the Book) – Al-Bukhari said in the beginning of the Book of Tafsir in his Sahih: “It is named Umm al-Quran because it is the first chapter written in the Quranic texts and the recitation in prayer commences with it.”
Sab’ul-Mathani (The Seven Oft Repeated Verses) – It is also named Sab’ul-Mathani, the Seven Oft Repeated Verses, because they are frequently recited and indeed recited in every rakaah of the prayer.
Al-Hamd (Praises to Allah) – It is also named Al-Hamd, the Praise, because it contains mention of hamd just as Al-Baqarah is named so because it contains mention of the cow. Some scholars also gave the reasoning that Al-Hamd comprises heart of Al-Fatihah.
As-Salah (The Prayer) – It is named the Prayer because its recitation is a condition for the validity of the prayer.
Ash-Shifa – It is also named Ash-Shifa’, the Cure, due to what Ad-Darimi reports on the authority of Abu Sa’id that the Messenger of Allah (sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) said: “The Opening of the Book is a cure to every poison.” (Here is a Dua for Cures and Healing)
Ar-Ruqyah – It is also named Ar-Ruqya, the Spiritual Cure due to the hadith of Abu Sa’id reported by Bukhari that after he had recited it to cure a person who had been bitten by a scorpion, the Messenger of Allah (sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) asked him, “…And what made you to know that it was a ruqya.”
Asas al-Quran (the Foundation of the Quran) – Ash-Sha’bi records on the authority of Ibn Abbas that he named it , and that he said, “The foundation of Al-Fatihah is, “Bismillah…” (with the Name of Allah, the All-Merciful, the Most Merciful.)
Surat Al Fatihah Related Ahadith:
1- Surah Al-Fatihah is the greatest Surah in the Quran
Abu Sa’eed Al-Mu’alla reported: I was praying in the mosque when the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, called me but I did not respond. I said later, “O Messenger of Allah, I was praying.”
The Prophet said, “Did not Allah say: Respond to Allah and the Messenger when he calls you?” (8:24) Then the Prophet said, “I will teach you the greatest chapter in the Quran before you leave the mosque.”
The Prophet took hold of my hand and when he intended to leave, I said to him, “Did you not say that you would teach me the greatest chapter in the Quran?”
The Prophet said, “All praise is due to Allah, the Lord of the worlds (1:1), which are the seven repeated verses and the great recitation which has been given to me.”
Source: Sahih Bukhari 4204
2- Surat al-Fatihah is enough in prayer, but more is better.
Ata’ reported: Abu Huraira, may Allah be pleased with him, said, “In every prayer is a recitation.
Prayers that were recited aloud by the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, we have recited aloud to you, and what he recited silently we have kept silent with you.
Whoever recites the foundation of the Book (surat al-fatihah) has done enough, but to recite more is better.”
Source: Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī 738, Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim 396
3- The Prophet and his companions would say Ameen after reciting Surah Al-Fatihah
Wail ibn Hujr reported: The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, would recite the verse, “Not those who have earned anger or who go astray,” (1:7) and he would say with a raised voice, “Ameen.”
At-Tirmidhi said, “More than one of the people of knowledge among the companions of the Prophet, their followers, and those after them narrated that a man should raise his voice to say Ameen and he should not make it silent.”
Source: Sunan At-Tirmidhi 248
4- Say Ameen along with the Imam and the angels for forgiveness
Abu Huraira reported: The Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, said, “
When the Imam says Ameen then you should all say Ameen, for the angels say Ameen at that time and whoever’s statement coincides with the angels will have his previous sins forgiven.”
Source: Sahih Bukhari 6039
5- The virtue of Surat al-Fatihah and Allah’s response
Abu Huraira reported: The Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, said, “A prayer performed by one who has not recited in it the foundation of the Quran (surat al-fātiḥah) is deficient and incomplete.” It was said, “Even though we pray behind the Imām?”
Abu Huraira said: Recite it to yourself, for I heard the Prophet say, “Allah Almighty said: I have divided prayer between myself and my servant into two halves, and my servant shall have what he has asked for. When the servant says ‘all praise is due to Allah the Lord of the worlds,’
Allah says: My servant has praised me. When he says ‘the Gracious, the Merciful,’ Allah says: My servant has exalted me. When he says ‘the Master of the Day of Judgment,’ Allah says: My servant has glorified me and my servant has submitted to me. When he says ‘you alone we worship, you alone we ask for help,’ Allah says:
This is between me and my servant, and my servant will have what he has asked for. When he says ‘guide us to the straight path, the path of those whom you have favored, not those who went astray,’ Allah says: This is for my servant, and my servant will have what he has asked for.”
Source: Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim 395
Simple Explanation of Surah Al-Fatiha:
Surah Al-Fatiha
Surah al-Fatiha is the first surah of the Quran and is recited in each prayer as the Prophet, may the mercy and blessings of Allah be upon him, declared, “There is no salah (valid) without the opening chapter of the Book.”
On accepting Islam, a person should first memorize Surah al-Fatiha to be able to perform the prescribed prayers. Its meaning should be learnt and contemplated every time we offer salah.
بِسْمِ اللهِ الرَّحْمنِ الرَّحِيمِِ
1. Bismillahir rahmaanir raheem
In the name of Allah, the Entirely Merciful, the Especially Merciful.
The Quran begins with the proper, unique, and personal name of God – Allah. ‘I begin with the name of Allah’ means a Muslim begins his recitation seeking the help of Allah. Allah is the God of mankind who alone deserves worship.
No one else can take the name ‘Allah.’ Allah is the Most Gracious (ar-Rahman) Lord whose mercy extends to all creation. He is also especially Merciful (ar-Raheem) to the faithful.
الْحَمْدُ للّهِ رَبِّ الْعَالَمِينَ
2. Alhamdu lillahi rabbil Aalameen
(All) praise is (due) to Allah, Lord of the worlds
Allah deserves to be praised for the perfection of His qualities, material gifts, and spiritual blessings. Therefore, people should praise Him for everything He has given them. He alone deserves it. He is the Lord of the worlds, meaning He made everything that exists, maintaining it at every moment.
He is the Lord who nourishes the believers with faith and good works.
الرَّحْمـنِ الرَّحِيمِ
3. Ar rahmaanir raheem
The Entirely Merciful, the Especially Merciful,
‘Most Gracious’ (Al-Rahman) and ‘Merciful’ (ar-Raheem) are two of the many names of Allah.
مَالِكِ يَوْمِ الدِّينِ
4. Maliki yawmid deen
Sovereign of the Day of Recompense.
Allah alone is the Master of the Day of Judgment, the Day when human beings will be rewarded for their deeds. Reciting this verse in every rak’ah of payer constantly reminds a Muslim of the coming Judgment, and encourages him to do good and stay away from sins.
إِيَّاكَ نَعْبُدُ وإِيَّاكَ نَسْتَعِينُ
5. Iyyaka naabudu wa-iyyaka nasta-een
It is You Alone we worship and You Alone we ask for help.
We only submit to You in worship and seek only Your help in everything we do. Everything is in Your hands. The verse tells us that a Muslim is not allowed to direct any act of worship, like prayer and asking for supernatural, help to anyone other than Allah.
The verse connects the heart with Allah and purifies it of pride and the desire to show-off.
اهدِنَــــا الصِّرَاطَ المُستَقِيمَ
6. Ih dinas siratal mustaqeem
Guide us to the straight path
Guide us and show us the straight path and make it easy for us. Make us firm on it till we meet You. The ‘Straight Path’ is Islam, the clear road leading to divine pleasure and Heaven shown by Muhammad, God’s last and final prophet.
A slave of Allah cannot be happy and prosperous except by following it.
صِرَاطَ الَّذِينَ أَنعَمتَ عَلَيهِمْ غَيرِ المَغضُوبِ عَلَيهِمْ وَلاَ الضَّالِّينَ
7. Siratal latheena an Amta Alayhim ghayril maghdoobi alayhim walad daalleen
The path of those upon whom You have bestowed favor, not of those who have evoked (Your) anger or of those who are astray.
The path followed by those who were blessed – the prophets, the truthful, the martyrs, and the righteous. They are the guided.
Do not let us follow the path of two. First, those who earned divine anger because they knew the truth but did not act on it, and that is the example of the Jews and whoever is like them. Second, do not let us follow the path of those who lost their way and were not guided, and that is the example of the Christians and their like. This is a prayer from a Muslim to purify his heart of stubbornness, ignorance, and misguidance. The verse also shows Islam is God’s greatest blessing.
Those who know the way and walk on it are guided and, after the prophets they were, without doubt, the companions of Prophet Muhammad. It is recommended to say ‘Ameen’ after reciting Surah al-Fatiha in the prayer. ‘Ameen’ means ‘O Allah, please accept.’
Source: Saheeh Al-Bukhari, Saheeh Muslim
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