Surah Fatiha (The Opening), the first surah of the Holy Quran, can be thought of as an

introduction or preface to the Quran. It is also the best summary of the Holy Quran.
Because of its ubiquitous use in various prayers, a practicing Muslim will typically recite this
surah about one million times in his or her lifetime. It is a must-read for all people,
regardless of their faith:

In the name of God, the Beneficent, the Merciful

Praise be to God, Lord of the Worlds

The Beneficent, the Merciful

Master of the Day of Judgment

You [alone] we worship; and You [alone] we ask for help

Show us the straight path

The path of those whom You have favored; not the [path] of those who earn Your anger nor
of those who go astray

Surah Fatiha contains a vast store of knowledge, wisdom, and understanding. But my
thoughts get concentrated on its most poignant verse, the last one:

The path of those whom You have favored; not the [path] of those who earn Your anger nor
of those who go astray
It means that there are three categories of people:
1. Those who have earned Gods favor
2. Those who have earned Gods disfavor

3. The lost souls

I look around myself in this world of six billion souls and I see people belonging to the latter
two categories. Then I take a telescope and manage to see a few men and women - just a
few - who belong to the first category. Then I take a mirror and I see myself. I stand rooted
to the spot, thunderstruck by the reflection that stares back at me. I am horrified.
Stupefied. And finally disgusted. I turn away from the mirror. The world inside me is a
reflection of the world outside me.