Surah Al- Fâtihah (The Opening)

Chapter 1 Al-Fatiha, 7 verses, Mecca.

1. ‫ﺑﺴﻢ ﷲ ﺍﻟﺮﺣﻤﻦ ﺍﻟﺮﺣﻴﻢ‬

2. َ ‫ﺍﻟْﺤَﻤْﺪُ ﻟﻠّﻪِ ﺭَﺏﱢ ﺍﻟْﻌَﺎﻟَﻤِﻴ‬
‫ﻦ‬
3. ِ‫ﺍﻟﺮﱠﺣْﻤـﻦِ ﺍﻟﺮﱠﺣِﻴﻢ‬
4. ِ‫ﻣَـﺎﻟِﻚِ ﻳَﻮْﻡِ ﺍﻟﺪﱢﻳﻦ‬
5. ُ‫ﺇِﻳﱠﺎﻙَ ﻧَﻌْﺒُﺪُ ﻭﺇِﻳﱠﺎﻙَ ﻧَﺴْﺘَﻌِﻴﻦ‬
6. َ‫ﺍﻫﺪِﻧَــــﺎ ﺍﻟﺼﱢﺮَﺍﻁَ ﺍﻟﻤُﺴﺘَﻘِﻴﻢ‬
7. َ‫ﺻِﺮَﺍﻁَ ﺍﻟﱠﺬِﻳﻦَ ﺃَﻧﻌَﻤﺖَ ﻋَﻠَﻴﻬِﻢْ ﻏَﻴﺮِ ﺍﻟﻤَﻐﻀُﻮﺏِ ﻋَﻠَﻴﻬِﻢْ ﻭَﻻ َ ﺍﻟﻀﱠﺎﻟﱢﻴﻦ‬

1. In the Name of Allâh, the Most Beneficent, the Most Merciful.

2. All the praises and thanks be to Allâh, the Lord of the 'Alamîn (mankind, jinns and all that exists).

3. The Most Beneficent, the Most Merciful.

4. The Only Owner (and the Only Ruling Judge) of the Day of Recompense (i.e. the Day of Resurrection)

5. You (Alone) we worship, and You (Alone) we ask for help (for each and everything).

6. Guide us to the Straight Way

7. The Way of those on whom You have bestowed Your Grace, not (the way) of those who earned Your Anger , nor of those who went
astray.

Introduction

"And indeed, We have bestowed upon you seven of Al-Mathani (the seven repeatedly recited Verses), (i.e. Surah Al-Fatiha)
and the Grand Quran"
[Surah Al-Hijr (15): 87].

Different Names of Surah Al-Fatihah

1. Al-Fatihah - The Opening since it is the opening chapter of the Qur’an & the prayer is commenced by it.

2. Fatihah Al-Kitaab - The Opening of the Book - because it is the first chapter in the Qur’aan.

3. Umm al-Qur'an - the Mother of the Qur`aan and Umm al-Kitaab - the Mother of the Book - according to the saying of Prophet (sallallahu alahi wa-
sallam).
Narrated Abu Hurayrah: ‘Prophet (sallallahu alahi wa-sallam) said: “[The chapter commencing with] "all praises and thanks are due to Allah
the Lord of the Universe." is the Mother of the Qur’aan (Umm al-Qur`aan), the Mother of the Book (Ummul al-Kitaab), the Seven Oft
Repeated Verses (As-Sab’ al-Mathaani) and the Great Qur’aan. (Qur’aan al-Adheem)”
[Saheeh – At-Tirmidhee]

Ibn Jareer at-Tabaree said that it was named so because the meaning of the entire Qur`aan is summarized (precisely explained, summed up) in it. The
Arabs named anything that concisely (in brief, in few words) summarizes something or comprises (contains) the most important part of something as
‘Umm’ i.e. Mother.

4. As-Sab`u al- Mathaanee - the Seven Often repeated verses - because they are the frequently recited verses (e.g.: it is recited in every rak’ah of the
Prayer) and as mentioned in the following hadeeth.

Narrated Sa’eed lbn Al-Mu’aliaa: “… Prophet (sallallahu alahi wa-sallam) said to me: “I will teach you a surah, which is the greatest surah in
the Qur’aan before you leave the masjid,” and he took hold of my hand. Then, when he was about to leave I said to him: “Didn’t you say to
me: “I will teach you a surah which is the greatest surah in the Qur’aan.
” He said: 'َ‫ 'ﺍﻟْﺤَﻤْﺪُ ﻟﻠّﻪِ ﺭَﺏﱢ ﺍﻟْﻌَﺎﻟَﻤِﻴﻦ‬- Surah Al- Fatihah, which is the Seven Often repeated Verses, and the Glorious Qur’aan which has been
given to me.”
[Saheeh Al-Bukhaari]

5. Al-Qur`aan al-Adheem - the Great Qur`aan. As mentioned in the above hadeeth.

6. Al-Hamd - the Praise - as it contains the mentioning of Hamd. Just as al-Baqarah is named so because it contains mention of the cow.

7. As-Salaah - the Prayer - as it is an integral part of the prayer; and as mentioned in the Hadeeth where Prophet informed us the saying of Allah: "I
have divided the prayer between Myself and my servant equally. Therefore when the servant says “Al-Hamdu Lillaahi Rabbil Aalameen,” ‘all praises and
thanks are due to Allah, the Lord of the universe,’ Allah says, ‘My servant has praised Me…’ [Saheeh Muslim]

8. Al-Ruqyah - The Curative Invocation - according to the authentic narration of Abu Sa’eed.

He said: “Some of the Companions of the Prophet(sallallahu alaihi wa-sallam) went on a journey until they reached some of the Arab tribes
(at night). They asked the latter to treat them as their guests but they refused. The chief of that tribe was then bitten by a snake (or stung by
a scorpion) and they tried their best to cure him, but in vain. Some of them said (to the others): “Nothing has benefited him, will you go to
the people who resided here for the night, it may be that some of them might possess something (as a treatment).” They went to the group
of the Companions and said: “Our chief has been bitten by a snake (or stung by a scorpion) and we have tried everything but he has not
benefited. Have you anything (useful)?” One of them replied: “Yes, by Allah! I can recite a ruqyah, but as you have refused to accept us as
your guests, I shall not recite the ruqyah for you unless you fix for us some payment for it.”

They agreed to pay them a flock of sheep. One of them went and recited Soorah Al-Faatihah: “All praise be to Allah, the Lord of the worlds...” and
breathed hard over the chief who recovered as if he were released from a chain, stood up and started walking, showing no signs of sickness. They paid
them as per their agreement. Some of them (the Companions) then suggested dividing their earnings among themselves, but the one who had performed
the recitation said: “Do not divide them until we go to the Prophet (sallallahu alaihi wa-sallam), narrate the whole story to him and wait for his order.” So
they went to the Messenger of Allah(sallallahu alaihi wa-sallam) and narrated the story. Allah’s Messenger (sallallahu alaihi wa-sallam) said: “How did
you come to know that Soorah Al-Faatihah was recited as a ruqyah?” [Saheeh Bukhaaree [eng trans. 3/264 # 476] These are some of the
Names of Surah Fatihah from amongst many. [1]

Revelation - It was revealed in Mecca as stated by ibn Abbas and other. It is also claimed that it was revealed in Madeenah as stated by Abu Hurayrah
and others. It is also said that it was revealed on two separate occasions – once in Mecca and once in Madeenah. However the first opinion is the most
likely due to His saying. Because of the Verse in the Qur’aan: "We have sent to you the Seven Oft Repeated Verses." [Soorah Al-Hijr (15): 87] This
verse was revealed in Mecca by agreement.

Composition - The Surah contains seven verses without any disagreement. However, there has been some disagreement with regarding Bismillah ar-
Rahmaan ar-Raheem” “with the Name of Allah, the Most Beneficent, the Most Merciful.’ Some said that it is a verse, while others maintained that it is not,
and others said that it is part of a verse. Those who assume (believe) that it is not a verse of al-Faatihah state that the seventh verse commences (starts)
with the words, "not the path of those who have earned [Your] Anger…"

It has 25 words and 113 letters. [Tafseer Ibn Katheer]

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Reciting Surah Al-Faatihah as we all know, is an essential part of our daily prayers. It was narrated by Ubada bin As-Samit that Allah's Messenger (salla

llaahu 'alaihi wa sallam) said,"Whoever does not recite Surat Al-Fatiha in his prayer, his prayer is invalid". This
motivates every Muslim to understand the deep meanings behind the words of this Soorah. Consequently, this helps us in keeping Khushoo' while
standing in front of Allaah in our prayers.

In this Surah we start by praising Allah the Lord of mankind, jinns and all that exists, the most Beneficent, the most Merciful, and the only Owner of the
Day of Recompense. Then we declare that we worship Him alone, and from Him alone we ask for help.

Then we ask Him to guide us to the straight path. In his valuable book "Al- Madaarij As-Saalikeen " Ibn Al-Qayyim points out three levels of guidance.

First , Guidance of Bayaan, "clarification". This does not happen except through Allah's prophets whom He sends to explain to mankind the essence of His
message and to show them the way to the straight path.
Second, Guidance of Tawfeeq, "success" (on the straight path). In this level we ask Allah to open our hearts to his religion and to be steadfast upon it; by
this it becomes the most precious thing in our lives.

Although these two levels of Guidance are separate, reaching the straight path would not be achieved except by them both. These two levels include
gaining the knowledge of what we did not know about the truth and becoming anxious to follow it openly and secretly, the ability to fulfill our duty
through our sayings, actions and intentions, and to ask Allah to keep us firm on this path till we die.

Some people would ask why do we need to ask for guidance while we are already guided; we know Allah and we believe in Him? We need to believe
without doubt that we all are always in need to ask for guidance because the things which we do not know are more than the things which we know. The
things which we do not do due to our carelessness or laziness are much more than the things which we do, the same can be said about the things which
we are incapable of doing. Those of us who do not see any lack concerning their knowledge or practice need to ask the guidance from Allah to keep them
in this state till they die.

The third level of guidance would be the guidance in the Day of Judgement to the way which leads to Paradise. Whoever is guided in life to Allah's path
according to what He sent His messengers with, would be guided to the straight path in the Hereafter.

If we want to know how we are going to pass the straight path above Hell in the Hereafter we have to examine the way we are passing Allah's path in
this life. We are going to walk there the same way we walk here. Some people would pass like a glimpse, some would pass like the wind ,some would
walk slowly and some would creep and others would stuck and then would be thrown in hell fire. So let each one of us examine the way we will pass
there from the way we are passing here. And let us examine carefully the things which are holding us from passing the straight pass whether they are our
desires or confused ideas. These things are like chains which delay or stop our movement on the straight path. It is really fearful to say that if these
chains are many, solid and heavy here in life they are going to be the same when we are going to pass the straight pass above Hell.

When we ask Allah in Surat Al-Fatihah to guide us to the straight path we ask Him to put us with those whom He has bestowed His Grace on. Here we
need to ask 2 questions.

First, Who are those people?

Second, If we choose to follow the straight path which leads to Allah why do we need to be accompanied with those people?

Ibn Al-Qayyim explained that the one who wants to follow the straight path in this life finds that the majority of people around him or her do not want to
follow the same path. And because the human soul normally looks for a companion Allah (swt) pointed out the importance for having a company on this
road. Allah (swt) defined this company by saying in Surah An-Nisa verse 69:

"Those on whom Allah has bestowed His Grace, of the Prophets, the Siddiqun (those followers of the prophets who were first
and foremost to believe in them, like Abu Bakr As-Siddiq ) , the martyrs, and the righteous. And how excellent these
companions are!"

If sometimes we feel lonely when passing Allah's path we need to think of those who passed or are passing the same path, to know that they are our
company , and to make our best to follow their steps. At the same time we should not pay any attention to those who do not want to choose the same
path and should be strong enough so we do not let them detain us.

One of Al-Salaf said: "Stick firmly to the path of truth and do not feel lonely because of the few number of people who would join you, and be aware of
the path of misguidance and do not be mislead with the large number of the destroyed)."

And from Allaah is all help sought...

Imaam Ibn al-Qayyim al-Jawziyyah Rahimahullaah

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FOOTNOTES

[1] It is also named ash-Shifaa`, the Cure, due to what ad-Daarimee reports from Abu Sa`eed from the Messenger of Allah. “The Opening of the Book is
a cure to every poison.” [Ibn Katheer - ad-Daarimee [2/445]. Ash-Sha`bee reports from ibn Abbaas that he named it Asaasul Qur`aan, the Foundation of
the Qur`aan, and that he said, "the foundation of al-Faatihah is, ‘with the Name of Allah, the Most Beneficent, the Most Merciful.’" Sufyaan bin Uyaynah
named it al-Waaqiyah, the Protector. Yahyaa bin Abu Katheer named it al-Kaafiyah, the Sufficient, because it suffices from everything other than it but
anything else does not suffice it, as occurs in the mursal hadeeth. The Mother of the Book suffices for other than it but nothing else suffices it. It is also
named Suratus Salaah, the Chapter of the Prayer, and al-Kanz, the Treasure, as mentioned by az-Zamaksharee in ‘Kashshaaf