Al-Fatihah

Al-Fatiha (alternatively transliterated Al-Fātiḥa or Al-Fātiḥah; ar, ألْفَاتِحَة, ; ), is the first ''surah'' (chapter) of the Quran. It consists of 7 '' ayah'' (verses) which are a prayer for guidance and mercy. Al-Fatiha is recited in Muslim obligatory and voluntary prayers, known as '' salah''.

Quranic chapter titles are not considered by Muslims to be part of the divine revelation of the Quran. The primary literal meaning of the expression "Al-Fatiha" is "The Opener/The Key", which could refer to this Surah being the first in the Quran, the first chapter recited in full in every ''rakat'' of ''salah'', 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.

Summary

Surah Al-Fatiha is narrated in the Hadith to have been divided into two halves between Allah and His servant (the person reciting), the first three verses being His half and last three being the servant's. There is disagreement as to whether the '' Bismillah'' is the first verse of the ''surah,'' or even a verse in the first place. The chapter begins by praising Allah with the phrase ''Alhamdulillah'', and stating that it is Allah who has full authority over all creations (verse 1/2), that He is ''Ar-Rahman Ar-Rahim'' or the Most Gracious and Most Merciful (verse 2/3), and that He is and will be the true owner of everything and everyone on the Day of Judgement (verse 3/4).

The final three verses, which comprise the servant's half, begin with the servant stating that they worship and seek only Allah's help (verse 4/5), asking Him to guide them to the ''Sirat al-Mustaqim'' (the Straight Path) of those who God has been bountiful to, and not of those who have earned His anger (verses 5-6/6-7).

Some Muslim commentators believe Jews and Christians are examples of those evoking God's anger and those who went astray, respectively. Others view this as an exclusive condemnation of ''all'' Jews and Christians from all times. The Noble Quran (Hilali–Khan), which is said to be the most widely disseminated Quran in most Islamic bookstores and Sunni mosques throughout the English-speaking world, defines the two groups as Jews and Christians respectively.

Other Muslim commentators have not interpreted these verses as referring exclusively to a specific group of people, but instead interpret these in the more general sense.

Verses and meaning

'Bismi l-lāhi r-raḥmāni r-raḥīm(i)''

In the name of Allah, the Entirely Merciful, the Especially Merciful.

'’alḥamdu lil-lāhi rab-bi l-‘ālamīn(a)''

llpraise is ueto Allah, Lord of the worlds –

'’ar-raḥmāni r-raḥīm(i)''

The Entirely Merciful, the Especially Merciful,

'Māliki yawmi d-dīn(i)''

Sovereign of the Day of Recompense.

'’iy-yāka na‘budu wa’iy-yāka nasta‘īn(u)''

It is You we worship and You we ask for help.

'’ihdinā ṣ-ṣirāṭa l-mustaqīm(a)''

Guide us to the straight path –

'Ṣirāṭa l-ladhīna ’an‘amta ‘alayhim, ghayri l-maghḍūbi ‘alayhim wala ḍ-ḍāl-līn(a)''

The path of those upon whom You have bestowed favor, not of those who have earned ouranger or of those who are astray.

With full tajweed symbols

بِسۡمِ ٱللَّهِ ٱلرَّحۡمَـٰنِ ٱلرَّحِیمِ ۝١ ٱلۡحَمۡدُ لِلَّهِ رَبِّ ٱلۡعَـٰلَمِینَ ۝٢ ٱلرَّحۡمَـٰنِ ٱلرَّحِیمِ ۝٣ مَـٰلِكِ یَوۡمِ ٱلدِّینِ ۝٤ إِیَّاكَ نَعۡبُدُ وَإِیَّاكَ نَسۡتَعِینُ ۝٥ ٱهۡدِنَا ٱلصِّرَ ٰ⁠طَ ٱلۡمُسۡتَقِیمَ ۝٦ صِرَ ٰ⁠طَ ٱلَّذِینَ أَنۡعَمۡتَ عَلَیۡهِمۡ غَیۡرِ ٱلۡمَغۡضُوبِ عَلَیۡهِمۡ وَلَا ٱلضَّاۤلِّینَ ۝٧

Background

The most commonly accepted view about the origins of the ''surah'' is the view of Ibn Abbas, among others, that Al-Fatiha is a Meccan ''surah'', although some believe that it is either a Medinan surah or was revealed in both Mecca and Medina. Most narrators recorded that al-Fātiḥah was the first complete Surah revealed to Muhammad.

The name Al-Fatiha ("the Opener") could refer to the ''surah'' being the first in the Mus'hafs, the first to be recited in each ''rakat'' of '' salah'', or to the manner of its usage in many Islamic traditions as an opening prayer. The word itself comes from the root (), which means "to open, explain, disclose, conquer", etc. Al-Fatiha is also known by several other names, such as Al-Hamd (The Praise), As-Salah (The Prayer), Umm al-Kitab (Mother of the Book), Umm al-Quran (Mother of the Quran), Sab'a min al-Mathani (Seven Repeated Ones, from Quran 15:87), and Ash-Shifa' (The Cure).Joseph E. B. Lumbard, "Introduction to Sūrat al-Fātiḥah", ''The Study Quran''. ed. Seyyed Hossein Nasr, Caner Dagli, Maria Dakake, Joseph Lumbard, Muhammad Rustom (San Francisco: Harper One, 2015), p. 3.

Benefits and virtues

Muslims attribute special significance to some ''surahs'' for their virtues and benefits () described in the hadith. Acceptance of the different hadith varies between Sunni and Shia Muslims, and there is a variety of terms to classify the different levels of confirmed authenticity of a hadith. However, both Sunnis and Shia believe Al-Fatiha to be one of the greatest ''surahs'' in the Quran, and a cure for several diseases and poisons.

See also

*Basmala

Notes

References

Bibliography

*

External links

Text of ''Surah'' al-Fatiha with multiple available translations

{{DEFAULTSORT:Fatiha

Chapters in the Quran
Salah