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."[1] 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.

Its name:  It is named Al-Fatihah, the Opening - because it opens the Book and by it the recitation in prayer commences.It is also named Umm al-Qur'an, the Mother of the Qur'an, and Umm al-Kitab, the Mother of the Book, according to the opinion of the majority. This was mentioned by Anas, however Al-Hasan and Ibn Sirin disliked this appellation reasoning that this was the most fitting description for the Preserved Tablet. Al-Hasan also said that the unequivocal verses of the Qur'an comprised the Mother of the Book.

However, it is established in Sahih At-Tirmidhi from Abu Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him)? Main ThemeThis Surah is in fact a prayer to the Lord of the universe for seeking guidance to the straight path Who alone can grant it. He alone is worthy of worship and He alone is to be asked for help because He is the Cherisher and the Master of everything in the universe.

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He is All-Merciful and has bestowed countless of bounties on His creatures, but at the same time He is the supreme Justice and everybody will have to answer Him on the Day of Judgement for his worldly deeds. When believers implore for the straight path, He always showers blessings on them and protects them from going astray.

Supplication is the core of worship and the Holy Quran encourages the believers for petitioning, "And your Lord said: Invoke Me, I will respond to your supplication…"?

VirtuesLet us look at greatness and benefits of this amazing Surah so that we are reminded of its greatness.1:Greatest Surah of Quran (Umm ul-Quran): Importance of its greatness is described in HadithProphet (SAW) said:"Do you want me to teach you a Surah the like of which has not been revealed in the Torah, the Injeel, the Zabur, nor the Quran?", and also asked what He recited in His prayers.

He replied Umm-ul-Quran (Surah Fatiha) the Prophet (PBUH) proclaimed, 'By Him in Whose dominion my soul is, nothing like it has been revealed in the Torah, the Gospel, the Psalms, or the Quran and it is seven of the oft-repeated verses in the Mighty Quran which I have been given.From this hadith, we can say that Surah al-Fatiha has great importance as it is known as "Mother of Quran".

Also, it has no other match no matter whatever has revealed before Quran. Surah al-Fatiha is the prayer which Prophet Muhammad (SAW) recited in his prayer, that's why Surah al-Fatiha is the most important part of our prayer and without it our Salah is void.

Pillar of the Salah: As we all know this surah has great importance in prayer whoever not read it in his prayer his Salah is invalid or void. Prophet Muhammad (SAW) said Surah al-Fatiha is"The Mother of the Quran, the Mother of the Book, the Seven Oft-Repeated Verses and the Great recitation."

Cure of disease: Surah al-Fatiha is the cure for the disease as mentioned in the hadith:Hazrat Abu Saeed al-Khudri narrates:"While on a journey we halted at a place. A girl came to us and said: "The chief of this tribe has been stung by a scorpion and our men are not present, is there anybody amongst you who can recite something upon him to treat him?"

Then, one of our men went along with her although we did not think that he knew any such treatment. However, our friend went to the chief and recited something upon him and the chief was cured. Thereupon, the chief gave him thirty sheep and gave us all milk to drink. When he returned, we asked our friend: "Did you know anything to recite upon him to cure him?"

He said: "No, I only recited Umm al-Kitab (i.e. Surah al-Fatiha) upon him." We said that do not do anything until we reach Madinah and ask the Prophet regarding this (practice and reward-whether the sheep were lawful or not for us). Upon reaching Madinah, we narrated this to the Prophet (PBUH), whereupon he remarked: "How did he come to know that Al-Fatiha can be used as a cure? (PBUH) Distribute your reward amongst yourselves and a lot a share for me as well.

Light sent from heaven: An Angel addressed the Prophet (SAW) saying,"Rejoice in two lights brought to you which have not been brought to any prophet before you, Al-Fatiha and the last verses of Al- Baqarah".Ibn 'Abbas narrated:"While Jibril was with the Messenger of Allah, he heard a noise from above.

Jibril lifted his sight to the sky and said: "This is a door in the Heavens being opened, and it has never been opened before now." An Angel descended from that door and came to the Prophet and said: "Receive the glad tidings of two lights that you have been given, which no other Prophet before you was given: the Opening of the Book (Al Fatiha) and the last verses of 'al-Baqarah.' You will not read a letter of them except that you will gain its benefit." (Sahih Muslim)

A cure for the heart: This Chapter of Quran have a supplication for protection from misguidance and from the anger of Allah. So this Surah protects the heart from corrupt knowledge and offensive motives."You (Oh Allah) we worship and from You do we seek help". (Ibn Qayim)As you can see this Surah has many benefits which we can utilize to protect ourselves from worldly difficulties? TAFSEERWhen we say Al-humdulillah, here 'AL' means all or the entire hence meaning all praise is for Allah alone.

The word 'Rabb' stands for:(a) Master and Owner,(b) Sustainer, Provider and Guardian,(c) Sovereign, Ruler, Administrator and Organizer.This means that there's no one worthy of worship, but Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala. He is the Sustainer and Owner of all that He has created in both Alams (Worlds). No prophet, no angel, no human, no so-called god or idol is worthy of worship, but Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala. He alone deserves devotion, worship, gratitude and no one else.

This indicates that Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala is the Lord of the Universe in all these senses.Ar-Rahman and Ar-Raheem are two names derived from the same root Ar-Rahmah (the mercy). One of them is softer than the other, meaning, it carries more implications of mercy.The name Ar-Rahman is exclusively for Allah encompassing every kind of mercy.

Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala is Ar-Rahman for the entire creation regardless of what they believe in, whether they are evil doers or the righteous; they all receive their sustenance from Allah. On the other hand, the word 'Ar-Raheem' is exclusively for the believers. Those who believe in Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala receive special blessings from Him and they are the ones who are going to be happy and content in this life and in the Hereafter.

Just look at how Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala right in the beginning of the Qur'an has informed us that He is a Merciful Lord. He doesn't want to punish people just like that rather He is Forgiving and Merciful. The condition to seek forgiveness or mercy is repentance. May Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala make us among those who seek repentance as soon as they realize they have done something wrong that might have displeased Him. Aameen.

After Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala describes that He is Ar-Rahman and Ar-Raheem, He immediately gives a warning, that along with His mercy, He is also the Master of the Day of Judgment. So that a person should not forget that along with His mercy He is also Just.We must therefore not allow ourselves to be misled.

We should always remember that we are accountable to Him. He is not unaware of what we do in dunya. On the Day of Judgment, He will gather entire mankind from Adam aalyhi sallam to the last child born and ask each of us to give an account of our actions. He has the power and right to pardon us or punish us. We should be constantly striving to please Him.

After the person has praised Allah and thanked Him, now he stands before Him, addressing Him directly; O' Allah our worship, obedience, submission and devotion is only for You alone, and we only serve You. O' Allah we know that You are the Lord of the Universe and You have the power over everything, therefore, we only turn to You for help, for our needs and requirements.

By saying Iyyaka na'abudu wa'iyyaka nasta'aeen, we are acknowledging "You alone we worship and to You alone we pray for help."The word iyyaka means "My whole attention is only on You or You alone.

"The word na'abudu is derived from the Arabic word 'Abd "Slave" (that is why the most beautiful name to Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala is 'Abdullah meaning the slave of Allah) and "Na" in Arabic is used as a pronoun for We. So when we say na'abudu we are saying "We worship" hence Iyyaka na'abudu means "You alone we worship.

"Wa in Arabic is used for the English word "and" so when we add wa'iyyaka, we are saying "And to You alone".Nasta'aeen means to get help or to ask for help.

When we recite "Ihdina alssirata almustaqeem" we are asking Allah subhana wa ta'ala to "Guide us to the path that is straight."Siraat in Arabic means "The path"We ask Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala to show us the right path and in response to that He opens up the entire Qur'an as if saying, "This is the straight path you're looking for".

The straight path mentioned here and elsewhere in the Qur'an refers to Islam. We already mentioned the hadith in which the servant proclaims, 'Guide us to The Right Way', and Allah says, "This is for My servant and My servant shall acquire what he has asked for".When we make such a prayer to our Rabb, how do can we be led astray?

Can we still have doubt and uncertainty in our life when we have asked Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala to show us the Right Path? We can only get lost in labyrinths of doubt and uncertainty due to lack of true knowledge. Let us hold firm to the straight path that Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala has opened up for us.

After asking Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala to show us the straight path and protect us from deviation, we become specific in our prayer.We ask Him to show us the path of those upon whom He has bestowed His mercy i.e. people who are obedient to Allah and His Messengers. We seek refuge in Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala from following the path of those who have earned His wrath, or of those who have lost The Way.

From traditions we learn that those who have earned His wrath are those knew the Scripture; who had read in their Books about the coming of a Last Messenger and his description yet they concealed the truth (meaning the Jews).Who have gone astray? Those who are not in search of the truth. Those who have known what is right but their weaknesses have led them far away (meaning the Christians).

In the last ayah of this beautiful Surah there is a lesson for each one of us; anyone who knows the truth but hides it has earned Allah's anger and anyone who is not in search of truth may go astray. We beseech Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala to save us from following the path of such a person (or nation). We don't want that path Ya Allah, save us from treading in their footsteps.

Aameen Ya Rabbil Alameen.? Impact of Surah Al-Fatiha on the life of a Muslim as servant of Allah.

• {In the Name of Allah, the Most Beneficent, the Most Merciful.}– Always start your affairs with the name of Allah– His mercy is the first attribute used to introduce Allah to you
• {All praise belongs to Allah, the Lord of all the worlds}– Reflect on His infinite blessings– A practical tip is to remember one blessing in each rak`ah (unit) of your prayer
• {The Most Beneficent, the Most Merciful.}– The names of mercy are occurred FOUR times in a relatively short Surah– His mercy is the first attribute used to introduce Allah to you.
•  {Master of the Day of Judgment}
•  – Reflect on the Day of Judgment– Remember that this prayer may be the last one before you meet Him.
•  {It is You we worship and You we ask for help.}– This Ayah is the CORE of the Surah, and the essence of Tawhid (confirming the one-ness of Allah)– This is a perfect moment to think about what you want from Allah, and prepare for your upcoming supplication (du`aa') and wishes
• {Guide us to the Straight Path}– The number ONE request you definitely need from Allah is guidance, and from Him alone.Remember that If Allah guides you, then the whole world with its temptation won't matter, so be sincere in your request.

The path of those upon whom You have bestowed favor, not of those who have evoked [Your] anger or of those who are astray.

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