You are currently viewing Surah Al-Fātiḥah Explained: Meaning, Virtues, and Commentary by Mufti Taqi Usmani

Surah Al-Fātiḥah Explained: Meaning, Virtues, and Commentary by Mufti Taqi Usmani

 

AL-FATIHAH 

(The Opening) 

This Surah is Makkan, and comprises of seven verses

The Merits and Peculiarities of the Sūrah (Surah Al-Fātiḥah)

This Sūrah (Chapter) of the Holy Qur’ān possesses a number of merits peculiar to it. Firstly, the Holy Qur’ān begins with it; the prescribed prayer begins with it; and even in the order of revelation this is the first Sūrah which was revealed to the Holy Prophet ﷺ in its complete form. Some verses of the Sūrahs Iqra’ (al-‘Alaq), al-Muzzammil and al-Muddaththir had no doubt been revealed earlier, but the first Sūrah to be revealed in a complete form is no other than this. Certain Companions of the Holy Prophet ﷺ have reported that this was the first Sūrah to be revealed. Most probably they had meant that no Sūrah had been revealed in a complete form before this. Perhaps that is why the Sūrah has been named as Fātiḥatul-Kitāb (‘The Opening of the Book’).

The other important peculiarity of the Sūrah is that it is, so to say, the quintessence of the Holy Qur’ān, and the rest of the Qur’ān is its elaboration. The Sūrah may thus be delineated for two reasons. Firstly, all that the Holy Qur’ān has to say is, in one way or another, related to either of the two themes: faith (Īmān) and virtuous deeds (al-‘amal al-sāliḥ), and the basic principles of the two have been indicated in this Sūrah (See Rūḥ al-Ma‘ānī and Rūḥ al-Bayān). That is why authentic Traditions (Aḥādīth) give to this Sūrah such titles as:

  • “Umm al-Qur’ān” (Essence of the Qur’ān)
  • “Umm al-Kitāb” (Essence of the Book)
  • “Al-Qur’ān al-‘Aẓīm” (Glorious Qur’ān)

Secondly, this Sūrah gives a special instruction to the man who begins the recitation or the study of the Qur’ān – that he should approach this book with a mind cleansed of all his previous thoughts and opinions, seeking nothing but the Truth and the right path, praying to Allah for being guided in the right path. The Sūrah begins with the praise of Him before whom the request is to be submitted, and ends with the request for guidance. The whole of the Qur’ān is the answer to this request. The answer begins with the words:

“Alif Lām Mīm. This is the Book”,
which is an indication that the guidance man had prayed for has been provided in this Book.

Virtues and Structure of the Sūrah

The Holy Prophet ﷺ has said:

“I swear by Allah who is the master of my life, neither the Torah, nor the Evangile nor the Psalms of David have anything to compare with the Opening Chapter of the Qur’ān, and no other Chapter of the Qur’ān itself can compare with it.”
(Reported by the Companion Abu Hurairah رضي الله عنه)

The Holy Prophet ﷺ has also said that this Sūrah is a cure for all kinds of illnesses. According to another Tradition (Ḥadīth), the Sūrah has also been named “The Cure” (Al-Shifā’). (See Qurtubi)
Imam al-Bukhārī reports from the Companion Anas that the Holy Prophet ﷺ has called this Sūrah the greatest among all the Sūrahs of the Holy Qur’ān. (See Qurtubi)

This Sūrah comprises seven verses. Of these:

  • The first three are in praise of Allah,
  • The last three are a request or prayer on the part of man,
  • The middle verse has both praise and prayer.

Hadith Commentary from Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim

The Ṣaḥīḥ of Muslim reports from the blessed Companion Abū Hurayrah a ḥadīth (Tradition) of the Holy Prophet ﷺ:

“Allah has said, ‘The ṣalāh (i.e., the Sūrah Al-Fātiḥah) is equally divided between Me and My servant. And My servant shall be given what he prays for.’”

The Holy Prophet ﷺ continued:

When the servant says:

الْـحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ رَبِّ الْعَالَمِينَ
Praise belongs to Allah, the Lord of all the worlds,
Allah says: “My servant has paid his homage to Me.”

When he says:

الرَّحْمٰنِ الرَّحِيمِ
The All-Merciful, the Very-Merciful,
Allah says: “My servant has praised Me.”

When the servant says:

مَالِكِ يَوْمِ الدِّينِ
The Master of the Day of Judgment,
Allah says: “My servant has proclaimed My greatness.”

When the servant says:

إِيَّاكَ نَعْبُدُ وَإِيَّاكَ نَسْتَعِينُ
You alone we worship, and to You alone we pray for help,
Allah says: “This verse is common to Me and My servant. He shall be given what he has prayed for.”

When the servant says:

اهْدِنَا الصِّرَاطَ الْمُسْتَقِيمَ
Guide us in the straight path…
Allah says: “All this is there for My servant. He shall be given what he prays for.” (Mazhari)

To truly understand the wisdom of this surah,Online Learning Center offers expert online Quran teachers who guide learners with clarity and care. Begin your Quran learning experience today.

بِسْمِ اللَّهِ الرَّحْمَٰنِ الرَّحِيمِ

 With the name of Allah, the All-Merciful, the Very-Merciful. 

الرَّحِيْمِ

الرَّحْمَانِ

اللهِ

اسْمِ

بِ

Eternally Merciful Most Compassionate Allah (SWT) the name of in

الاِسْمُ الْمُبَالَغَةُ

Intensive noun

الصِّفَاتُ المُشَبَّهَةُ بِأَسْمَاءِ الْفَاعِلِ 

Adjectives resembling participles

الْاِسْمُ الْعَلَمُ

Proper Noun

Generic / common noun

اسْمُ الْجِنْسِ

حَرْفُ جَرٍّ

Particle of pulling down

preposition meaning with the help of, during, for, by, on account of, according to, in, from

It also denotes swear, comparison, in place of, for, from, over, on, a part of, at all, in rest of

الْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ رَبِّ الْعَالَمِينَ

Praise belongs to Allah, the Lord of all the worlds. 

العَالَمِيْنَ

رَبِّ

اللهِ

لِ

الحَمْدُ

all that exists the Nurturer of Allah (SWT) belong to  All the praises and thanks

الْجَمْعُ الْمُذَكَّرُ السَّالِمُ

Sound masculine plural

الصِّفَاتُ المُشَبَّهَةُ

A quality or descriptive noun

الْاِسْمُ الْعَلَمُ

Proper Noun

حَرْفُ جَرٍّ

Particle of pulling down

الْمَصْدَرُ

Verbal noun

عَلِمَ 

يَعْلَمُ

رَبَّ 

يَرُبُّ

حَمِدَ

 يَحْمَدُ

بَاب سَمِعَ بَاب نَصَرَ بَاب سَمِعَ

ع ل م

ر ب ب

ح م د

 

الرَّحْمَٰنِ الرَّحِيمِ

 the All-Merciful, the Very Merciful.

الرَّحِيْمِ

الرَّحْمَانِ

Eternally Merciful Most Compassionate

الاِسْمُ الْمُبَالَغَةُ

Intensive noun

الصِّفَاتُ المُشَبَّهَةُ بِأَسْمَاءِ الْفَاعِلِ 

Adjectives resembling participles

 

مَالِكِ يَوْمِ الدِّينِ

 the Master of the Day of Requital.

الدِّيْنِ

يَوْمِ

مَالِكِ

Retribution the day of Master/Owner of

Generic / common noun

اسْمُ الْجِنْسِ

اِسْمُ الجِنْسِ

Generic or common Noun

اِسْمُ الْفَاعِلُ

Active participle

Singular

Masculine

مَلَكَ

 يَمْلِكُ

بَاب ضَرَبَ

ي و م

م ل ك

 

إِيَّاكَ نَعْبُدُ وَإِيَّاكَ نَسْتَعِينُ

You alone do we worship, and from You alone do we seek help. 

نَسْتَعِيْنُ

كَ

إِيَّا

وَ

نَعْبُدُ

كَ

إِيَّا

You only and we worship You only
Present and future tense verb

Masculine/Feminine

Plural

ضَمِيْرٌ مُتَّصِلٌ

Attached pronoun

Singular

Masculine

Emphasis

تَوْكِيْدٌ

حَرْفُ عَطْفٍ

Particle of linking

Present and future tense verb

Masculine/Feminine

Plural

ضَمِيْرٌ مُتَّصِلٌ

Attached pronoun

Singular

Masculine

Emphasis

تَوْكِيْدٌ

اِسْتَعَانَ

 يَسْتَعِيْنُ

اِسْتِعَانَةٌ

 مُسْتَعِيْنٌ Active participle

 مُسْتَعَانٌ

passive participle

عَبَدَ

 يَعْبُدُ

إِيَّا occurs 24 times in the holy Quran

8 times as the compound إِيَّاهُ

1 time as the compound إِيَّاهُمْ

2 times as the compound إِيَّاكَ

6 times as the compound إِيَّاكُمْ

5 times as the compound إِيَّايَ

2 times as the compound إِيَّانَا

Form 10 بَابٌ نَصَرَ

ع و ن

ع ب د

اهْدِنَا الصِّرَاطَ الْمُسْتَقِيمَ

Take us on the straight path. 

المُسْتَقِيْمَ

الصِّرَاطَ

نَا

اهْدِ

straight path us Guide
اِسْمُ الْفَاعِلُ

Active participle

الْمَصْدَرُ

Verbal noun

ضَمِيْرٌ مُتَّصِلٌ

Attached pronoun

Masculine

Plural

Verb of command/Request

Masculine

Singular

قَامَ

 يَقُوْمُ

Singular

هَدَى 

يَهْدِي

Form 10 بَابٌ ضَرَبَ
ق و م ص ر ط

ه د ي

 

صِرَاطَ الَّذِينَ أَنْعَمْتَ عَلَيْهِمْ

the path of those on whom You have bestowed Your Grace,

هِم عَلَى أَنْعَمْتَ الَّذِيْنَ صِرَاطَ
on You blessed those path
ضَمِيْرٌ مُتَّصِلٌ

Attached pronoun

Masculine

Plural

حَرْفُ جَرٍّ

Particle of pulling down

Past tense verb

2nd Person

Singular

Masculine

اِسْمُ الْمَوْصُوْلِ

Relative pronoun

الْمَصْدَرُ

Verbal noun

أَنْعَمَ 

يُنْعِمُ

اِنْعَامٌ

Singular
Form IV

ن ع م

ص ر ط

 

غَيْرِ الْمَغْضُوبِ عَلَيْهِمْ وَلَا الضَّالِّينَ

not of those who have incurred Your wrath, nor of those who have gone astray. 

الضَّآلِّيْنَ

لَا

وَ

هِم

عَلَى

المَغْضُوْبِ

غَيْرِ

astray not and on anger not
Sound masculine plural

الْجَمْعُ الْمُذَكَّرُ السَّالِمُ

لَا النَّافِيَةِ حَرْفُ عَطْفٍ

Particle of linking

ضَمِيْرٌ مُتَّصِلٌ

Attached pronoun

Masculine

Plural

حَرْفُ جَرٍّ

Particle of pulling down

Passive particle

اِسْمُ الْمَفْعُوْلِ

الْمَصْدَرُ

Verbal noun

Singular
ضَلَّ يَضِلُّ غَضِبَ يَغْضَبُ غَارَ

 يَغِيِرُ

بَابٌ ضَرَبَ بَاب سَمِعَ بَابٌ ضَرَبَ

ض ل ل

غ ض ب

غ ي ر

Read Other Surahs 

Surah AL Fatiha

Surah Al Nas

Surah Al Falaq

Surah Al Ikhlas

Surah Al-Lahab (Surah Al-Masad)

This Post Has 13 Comments

Leave a Reply

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.