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)

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Read Other Surahs 

Surah AL Fatiha

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Surah Al Falaq

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Surah Al-Lahab (Surah Al-Masad)