Al-Fatiha
Encyclopedia
Sura
Sura
A sura is a division of the Qur'an, often referred to as a chapter. The term chapter is sometimes avoided, as the suras are of unequal length; the shortest sura has only three ayat while the longest contains 286 ayat...

 Al-Fatiha
, (Sūratul-Fātihah, "The Opener") is the first chapter
Chapter (books)
A chapter is one of the main divisions of a piece of writing of relative length, such as a book. Chapters can be numbered in the case of such writings as law code or they can be titled. For example, the first chapters of some well-known novels are titled:*"The Boy Who Lived" – Harry Potter...

 of the Qur'an. Its seven verses
Ayah
Ayah or Aayah is the Arabic word for sign or proof:"These are the Ayat of Allah, which We recite to you with truth...

 are a prayer for Allah's guidance, and stress His Lordship and Mercy. This chapter has an essential role in Salaatu Allah, Namaaz, (prayer of God); Muslims recite the Surah Al-Fatiha forty eight times a day in Farz (Compulsory) Salaatu Allah, at the start of each unit of prayer.

Interpretation

Muslims believe in the Qur'an
Qur'an
The Quran , also transliterated Qur'an, Koran, Alcoran, Qur’ān, Coran, Kuran, and al-Qur’ān, is the central religious text of Islam, which Muslims consider the verbatim word of God . It is regarded widely as the finest piece of literature in the Arabic language...

 as a revelation given in Arabic
Arabic language
Arabic is a name applied to the descendants of the Classical Arabic language of the 6th century AD, used most prominently in the Quran, the Islamic Holy Book...

 from God. Translations into other languages are considered to be merely superficial "interpretations" of the meanings and not authentic versions, the word of God, of the Qur'an. In addition the term Bismillah Ir'Rahman Ni'Rahim is actually the first verse of Al-fatiha as often it would be a pre-saying to the surahs.

Arabic:
1.1

1:2

1:3

1:4

1:5

1:6

1:7

Transliteration:

Al-Fatiha | 7 verses | The Opening | سورة الفاتحة
Sura #1 | Makkah


Translation: .
In the name of Allah the most beneficent the most merciful
All praise is due to Allah Lord of the worlds
The most benificent the most merciful
The lord of the day of Judgement
Thee alone we worship thee alone we seek for help
Guide us to the right path
The path of those upon whom thou has bestowed favors.
Not of those who thou has cursed once not of those whom have gone astray.

--81.132.248.166 (talk) 16:01, 14 November 2011 (UTC)

Notes

The first verse, transliterated as "Bismillāhir Rahmānir Rahīm
Basmala
Basmala or Bismillah is an Arabic noun used as a collective name for the whole of the recurring Islamic phrase b-ismi-llāhi r-raḥmāni r-raḥīmi, It is sometimes translated as "In the name of God, Most Gracious, Most Merciful"...

", may be familiar to non-Arabic speakers and non-Muslims because of its ubiquity in Arabic and Muslim societies. This verse appears at the start of every chapter in the Qur'an with the exception of the ninth chapter
At-Tawba
Surah At-Tawbah also known as al-Bara'ah "the Ultimatum" in many hadith is the ninth chapter of the Qur'an, with 129 verses. It is one of the last Madinan Suras. It is the only Sura of the Qur'an that does not begin with the bismillah...

. The verse is normally said before reciting a chapter or part of a chapter during daily prayer, and also before public proclamations and indeed before many personal and everyday activities in many Arabic and Muslim societies as a way to invoke God's blessing and proclaim one's motives before an undertaking.

The two words "ar Rahmān
Rahman (Islamic term)
Rahman is the Arabic word for merciful. In Islamic context, Ar-Rahman has been interpreted as meaning most merciful, all-merciful, merciful by his very nature, beneficent, mercy giving and refers to Allah.- External links :**...

" and "ar Rahīm" are often translated in English as "the Beneficent" and "the Merciful" or "the Generous." They are often also translated as superlatives, for example, "the Most Generous" and "the Most Merciful". Grammatically the two words "Rahmaan" and "Raheem" are different linguistic forms of the triconsonantal root R-H-M, connoting "mercy". (For more information, see the section on root forms in Semitic languages
Semitic languages
The Semitic languages are a group of related languages whose living representatives are spoken by more than 270 million people across much of the Middle East, North Africa and the Horn of Africa...

). The form "Rahmaan" denotes degree or extent, i.e., "Most Merciful," while "Raheem" denotes time permanence, i.e., "Ever Merciful".

The second verse's "الحمد الله" ranks as one of the most popular phrases in all of Arabic, being used to express one's well-being, general happiness, or even consolation in a disaster (see Alhamdulillah
Alhamdulillah
Alhamdulillah or is an Arabic phrase meaning "Praise to God" or "All praise is due to Allah," similar to the Hebrew phrase Halelu Yah...

). The verse is also significant in that it includes a relationship between the two most common names for God in Arabic "الله" and "رب". The first word is a ubiquitous name for God, and the second roughly translates to "Lord." It shares the same root with the Hebrew "Rabbi". In some printings of the Qur'an, both words appear in red everywhere in the Qur'an.

The first word of the fourth verse varies as between variant recitation versions of the Qur'an. The most widely preferred of those differ on whether it is "Maliki" with a short "a," which means "king
King
- Centers of population :* King, Ontario, CanadaIn USA:* King, Indiana* King, North Carolina* King, Lincoln County, Wisconsin* King, Waupaca County, Wisconsin* King County, Washington- Moving-image works :Television:...

" (Warsh
Warsh
Warsh may refer to:* David Warsh, journalist* Kevin Warsh , member of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System* Lewis Warsh , author* a style of Quranic recitation...

, from Nafi'; Ibn Kathir
Ibn Kathir
Ismail ibn Kathir was a Muslim muhaddith, Faqih, historian, and commentator.-Biography:His full name was Abu Al-Fida, 'Imad Ad-Din, Isma'il bin 'Umar bin Kathir, Al-Qurashi, Al-Busrawi...

; Ibn Amir; Abu 'Amr; Hamza), or rather "Māliki" with a long "a," meaning "master" or "owner" (Hafs, from Asim, and al-Kisa'i). "Maliki" and "Māliki" are distinct words of inconsistent precise meaning deriving from the same triconsonantal root in Arabic, M-L-K.

Fazilats and Virtues of Sura Al-Fatiha

Also see: Ayatul Kursi, Al-Falaq, Al-Nas, Why Supplications are rejected
Dua
In the terminology of Islam, Duʿāʾ Plural: Dow'āt literally meaning invocation, is an act of supplication. The term is derived from an Arabic word meaning to 'call out' or to 'summon', and Muslims regard this as a profound act of worship. This is when Muslim people from all over connect with God...



The benefits, virtues, merits and Fazilats of this Sura:

Authentic or Sahi Merits

  • One of the greatest Suras

Imam Ahmad bin Hanbal recorded in the Musnad that Abu Sa`id bin Al-Mu`alla said, "I was praying when the Prophet called me, so I did not answer him until I finished the prayer. I then went to him and he said, What prevented you from coming?
I said, 'O Messenger of Allah! I was praying.'
He said, Didn't Allah say, "O you who believe! Answer Allah (by obeying Him) and (His) Messenger when he calls you to that which gives you life."
He then said, "I will teach you the greatest Surah in the Qur'an before you leave the Masjid (Mosque)."
He held my hand and when he was about to leave the Masjid, I said, `O Messenger of Allah! You said: I will teach you the greatest Surah in the Qur'an.'
He said, Yes.
"Al-Hamdu lillahi Rabbil-`Alamin," It is the seven repeated (verses) and the Glorious Qur'an that I was given.
[Al-Bukhari, Abu Dawud, An-Nasa'i and Ibn Majah also recorded this Hadith.]
  • Bismillah
    Bismillah
    There are multiple uses of Bismillah :* Bismillah is first word of the Basmala phrase of Islam.* Bismillah , born in Oruzgan, Afghanistan, in 1952...

     and Sura Fatiha

Bismillah
Bismillah
There are multiple uses of Bismillah :* Bismillah is first word of the Basmala phrase of Islam.* Bismillah , born in Oruzgan, Afghanistan, in 1952...

 is the first ayah of Al-Fatihah. The Companions started the Book of Allah with Bismillah: The scholars also agree that Bismillah
Bismillah
There are multiple uses of Bismillah :* Bismillah is first word of the Basmala phrase of Islam.* Bismillah , born in Oruzgan, Afghanistan, in 1952...

 is a part of an ayah in Surah An-Naml (Surah 27). They disagree over whether it is a separate ayah before every surah, or if it is an ayah, or a part of an ayah, included in every surah where the Bismillah appears in its beginning. The opinion that Bismillah
Bismillah
There are multiple uses of Bismillah :* Bismillah is first word of the Basmala phrase of Islam.* Bismillah , born in Oruzgan, Afghanistan, in 1952...

 is an ayah of every surah, except Al-Bara'ah (Surah 9), was attributed to (the Companions); Ibn Abbas , Ibn Umar, Ibn Az-Zubayr, Abu Hurayrah , Ali
On the other hand, Malik, Abu Hanifah and their followers said that Bismillah is not an Ayah in Al-Fatihah or any other Surah.

  • Al-fatiha used for cure

Also see : Why Dua
Dua
In the terminology of Islam, Duʿāʾ Plural: Dow'āt literally meaning invocation, is an act of supplication. The term is derived from an Arabic word meaning to 'call out' or to 'summon', and Muslims regard this as a profound act of worship. This is when Muslim people from all over connect with God...

 are not answered


Narrated Abu Said Al-Khudri : While we were on one of our journeys, we dismounted at a place where a slave girl came and said, "The chief of this tribe has been stung by a scorpion and our men are not present; is there anybody among you who can treat him (by reciting something)?" Then one of our men went along with her though we did not think that he knew any such treatment. But he treated the chief by reciting something, and the sick man recovered whereupon he gave him thirty sheep and gave us milk to drink (as a reward). When he returned, we asked our friend, "Did you know how to treat with the recitation of something?" He said, "No, but I treated him only with the recitation of the Mother of the Book (i.e., Al-Fatiha)." We said, "Do not say anything (about it) till we reach or ask the Prophet so when we reached Medina, we mentioned that to the Prophet (in order to know whether the sheep which we had taken were lawful to take or not). The Prophet said, "How did he come to know that it (Al-Fatiha) could be used for treatment? Distribute your reward and assign for me one share thereof as well." [Al-Bukhari 006.061.529 - Virtues of the Qur'an]
(Similar versions found in


Al-Bukhari: 007.071.645 - Medicine


Al-Bukhari: 007.071.633 - Medicine


Al-Bukhari: 007.071.632 - Medicine )
  • Necessity in Salat

Muslim recorded that Abu Hurayrah said that the Prophet said,
Whoever performs any prayer in which he did not read Umm Al-Qur'an, then his prayer is incomplete.
He said it thrice.
Abu Hurayrah was asked, "When we stand behind the Imam!
He said, "Read it to yourself, for I heard the Messenger of Allah say,
Allah, the Exalted, said, `I have divided the prayer (Al-Fatiha) into two halves between Myself and My servant, and My servant shall have what he asks for.'
[Al-Muslim]
[Similar story found in Al-Bukhari: 001.012.723 - Characteristics of Prayer]
  • 1 of the 2 lights

From Ibn ‘Abbaas (radhiyaAllaahu anhuma) who said : “While Hazrat Jibreel (alayhis salaam ) was sitting with the Holy Prophet (sallahAllaahu alayhi wasallam ), he heard a sound above him and raised his head. He said: ‘This is a door in the heaven which has been opened today and which has never been opened before today.’
An angel descended from it. And he ( Hazrat Jibreel) said: ‘This is an angel who has descended to earth, who has never
descended before today.’
He (that angel) gave the salaams (greetings of peace) and said: ‘Give the good news of
two lights which you have been given; of which no Prophet before you was given: the
Faatiha (Opening chapter) of the Book and the end of Surah al-Baqarah.
You will not recite a letter of them without being given it.’”
[Narrated by Muslim, and Imaam Al-Albaanee authenticated it in Saheeh at-Targheeb w a tarheeb: 1456]
http://abdurrahman.org/qurantafseer/TheVirtuesOfSomeSurahs_ShaikAlbanee.pdf

Unauthentic or Weak or Fabricated

Some doubtful or dhaif Fadilats


“When you lie your side on your bed [getting ready to sleep] and you recited { The
Opening chapter of The Book } and {Q ul Huw allaahu Ahad (Suratul Ikhlaas ) } : then you
have been secured from everything, except death… ”
[Weak. Dhaif at-Targheeb w a tarheeb: 34] http://abdurrahman.org/qurantafseer/TheVirtuesOfSomeSurahs_ShaikAlbanee.pdf



“ The Faatiha (Opening chapter ) of The Book and the Ayaat ul Kursi ; no slave will ever
recite them in a house ; except that no evil eye - from a Jinn or human – will ever affect
them in that day… ”
[Dhaif al Jam i as-Sagheer : 3952 ; weak according to Scholar Albaanee]


“ The Faatiha (Opening chapter ) of The Book is equal to a third of the Q ur’ân… ”
[Weak. Dhaif al Jam i as-Sagheer : 3949]
bisimiallah for allah is great and he says in surah al-hijr(We have given thee seven of the oft-repeated (verses) and the great Qur'an.)

Uncategorized Collection

These are the Fajilats or stories which the editors have not yet decided whether they are authentic or weak.


  • Iblees lamented on 4 occasions

Ambari in his ‘Kitaabur-Rad’ through his own chain of narrators has mentioned from Mujahid ibn Jabr rahmatullahi alaihe that Iblees the accursed of Allah Ta’ala lamented on four occasions: first when he was cursed; secondly when he was cast out of Heaven to the Earth; thirdly when Hazrat Muhammad sallallahu alaihe wasallam was given the Prophethood; fourthly when Surah Fatihah was revealed and it was revealed in Madinah.

Uncategorized Collection

Also see : Why Dua
Dua
In the terminology of Islam, Duʿāʾ Plural: Dow'āt literally meaning invocation, is an act of supplication. The term is derived from an Arabic word meaning to 'call out' or to 'summon', and Muslims regard this as a profound act of worship. This is when Muslim people from all over connect with God...

 are not answered


These are the Fajilats or stories which the editors have not yet decided whether they are authentic or weak.


One of the companions of the Holy Prophet (s.a.w.) narrates that he once recited this surah in the presence of the Holy Prophet (s.a.w.) and the Prophet said, ‘By Him in whose hand is my soul, a similar revelation to this has not been included in the Taurat (Torah), Injeel (Bible), Zabur (Psalms) or even the Qur’an itself.’

The Holy Prophet (s.a.w.) once asked Jabir ibn Abdallah Ansari, “Should I teach you a surah that has no other comparison to it in the whole Qur’an ?” Jabir replied, “Yes, and may my parents be ransom upon you O prophet of Allah.” So the Holy Prophet (s.a.w.) taught him surah al-Fatihah. Then the Holy Prophet (s.a.w.) asked, “Jabir, should I tell you something about this surah ?” Jabir answered, “Yes, and may my parents be ransom upon you O prophet of Allah.” The Prophet (s.a.w.) said, “It (surah al-Fatihah) is a cure for every ailment except death.”

Imam AbuAbdillah Ja’far as-Sadiq (a.s.) has said that whoever cannot be cured by surah al-Fatihah, then there is no cure for that person. In the same narration it is written that if this surah is recited 70 times on any part of the body that is paining, the pain will surely go away. In fact, the power of this surah is so great that it is said that if one were to recite it 70 times over a dead body, you should not become surprised if that body starts moving (ie. comes back to life).
Surah al-Fatihah is a cure for physical and also spiritual ailments.

Uncategorized Collection

These are the Fajilats or stories which the editors have not yet decided whether they are authentic or weak.
  • An Experienced Way of Warding off Jinn or Jadu (Magic) by Muhammad Zakariyya Muhajir Madani

This amal (practise) is known as the amal of Ayatul Kursi. After fajr salaah, maghrib salaah and before retiring to bed, read thrice Surah Fatihah including Bismillah
Bismillah
There are multiple uses of Bismillah :* Bismillah is first word of the Basmala phrase of Islam.* Bismillah , born in Oruzgan, Afghanistan, in 1952...

, Aayatul Kursi, Surah Falaq (chapter 113) and Surah Naas
Naas
Naas is the county town of County Kildare in Ireland. With a population of just over twenty thousand, it is also the largest town in the county. Naas is a major commuter suburb, with many people residing there and working in Dublin...

 (chapter 114). Read any Durood Shareef thrice in the beginning as well as at the end. If the affected one recites himself it is better, otherwise someone else should recite and blow in such a manner that some part of his lips touch the affected person. Also keep a bottle of water and whatever you read blow in the water at the end and make the affected one drink from that water each morning before doing anything else. When the bottle is halved, fill it up with fresh water. And if some signs of affect are seen within the house, then a portion of that water should be sprinkled in the four corners of the house in such a manner that the water does not fall on the floor. http://www.inter-islam.org/faith/taweez899.htm


( Taweez used or approved by Hazrat Sheikhul Hadith Maulana Muhammad Zakariyya Muhajir Madani ( Rahmatullahi Alaihe )).
  • Iblees lamented on 4 occasions

Ambari in his ‘Kitaabur-Rad’ through his own chain of narrators has mentioned from Mujahid ibn Jabr rahmatullahi alaihe that Iblees the accursed of Allah Ta’ala lamented on four occasions: first when he was cursed; secondly when he was cast out of Heaven to the Earth; thirdly when Hazrat Muhammad sallallahu alaihe wasallam was given the Prophethood; fourthly when Surah Fatihah was revealed and it was revealed in Madinah.

Revelation

Islamic scholarly tradition is concerned, amongst other things, with when and where verses and chapters of the Qur'an were revealed to Muhammad - for example, whether a verse was revealed while Muhammad was in Mecca
Mecca
Mecca is a city in the Hijaz and the capital of Makkah province in Saudi Arabia. The city is located inland from Jeddah in a narrow valley at a height of above sea level...

 or Medina
Medina
Medina , or ; also transliterated as Madinah, or madinat al-nabi "the city of the prophet") is a city in the Hejaz region of western Saudi Arabia, and serves as the capital of the Al Madinah Province. It is the second holiest city in Islam, and the burial place of the Islamic Prophet Muhammad, and...

. According to Ibn Abbas and others, Sura Al-Fatiha is a Meccan sura
Meccan sura
The Meccan suras are the chronologically earlier suras of the Qur'an that were, according to Islamic tradition, revealed anytime before the Hijrah . The other type of sura is the Madinan sura....

; according to and others, it is a Medinan sura. The former view is more widely accepted, although some believe that it was revealed in both Mecca and Medina.

Statistics

This sura contains 7 verses, 29 words and 139 letters (or 25 and 120, not counting the first verse), although Ibn Kathir
Ibn Kathir
Ismail ibn Kathir was a Muslim muhaddith, Faqih, historian, and commentator.-Biography:His full name was Abu Al-Fida, 'Imad Ad-Din, Isma'il bin 'Umar bin Kathir, Al-Qurashi, Al-Busrawi...

 says "The scholars say that Al-Fatiha consists of 25 words, and that it contains 113 letters." This is due to different methods of counting letters. Also, since the Qur'an came as an orally recited revelation rather than one written down, there were slightly different methods of spelling, similar to the differences between American English spelling and British English spelling (center vs. centre). AIt falls in the first hizb, and hence the first juz'
Juz'
A juz is one of thirty parts of roughly equal length into which the Qur'an is sometimes divided. This division facilitates recitation of the Qur'an in a month, especially during Ramadan when the entire Qur'an is recited in the Tarawih salat; reciting approximately one juz' a night...

, which are sections of the Qur'an.

Translations, interpretations and commentaries

Because of a hadith which states that "whoever does not recite Surah Al-fatihah in his prayer his prayer is invalid", many Islamic scholars emphasise the importance of this chapter in their commentaries. In practice, this means that Muslims who perform daily prayers
Salat
Salah is the practice of formal prayer in Islam. Its importance for Muslims is indicated by its status as one of the Five Pillars of Sunni Islam, of the Ten Practices of the Religion of Twelver Islam and of the 7 pillars of Musta'lī Ismailis...

 according to traditional rules will recite Surah Al-Fatiha at least 17 times a day
1:1 Beginning is with Allah's personal name Ar'Reh'maan Who is The Fountain of Infinite Mercy.

1:2 The Infinite Glory and Praise stands specified eternally, entirely and exclusively for Allah, the Exalted, the Sustainer Lord of the Known-Multiple universes-All that exists.

1:3-4 The Sustainer Lord of the Worlds is Ar'Reh'maan Who is The Fountain of Infinite Mercy. [1:3] Ar'Reh'maan is the Master/the Sovereign/the Authority/Holder of "The Day of Resurrection/Judgment and Requital".

1:5 [Our Sustainer Lord Ar'Reh'maan] You, the Exalted are the One and Only Whom we presently, and in future will, solely and exclusively owe and demonstrate allegiance and servitude. Moreover, You, the Exalted are exclusively the One we keep looking for cooperative and helping facilitation to exalt ourselves.

1:6-7 Our Sustainer Lord Ar'Reh'maan! You, the Exalted guide us upon the Path that keeps heading safely and straight to the destination of peace and tranquility; [1:6] the Path journeyed by those upon whom You showered blessings. This Path/Course is other than of those who made themselves liable to criminal cognizance/arrest, and nor is of those who are the neglectful wanderers.

See also

  • Al-Fatiha in different languages
    Al-Fatiha in different languages
    Sura Al-Fatiha , is the first chapter of the Muslim holy book, the Qur'an. Its seven verses are a prayer for God's guidance and stress the lordship and mercy of God. This chapter has a special role in traditional daily prayers, being recited at the start of each unit of prayer...

  • Word by word analysis
  • Basmala
    Basmala
    Basmala or Bismillah is an Arabic noun used as a collective name for the whole of the recurring Islamic phrase b-ismi-llāhi r-raḥmāni r-raḥīmi, It is sometimes translated as "In the name of God, Most Gracious, Most Merciful"...

  • Ayatul Kursi
  • Al-Falaq
  • Al-Nas
  • Why Supplications are not answered
    Dua
    In the terminology of Islam, Duʿāʾ Plural: Dow'āt literally meaning invocation, is an act of supplication. The term is derived from an Arabic word meaning to 'call out' or to 'summon', and Muslims regard this as a profound act of worship. This is when Muslim people from all over connect with God...


External links

The source of this article is wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.  The text of this article is licensed under the GFDL.
 
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