Surah Al-Fatihah(The Opener)
Surah Al-Fatihah is the opener of the Holy Book Quran Majeed and one of the noblest parts of the Quran Majeed. Its recitation in each prayer(Salah) for Muslims is compulsory.
→ Surah Al-Fatiha is knonw as Umm-ul-kitab/Quran (Mother of Holy Book).
→ Whenever Holy Prophet Hazarat Muhammad (PBUH) became sick, he(PBUH) recites surah Al-Fatihah, because it is a cure for physical as well as a spiritual sickness.
So, Let’s start by first listening to it in the beautiful voice of the great Qari of the Quran, the Mishary Rashid Alafasy.
بِسْمِ ٱللَّهِ ٱلرَّحْمَـٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيم.1st Ayah (verse)
ٱلْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ رَبِّ ٱلْعَـٰلَمِين.All praise and thanks is for Allah—Lord of all worlds.َ
What is meant by all praise and thanks?
For example, if you see a Lamborghini, you’ll praise it but not say any thanks. If someone helped you at a particular moment (but generally he hasn't good relation with you), you’ll only say thanks to him and might not praise him. If you loved someone due to his beauty, intelligence, power, or something else, you’ll only praise him.
But here’s, In case of Allah Almighty, all of praise and thanks is for Allah. Every single aspect of Allah deserves praise and thanks. Beauty, Kindness, Intellucality, Beneficence, Merciful, and a lot more attributes, everything is present in Allah. That’s why all kind of praise and thanks is for Allah, Who is the lord of the Whole Universe.
He is lord of the whole mankind & other species in this universe. He created everything. The Holy Qur’an says:
“Who has perfected everything He created. And He originated the creation of humankind from clay.” (Surah As-Sajdah. 32:7)
2nd Ayah (verse)
ٱلرَّحْمَـٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ.the Most Compassionate, Most Merciful,
The two beautiful attributes of Allah are mentioned here.
→ Al-Rehman: His mercy is prevalent over all creatures in the world.
→ Al-Raheem: Allah shows His kindness to one particular person.
We all know that Allah shows His kindness to the whole world but here’s a question arises that how’s it possible when it comes to a particular person? So Answer to this question is that:
Do you have Eyes? Do you have Ears? Do you have a sense of smell? Do you have Legs, arms, and thinking powers?
Ask those who haven't these things. Ask them how much they can pay for achieving these things. Then, you’ll know the cost of these things.
Still, you’re thinking how’s Allah is merciful to a particular person?
He gave us a from His an endless treasure. He always shows His kindness to us no matter how sinful we’re. He says in Qur’an:
“And surely your Lord will give so much to you that you will be pleased.” (Surah Ad-Duhaa, 93:5)
3rd Ayah(verse)
مَـٰلِكِ يَوْمِ ٱلدِّينِ.Master of the Day of Judgment.
Allah is the only one who is the owner of the day of recompense, the day of judgment. Even no prophet, saint, angles, or anybody else can judge a person on that day. So, maintain a good relationship with Allah, He’s the only one who can forgive you on that day.
Allah Almigty says in Surah Al-An’am(6:73) :
“All authority is His alone on the Day the Trumpet will be blown.”
Before heading towards the next Ayah, let’s see the Relation of Tawheed (Unity of Allah).
Tawheed (Unity of Allah)
Tawheed can be divided into three categories.
→ Tawheed ar-Ruboobeeyah (unity of Lordship).
→ Tawheed al-Asmaa-was-sifaat (unity of Allah’s name and attributes).
→ Tawheed ul-Uluhiyyahunity of worship).
According to Surah Al-Fatihah’s first Ayah is showing that Allah is one who is lord of the whole universe. 2nd Ayah showing his Attributes which is not present in any human. 3rd Ayah is also showing his unity.
4th Ayah(verse)
إِيَّاكَ نَعْبُدُ وَإِيَّاكَ نَسْتَعِين.You ‘alone’ we worship and You ‘alone’ we ask for help.
Allah is the only one whom we worship and ask for help. This is the middle of Surah Al-Fatiha. In the first three ayahs, we praised him. Now we’re switching to praying for our guidance and straight path.
What an excellent state this is for the person who is in this stage of Faith! He never bows to any tyrant. He never loses himself for the attraction of material gain, and as the Qur’an reveals about the Prophet of Islam (SAW), saying:
“Say, ‘Surely my prayer, my worship, my life, and my death are all for Allah — Lord of all worlds.’ ”(Surah Al-An’am 6:162).
5th Ayah(verse)
ٱهْدِنَا ٱلصِّرَٰطَ ٱلْمُسْتَقِيمَ.Guide us along the Straight Path,
Now we’re asking for the guidance of Allah Almighty. The guidance to the straight path is the most expensive thing in this world for the success of this worldly life as well as the last day of judgment. Now, What is straight path? Qur’an says that the ‘Straight Path’ is the very true belief in the Divine religion with its moral and practical aspects; it is because it is the shortest route to a spiritual connection with Allah.
Allah Almighty says in Qur’an:
“As for those who are rightly guided, He increases them in guidance and blesses them with righteousness.” (Surah Muhammad,47:17)
There’s a relation of Love, Fear, and Hope between us and Allah. It’s weird that how can we love the same person if there exists fear? Why we can’t? There’s a big example that we love our parents and also fear from them for doing the strange and wrong thing
We love Allah. We’re also afraid of Him. We’re afraid of His anger. That’s why we do good deeds for pleasing Him. We also have hope for the mercy of Allah on the day of judgment.
6th Ayah(verse)
صِرَٰاطَ ٱلَّذِينَ أَنْعَمْتَ عَلَيْهِمْ غَيْرِ ٱلْمَغْضُوبِ عَلَيْهِمْ وَلَا ٱلضَّآلِّينَ.
the Path of those You have blessed—not those You are displeased with, or those who are astray.This is the last Ayah of Surah Al-Fatihah. It is linked with the previous Ayah. In the previous verse, we prayed to Allah for showing us the straight path. But now we’re praying to Allah for showing a straight path of only those peoples who’re blessed, whom with Allah is pleased because of their good deeds. Not the paths of those peoples who are only blessed with world benefits but Allah is displeased with them.
Allah Almighty is saying to his beloved prohpter Muhammad (SAW) in Qur’an:
“Say, ‘O People of the Book! Do not go to extremes in your faith beyond the truth, nor follow the vain desires of those who went astray before you. They misled many and strayed from the Right Way.’ ”
Surah Al-Fatihah is completed Alhamdulillah. As you see it is like a pray as well as showing the unity of Allah Almighty.
There’s a Hadith about Surah Al-Fatihah. Have a look at it.
You can check that Allah responds to us in the first three Ayah of Surah Al-Fatihah. So take your time while reciting, be focused, and recites it slowly in every Prayer(Salah). Allah will respond to you and also gives you rewards according to the last 2 Ayah.
Thanks for reading till here. As you know it is also a good deed to share good things with others for their improvement so, share this with others and earn virtues.
Note:
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