Surah Al Fatihah
Al Quran: 1
1. Text and Translation
In the name of Allah, The Most Gracious, the Most Merciful
All praise is due to God alone, the Sustainer of all the worlds
The Most Gracious, the Most Merciful
Lord of the Day of Judgement
Thee alone do we worship; and unto thee alone do we turn for aid
Guide us the straight way
The way of those whom Thou has bestowed Thy blessings, not those who have been condemned (by thee), nor of those who go astray.
2. Background
This is the first surah or chapter of the Qur’an.
It is also called Umm al Kitab – the Essence of the Book,
Fatihat al Kitab- The Opening of the Book,
al Sab ‘al Mathani – 7 oft repeated verses,
Umm al Qur’an – the Essence of the al Qur’an, or
It is the most often repeated verses in the 5 daily salat – prayers.
A fundamental part of prayer is the recitation of Al Fatihah.
Briefly, the surah can be summarized as:
• Belief in One God – al Tawheed- One God of all creation and being
• One God who is All Merciful, Most Gracious
• The Lord to whom the human being is to be accountable
• The basis of existence and eternal life, knowing God sustains life and the universe, only entrusting in God
• The believer states succintly faith in all these principles
• An expression of sound and dynamic relation between sensible humans and the All Caring God
• The believer prays for Guidance in the teachings of God’s message
Understanding and contemplating this important surah will help achieve humbleness, humility, enlightenment and concentration (khusyu’) in prayers.
3. Meanings of Ayah – Verses
i. In the name of Allah, The Most Gracious, the Most Merciful -
Basmalah
All good things begin in the name of Allah. We say basmalah before starting any speech, deeds or work. We do things by being conscious of adab – Islamic etiquette and knowing the bounties and succour is from God. For the Islamic worldview, Allah is the First and the Last, the Obvious and the Unseen.
ii. All praise is due to God alone, the Sustainer of all the worlds
Praise is only for Allah (al Hamd), our Lord (rabb) who created, sustained, cared for, cherished, authored and mastered, taught and educated the whole universe – all the worlds - existence both in the physical and spiritual sense. We invoke and praise Allah (tahmid) when starting our du’a – supplications.
iii. The Most Gracious, the Most Merciful
Allah bestows abundance of grace (al Rahman) for all of mankind and all of creation, whether Muslim or non Muslim. Allah’s mercifulness (al Rahim) is upon his loyal servants.
iv. Lord of the Day of Judgement
Confirming the coming of Doomsday and the Hereafter where on that day only Allah determines everything and will make man be accountable to Him alone. Gratefulness for Allah’s beneficience and grace, hoping for His reward and fear of His recompense.
v. Thee alone do we worship; and unto thee alone do we turn for aid
Realizing Allah’s love and care, mercy and grace, power and justice, not only do we worship and ask for His help but we worship Allah alone and ask for His aid only. Worship (ibadah) encompasses all deeds including prayer, fasting, zakat, hajj and following and obeying all of Allah’s commandments and refraining from all that is forbidden. It is meaningless to believe in One God while allowing ourselves to seek any other means to achieve one’s goal even if these means contradict and transgress the teachings of Allah. “We” indicates a community; we associate ourselves with all believers who seek God, strengthening ourselves in a fellowship, in a brotherhood of faith.
vi. Guide us the straight way
Showing the path of happiness, the path of truth and how to be on that path. Guidance (Hidayah) is the most valuable thing mankind could have. Only with it could we live happily in this world and the hereafter. Hidayah- guidance belongs to Allah and He grants it to whomever He pleases. That is why we have to ask, beseech, request, seek and supplicate to Allah to guide our lives.
The essence is our Du’a – supplications.
In our own wisdom we may be wandering aimlessly and our wisdom may fail us. The world’s perversity stigmatizes the straight way and mocks righteousness. The world does even praise the crooked way and evil. We need the spiritual insight to seek the light of Allah’s grace and to see those who walk in the darkness of Allah’s wrath. We must ask for Allah‘s guidance.
vii. The way of those whom Thou has bestowed Thy blessings, not those who have been condemned (by thee), nor of those who go astray.
Those bestowed by Allah’s blessings are the Prophets (rasul), the Truthful (siddiqin), the Martyrs (mujahidin), the Righteous (salihin). They are the best of friends and companions in faith. They are the models and examples to follow. They are people of guidance and are consistently in belief- Iman.
The negative implies two groups who are out of God’s grace. In fact, all who reject Islam and those who deviate from its teachings belong to these.
Some may know the truth of Islam but are recalcitrant and stubborn and refuse to submit and follow. Some adopt and practice religion without knowledge and are misled, deviate and got lost.
It is related that these shunned categories describe the Jews and the Christians thus we are warned to be weary of the ways and characteristics of the Jews and Christians.
We ought to emulate those before us who Allah is pleased with and to reject those who deliberately go against guidance and also not to follow those who go astray, lost, alluded, corrupted by others or themselves.
4. Conclusion
The surah Al Fatihah is condensed form of of all the fundamental principles laid down in the Qu’ran:
• the principle of God’s oneness and uniqueness, Allah as the originator and fosterer of the universe, the fount of all life-giving grace, the One to whom man is ultimately responsible, the only power that can guide and help;
• the call to righteous action in the life of this world; the principle of life after death and consequences of man’s actions and behaviour;
• the principle of guidance through God’s message bearers, the principle of continuity of true religion implied and alluded in the people who lived, who succeeded or erred;
• the need for voluntary self surrender to the Will of the Supreme Lord and to worship God alone.
References:
The Message of the Qur’an, Translated and Explained, Muhammad Asad
The Holy Qur’an, Text, Translation and Commentary, Abdullah Yusuf Ali
Concepts of the Qur’an, a Topical
Al Qur’an dan Terjemahnya, Departement Agama Republik
Tafsir Al Fatihah, Abdullah Yasin.
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