سورة الفاتحة The Qur’ān Divine interpretation of the Book of Existence. Surah 1 1 Al-Fatihah (The Opening)

2 Al-Fatihah (The Opening) It is called Sūrat al-Fātihah because it is the opening chapter of the Qur’ān because it is the opening chapter of the Qur’ān.

QUR’AN ( ( قرآن ‬ - Continuous reading (al-)Qur’ ā n: The Qur’ ā n; the last Book of God which He revealed to the Prophet Muhammad,upon him be peace and blessings, as His last and universal Message to conscious, responsible beings (as-)Suhuf (pl. of as-Sah ī fah): Scrolls given to some Messengers (as- )Sunnah: The way of God’s Messenger,upon him be peace and blessings. SURAH ( سورة ) (as-)S ū rah: An independent chapter of the Qur’ ā n DefinitionsDefinitions 3

AYAH (singular) - AYAT (plural) Definition of Ayah (al-)‘ Ā yah: A manifest sign; miracle; lesson to be taken from an event; each of the Qur’ ā n’s independent sentences between two points (verses) DefinitionsDefinitions 4

Ā y ā tun bayyin ā t: The signs or messages which are clear in meaning and content (as evidence of the truth) (al-) Ā yat al-Kurs ī yy: The verse of the Divine Seat of Dominion. It is verse 255 of S ū rat al-Baqarah, which makes God known through some of His Names and Attributes. DefinitionsDefinitions 5

(al-)Basmalah: The phrase, Bismi’ll ā hir-Rahm ā ni’r-Rah ī m, meaning in (and with) the Name of God, the All-Merciful, the All-Compassionate DefinitionsDefinitions 6

(al-)Fard: Any obligatory religious act (al-)Far ā ’id: Plural of al-fard. It is also used to mean the science of sharing inheritance. Fard ‘Ayn: Any act which is obligatory on every Muslim who is mature, healthy, and sane Fard Kifayah: A collective duty of the Muslim community, so that if some people carry it out, no Muslim is considered blameworthy, but if no one carries it out, all incur a collective guilt. DefinitionsDefinitions 7

(al-)Had ī th: Communication, narration, word or saying. As a term, it denotes the record of whatever the Prophet (upon him be peace and blessings) said, did, or tacitly approved. According to some scholars, the word had ī th also covers reports about the sayings and deeds, etc., of the Companions of the Prophet, in addition to those of the Prophet himself. The whole body of Traditions is termed Had ī th, and the science which deals with it is called ‘Ilm al-Had ī th. Had ī th quds ī : A saying of God narrated by His Messenger but not included in the Qur’ ā n DefinitionsDefinitions 8

(al-)Mu’min: The Believer. A person who has faith in whatever must be believed in and is a righteous and obedient servant of His (al-)Mun ā fiq: One who is a believer outwardly or professes faith, while one is an unbeliever inwardly and in reality (al-)Mushrik: A polytheist: a person who commits Shirk (see Shirk) – who associates partners with God in His Divinity, Lordship, and Sovereignty, or in any of these (al-)Muslim: One who believes in whatever is to be believed in and practices Islam in his daily life in submission to God; (law) one who professes faith and, as a citizen of a Muslim st ate, joins a Muslim congregation in the Prayer and pays the Zak ā h DefinitionsDefinitions 9

(as-)Sir ā t al-Mustaq ī m: The only Straight Path to God, which the Prophet Muhammad, upon him be peace and blessings. demonstrated to humankind and the jinn, and was manifested by way of the Qur’an and Sunnah. (as-)Sab‘u’l-Math ā n ī (Sab‘an mina’l-Math ā n ī ): Another name for S ū rat al-F ā tihah, meaning the Seven Doubly-Repeated Verses (ar-)Rabb: Lord, Master; the Lord It has three sets of related meanings: (i) Upbringer, Trainer, Sustainer, Nourisher; (ii) Lord and Master; (iii) He Who directs and controls. DefinitionsDefinitions 10

1 بِسْمِ اللهِ الرَّحْمانِ الرَّحِيمِ IN THENAME OF GOD, THEALL-MERCIFUL,THE ALL- COMPASSIONATE 2 الْحَمْدُ للّهِ رَبِّ الْعَالَمِين All praise and gratitude are for God, the Lord of the worlds, 3 الرَّحْمـانِ الرَّحِيمِ The All-Merciful, the All-Compassionate, 4 مَالِكِ يَوْمِ الدِّينِ The Master of the Day of Judgment. 5 إِيَّاكَ نَعْبُدُ وإِيَّاكَ نَسْتَعِينُ You alone do We worship, and from You alone do we seek help. 6 اهدِنَــــا الصِّرَاطَ المُستَقِيمَ Guide us to the straight path. 7 صِرَاطَ الَّذِينَ أَنعَمتَ عَلَيهِمْ غَيرِ المَغضُوبِ عَلَيهِمْ وَلاَ الضَّالِّينَ The Path of those whom You have favored, not of those who have incurred (Your) wrath (punishment and condemnation), nor of those who are astray. 12

Surat al Fatiha summaries the whole Qur’an SURAT AL FATIHA QURAN

SALAT SHADAH (The Testimony of Faith) We read in Salat. SAVM (FASTING) We do not eat, drink, talk… HAJJ (The Pilgrimage to Makkah) We face to Qibla (Kaba in Makkah) Zakat (Almsgiving) We devote our time to gain pleasure of Allah SALAT summaries all type worships of creation

Kiyam (Standing) : Represents prayers of trees, mountains, and angels who worship in standing.

Ruku (Bowing) : Represents prayers of camels, sheep, cows (4 legged animals) and angels who worship in bowing.

Sajdah (Prostration ) : Represents prayers of ants, butterflies, reptiles and angels who worship in prostration all time.

WORSHIP of ALL CREATION SALAT BRINGS ALL THE MINIATURES TOGETHER SURAT AL FATIHA SALATHUMAN QURAN UNIVERSE

The Prophet (sallAllahu alayhi wasallam) said, “I will teach you a Surah which is the greatest Surah in the Qur'an…” The Greatest Surah in the Qur’an He said, “Al-Hamdu-Lillah Rabbi-l-Alamin which is Al-Sab'a Al-Mathani (seven repeatedly recited Verses) and the Grand Qur'an which has been given to me.” [Sahih Bukhari, Book #60, Hadith #1] 20

Narrated Ibn Abbaas (radiyAllahu anhu): “While the Messenger of Allah (sallAllahu alayhi wasallam) was sitting with Jibreel (alayhi assalam), he heard a creaking sound above him. Jibreel looked up and said, “This is the sound of a gate that has been opened in heaven today and has never been previously opened.” Then an Angel descended through it and came to the Prophet (sallAllahu alayhi wasallam) and said, “Rejoice in the good news of two lights that have been given to you such as no prophet before you has been given. [They are] Surah al-Fatihah and the concluding [two] Ayat of Surah al-Baqarah. You will never recite a word from them without being given the blessings they contain." [An-Nisaee and al-Haakim] Revealed by a Special Angel 21

Opening Surah in the Qur’an Beginning of book Commanded to recite 17 times a day Every Surah in Qur’an is related to Surah al-Fatihah This Surah explains the whole Qur’an Everything in our life is related to this Surah We live with this Surah in our daily life Understand it, live with it, and feel it Unique Virtues 22

With its marvelously brief and comprehensive words, it balances praise and petition perfectly, and it establishes four main themes or purposes of the Qur’ānic guidance. (1) Existence and Unity of God, (1) Existence and Unity of God, (2) Prophethood, (2) Prophethood, (3) the Resurrection and afterlife, and (3) the Resurrection and afterlife, and (4) Worship and justice. (4) Worship and justice. Key to every Surah, Key to the whole Qur’an

Allah SWT says, “I have divided the prayer (Al-Fatihah) between Myself and my slave equally and My slave shall be granted what he asked for.” 24 Hadith Qudsi [Sahih Muslim]

25 When he says, ‘Guide us to the straight path, the path of those whom You have favored, not of those who earned Your anger, nor of those who have gone astray’ When he says, ‘the Most Beneficent, the Most Merciful,’ When he says, ‘Master of the Day of Judgment,’ When he says, ‘You alone we worship and You alone we seek for help,’ Therefore when the slave says, ‘All praises and thanks are due to Allah, the Lord of the universe’, Allah says, ‘My slave has praised Me.’ Allah says, ‘My slave has praised Me.’ Allah says, ‘My slave has glorified Me.’ Allah says, ‘My slave has glorified Me.’ Allah says, ‘My slave has related all matters to Me.’ Allah says, ‘My slave has related all matters to Me.’ Allah says, ‘This is between Me and My slave and My slave shall have what he requested.’ Allah says, ‘This is between Me and My slave and My slave shall have what he requested.’ Allah says, ‘This is for My slave and My slave shall have what he asked for.’ Allah says, ‘This is for My slave and My slave shall have what he asked for.’

(61 A.H. – 101 A.H.) 5th Khilafah (99 A.H A.H.) Great grandson of Omar ibn Al-Khattab Recited Surah al-Fatihah with long pauses Waiting for Allah to answer him Enjoying the response of Allah SWT Omar ibn Abdul Aziz 26

27 Um Al-Qur’an Mother of the Qur’an Um Al-Kitab Mother of the Book Al-Qur’an Al-Atheem The Glorious Qur’an Al-Waffiyah The Complete One Al-Ruqyah The Remedy As-Salah The Prayer Al-Hamd The Praise Ash-Shifa The Cure Saba’ul Mathanee 7 repeated verses Names of Surah al-Fatihah

11 points to remember from Surah al-Fatihah 28

الْحَمْدُ للّهِ رَبِّ الْعَالَمِينَ Al Hamdu Lillahi Rabbil Aalameen All praise and gratitude are for God, the Lord of the worlds. 1. Reminder of Allah’s Favors & Bounties 29 It should be noted that all praise and thanks are due to God alone, and are His alone. Wherever beauty, excellence and perfection occur, the ultimate source is God. No created beings, whether angels or humans, heavenly or earthly objects, have anything other than a dependent excellence, beauty or perfection.

الْحَمْدُ للّهِ رَبِّ الْعَالَمِينَ Al Hamdu Lillahi Rabbil Aalameen All praise and gratitude are for God, the Lord of the worlds. 30 “Worlds” translates the Arabic ‘ālamīn (singular, ‘ālam). The word comes from ‘alam, ‘alāmah, meaning something by which another thing is known. Thus, in this perspective, every individual thing or set of things, from the tiniest sub-atomic particles to the largest nebulae and galaxies, is a “world” and indicates God. The plural form (‘ālamīn) is particularly used for conscious beings, giving the sense that everything that is created is as if conscious, and signifying that its pointing to God’s Existence, Unity and Lordship is extremely clear for conscious beings.

مَالِكِ يَوْمِ الدِّينِ Maaliki yawm mid-deen The Master of the Day of Judgment. الرَّحْمـانِ Ar-Rahman The All-Merciful الرَّحِيمِ Ar-Rahim the All-Compassionate 2. Reminder of the Names and Attributes of Allah 2. Reminder of the Names and Attributes of Allah 31

Mercy الرَّحْمـانِ الرَّحِيمِ Ar-Rahman Ar-Rahim Most Gracious Most Merciful 3. Reminder of the main connection between us and Allah (SWT) 32

4. Reminder that sincerity is only to Allah إِيَّاكَ نَعْبُدُ وإِيَّاكَ نَسْتَعِينُ Iyyaka na’budu wa iyyaka na’stayeen You alone we worship & You alone we seek for help 33

5. Reminder of the unity of the Ummah nana إِيَّاكَ نَعْبُدُ وإِيَّاكَ نَسْتَعِينُ Iyyaka na budu wa iyyaka na’stayeen You alone we worship and You alone we seek for help 34

6. Reminder to keep good company اهدِنَــــا الصِّرَاطَ المُستَقِيمَ Ihdinasiratal mustaqim Guide us on the straight path 35

7. Warning against bad company اهدِنَــــا الصِّرَاطَ المُستَقِيمَ Ihdinasiratal mustaqim Guide us on the straight path 36

8. Istiqama - Reminder to stay on the straight path 8. Istiqama - Reminder to stay on the straight path اهدِنَــــا الصِّرَاطَ المُستَقِيمَ Ihdinasiratal mustaqim Guide us on the straight path 37

9. Reminder of the Hereafter: As-Sirat صِرَاطَ الَّذِينَ أَنعَمتَ عَلَيهِمْ Siratal latheena an ‘amta alayhim The path of those who earned your favor 38

39 إِيَّاكَ نَعْبُدُ وإِيَّاكَ نَسْتَعِينُ You alone we worship, and You alone we ask for help. اهدِنَــــا الصِّرَاطَ المُستَقِيمَ Guide us to the straight path. صِرَاطَ الَّذِينَ أَنعَمتَ عَلَيهِمْ غَيرِ المَغضُوبِ عَلَيهِمْ وَلاَ الضَّالِّينَ The path of those on whom You have bestowed your grace, not the path of those who earned your anger, nor of those that went astray. 10. Reminder of the importance of du’aa

1) In the Name of Allah, the Most Beneficent, the Most Merciful. 2) All the praises and thanks are for Allah the Lord of the Universe. 3) The Most Beneficent, The Most Merciful. 4) Master of the Day of Recompense. 5) You alone we worship, and You alone we ask for help. 6) Guide us to the straight path. 7) The path of those on whom You have bestowed your grace, not the path of those who earned your anger, nor of those that went astray. Praise Du’aa 11. Reminder on how to address Allah 40

Ameen آمين Ameen 42