Surah Al-Fatihah: The Essence of Quranic Teachings

MKA USA Taleem Department

February 2023

Discussion

• What is the importance of Surah Al-Fatihah? Why is it a chapter of the Holy Quran that we read in every rak’ah of Salat?
• How has reciting Surah Al-Fatihah made a difference in your life?

Attributes and Prayers in Surah Al-Fatihah

• In his Friday Sermon on 10 February 2012, Hazur said, “Surah Fatihah is a Surah that is read in every Salat. Ahadith relate many names given to this Surah, one of which is Surah Salat. The Holy Prophet (saw) said that God states that He has divided Surah Fatihah half and half between Him and His servants. The first half cites God’s attributes and the second half is comprised of prayers for His servants.”
• Hazur said each person offering Salat should ponder and reflect on the Divine attributes cited in the Surah to gain greater benefit and should also say the prayers therein with concentration to gain beneficence in every unit of every Prayer.

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Attributes of Allah in Surah Al-Fatihah

• “The opening Chapter of the Quran (Surah al-Fatihah) illustrates the operation of the attributes of God. It explains that the divine attributes, the operation of which affects man in any manner, branch out from four principal attributes.
• Of these, the first is Rabbul-‘Alamin; that is to say, God creates everything and then fosters everything gradually towards perfection.
• Secondly, He is Ar-Rahman. This means that without any effort on the part of His creatures He provides everything that is necessary for their development and progress.
• Thirdly, He is Ar-Rahim. This means that when those of His creatures that are endowed with will and intelligence voluntarily choose to do good and to resist evil, God bestows upon them the highest reward and that reward continues indefinitely.”

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Introduction to the Study of the Holy Quran, pp. 297

Attributes of Allah in Surah Al-Fatihah

• “Fourthly, He is Maliki Yaum-id-Din. This means that the ultimate judgement concerning everything rests with Him. Everything owes its origin to Him and the end of everything is also in His hands. Man and other creatures may bring about temporary and ephemeral changes but have not the power to effect any permanent change in the universe. For instance, man has no power to create either matter or soul. He is equally without power to destroy either, though he may be able to effect temporary changes in matter and to give it different shapes. As the attribute of creation belongs to God alone the attribute of destruction also is peculiar to Him. Nothing can ultimately be destroyed till God decrees its destruction. This is an obvious truth and the Quran expresses it by stating that God is the Master of the time of judgement.”

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Introduction to the Study of the Holy Quran, pp. 297-298

Importance of Surah Al-Fatihah

• “The repetition of Surah Fatiha during the course of Prayer is very effective. Even in a mood of mental lethargy and disinclination, this practice should be kept up with constancy. One should repeatedly affirm: Thee alone do we worship and Thee alone do we implore for help; and again: Guide us along the right path; and while in prostration one should implore: O Thou Ever Living, Self-Subsisting and All-Supporting, I beseech Thy mercy” (Al-Hakam, Feb. 20, 1898, p. 9).
• “He alone can know Him who deliberates deeply over the Fatihah, seeking His help with a pining heart. For those who make a covenant with Allah in perfect sincerity, binding themselves fast in perpetual obedience to Him, and cleanse their minds of all rancor and ill-will, are admitted through the portals of this Surah and are endowed with inner sight” (Karamatus Sadiqeen – The Commentary on the Holy Qur’an, Vol. I, pp. 73 -75).

Significance of Surah Al-Fatihah

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(Baraheen-Ahmadiyyah, Vol. IV, pp. 650-651 (URDU), Footnote 11).

Translation: Significance of Surah Al-Fatihah

• “All of the beauties, divine insights, and attributes of Surah al-Fatihah, outlined by me so far, are manifestly without parallel and equal. For instance, anyone who honestly reflects upon the exalted status of the verities contained in Surah al-Fatihah, and then ponders over the beauties and fine points that the blessed surah comprises, and then studies the beauty of its composition and brevity of its text as to how vast meanings have been encapsulated in very few words, and then looks at the text as to how splendid it is and how it possesses such fluency, clarity, and delicacy that it is like pure and limpid water flowing ever so smoothly, and then contemplates its spiritual effectiveness that miraculously transforms hearts, purifying them of mortal darknesses and making them recipients of the light of Allah the Almighty which I have proven at its appropriate place in this book, the exalted status of the Holy Quran, which is beyond the reach of human capacities, will become manifest to such a one to a degree that cannot be surpassed” (Baraheen-Ahmadiyyah, Vol. IV, pp. 268, Footnote 11).

The Straight Path

“Another beauty of this Surah is that it has enumerated exhaustively, in every respect, the incentives towards the acceptance of guidance, for, perfect persuasiveness expressed in a cogent manner, is most effective. In terms of rational exposition perfect persuasiveness comprises three ingredients. First, the inherent merits of the object towards which the persuasion is directed should be set out. This has been supplied in the words: Guide us along the path of integrity, rectitude and steadfastness which runs straight. In these words the inherent quality of the way has been described, to induce enthusiasm for attainment to it. The second ingredient of persuasiveness is that the benefits of the object of persuasion should be stated. This has been done in the words: Guide us along the way by treading along which those who preceded us were rewarded and honored with Thy bounties. Thus by reference to those who succeeded by travelling along this path, He generates enthusiasm for it. The third ingredient of persuasiveness is to describe the privation and wretchedness of those who discard the object of persuasion. This has been done in the words: Safeguard us against the ways of those who abandoned the right path and took to other ways and incurred Divine wrath and were lost. Thus He warned us against the harm that would befall in the event of deviating from the right path” (Commentary on The Holy Quran, Volume 1 Surah Fatihah compiled from the writings of The Promised Messiah (as)).

The Straight Path

Translation: The Straight Path

“Accordingly, the first [stage of] progress, which is the initial step in the field of nearness to God, has been taught in the verse where He says:

اِهْدِنَا الصِّرَاطَ الْمُسْتَقِيْمَ

Since adopting the straight path by relinquishing every kind of perversity and error, and turning wholly towards Allah, is the steep ascent which is described in other words as fana—insofar as [it is] a sudden departure from habitual and customary activities, and immediate abandonment of all personal desires which have developed into habits over a lifetime, and turning straight to God by abandoning all honor, reputation, haughtiness, and hypocrisy—deeming everything besides Allah as non-existent is, in fact, an undertaking that is tantamount to death; this death is the pivot of spiritual birth. Until a seed mingles with dust and loses its identity, it is impossible for a new grain to come into being. In the same way, the body of the spiritual birth develops from this fana. As the ego of man gradually breaks down and its actions, desires, and inclination towards creatures are progressively obliterated, so do the limbs of spiritual birth go on being fashioned until, when complete fana of self is achieved, he is granted the robe of the second being and the time comes of:

ثُمَّ اَنْشَاْنٰهُ خَلْقًا اٰخَرَ�Then We developed it into another creation (Surah al-Mu’minun, 23:15)

Since such a complete fana is not possible without the help, grace, and special attention of the All-Powerful, this prayer was taught:

اِهْدِنَا الصِّرَاطَ الْمُسْتَقِيْمَ

Meaning: O Allah! Establish us along the right path and deliver us from every type of distortion and misguidance.”

(Baraheen-Ahmadiyyah, Vol. IV, pp. 256-257 (English) [604-609 Urdu], Footnote 11).

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