Part 1 Surah 1- Al Fatihah (The Opening) Reveled in Makkah
Description About the Surah
Other names of Surah Al Fatihah are Umm Ul Kitab (Mother of the Book), Al Hamd, As Salah (reciting it is a condition for the correctness of Salah) and Ash Shifa (The Cure). It is also called Ar-Ruqyah (remedy).
On authority of Abu Hurayrah who have heard the Prophet (may the blessings and peace of Allah be up on him) say: “Allah (mighty and sublime be He), had said: ‘I have divided prayer between Myself and My servant into two halves, and My servant shall have what he has asked for. When the servant says: ‘Al-hamdu lillahi rabbi l-alamin’ (3), Allah (mighty and sublime be He) says: ‘My servant has praised Me.’ And when he says: ‘Ar-rahmani r-rahim’ (4), Allah (mighty and sublime be He) says: ‘My servant has extolled Me,’ and when he says: ‘Maliki yawmi d-din’ (5), Allah says: ‘My servant has glorified Me’ - and on one occasion He said: ‘My servant has submitted to My power.’ And when he says: ‘Iyyaka na budu wa iyyaka nasta in’ (6), He says: ‘This is between Me and My servant, and My servant shall have what he has asked for.’ And when he says: ‘Ihdina s-sirata l- mustaqim, siratal ladhina an amta alayhim ghayril-maghdubi alayhim wa la d-dallin’ (7), He says: ‘This is for My servant, and My servant shall have what he has asked for.’” [related by Muslim (also by Malik, at-Tirmidhi, Abu-Dawud, an-Nasa’i and Ibn Majah)]
Tafseer in Brief
1-- Bismillah is the first ayah of Al Fatihah and also an ayah of every surah except of Surah Taubah (9th Surah) . The scholars disagree over whether it is a seperate ayah before every surah or a part of an included in every surah at its beginning. Allah knows best. There is difference of opinions whether Bismillah be recited aloud in prayer or not. Those who did not agree that it is a part of Al Fatihah state that Bismillah should not be aloud. The scholars who stated that Bismillah is part of every Surah differ in their opinion that whether it be recited aloud or not. I collect before you the Hadith.
## Abu Huraryrah once performed the prayer and recited Bismillah aloud. After he finished the prayer, he said, " Among you, I perform the prayer that is closest to the prayer of the Messenger of Allah." Ad-Daraqutni and others stated this hadith as Sahih.
## Imam Malik stated that Bismillah is not recited aloud or silently based their view on what Imam Muslim recorded that 'Aishah said that Messenger of Allah used to start the prayer by reciting the Takbir (Allahu Akbar) and then recite Al hamdu Lillahi Rabbil Aalamin (All praise and thanks be to Allah, the Lord of all that exists)'
## Another hadith which recorded that Anas bin Malik said " I prayed behind the Prophet, Abu Bakr, Umar and Uthman and they used to start their prayer with Al hamdu Lillahi Rabbil Aalamin (All praise and thanks be to Allah, the Lord of all that exists)."
These are the opinions held by respected Imams, and their statements are similar in that they agree that prayer of those who recite Al Fatihah aloud or in secret is correct. All favor is from Allah.
-- Virtue of Bismillah
## Abu Huraryrah once performed the prayer and recited Bismillah aloud. After he finished the prayer, he said, " Among you, I perform the prayer that is closest to the prayer of the Messenger of Allah." Ad-Daraqutni and others stated this hadith as Sahih.
## Imam Malik stated that Bismillah is not recited aloud or silently based their view on what Imam Muslim recorded that 'Aishah said that Messenger of Allah used to start the prayer by reciting the Takbir (Allahu Akbar) and then recite Al hamdu Lillahi Rabbil Aalamin (All praise and thanks be to Allah, the Lord of all that exists)'
## Another hadith which recorded that Anas bin Malik said " I prayed behind the Prophet, Abu Bakr, Umar and Uthman and they used to start their prayer with Al hamdu Lillahi Rabbil Aalamin (All praise and thanks be to Allah, the Lord of all that exists)."
These are the opinions held by respected Imams, and their statements are similar in that they agree that prayer of those who recite Al Fatihah aloud or in secret is correct. All favor is from Allah.
-- Virtue of Bismillah
## Imam Ahmad recorded that in his Musnad that a person who was riding behind the Prophet said, " The Prophets animal tripped so I said 'Cursed Shaytan', the Prophet said, Do not say 'Cursed Shaytan', for if you say these words, Shaytan becomes arrogant and says 'With my strength i made him fall.' When you say 'Bismillah', Shaytan will become as small as a fly.
Bismillah is recommended before performing any deed. Bismillah is recommended before starting a Khutbah, before when one enters a place where he wants to relieve himself at beginning of ablution, and before eating. It gives full confidence to accomplish any task as one starts it with the name of Allah. Another benefit of saying Bismillah before any task would help you remind of doing any wrong and you would refrain from doing it.
## Imam Muslim recorded in his Sahih that Messenger of Allah said to Umar bin Abi Salamah when he was a child under his care,
-Say Bismillah
-Eat with your right hand
-and eat from whatever is next to you
## Ibn Abbas said that Messenger of Allah said, If anyone of you before having sexual relations with his wife says, 'In the name of Allah. O Allah protect us from Shaytan and also protect what you grant us ( coming offspring ) from Shaytan', and if it is destined that they should have a child then, Shaytan will never be able to harm that child.
It is said that Allah is the Greatest Name of Allah, because it is referred to when describing Allah by the various attributes. For instance, Allah said in the Quran,
** He is Allah, beside Whom La ilaha illa Huwa (none has the right to be worshipped but He) the Knower of the unseen and the seen. He is the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful. He is Allah, beside Whom La ilaha illa Huwa, the King, the Holy, the One free from all defects, the Giver of security, the Watcher over His creatures, the Almighty, the Compeller, the Supreme. Glory be to Allah! (High is He) above all that they associate as partners with Him. He is Allah, the Creator, the Inventor of all things, the Bestower of forms. To Him belong the Best Names. All that is in the heavens and the earth glorify Him. And He
is the Almighty, the Wise. (59:22-24).
** Say (O Muhammad): "Invoke Allah or invoke the Most Gracious (Allah), by whatever name you invoke Him (it is the same), for to Him belong the Best Names.'' (17:110)
-- Ar-Rahman Ar-Rahim - the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful
Ar-Rahman and Ar-Rahim are two names derived from Ar-Rahmah (the mercy), but Rahman has more meanings that pertain to mercy than Ar-Rahim. Ar-Rahman carries a broader scope of meanings pertaining to the mercy of Allah with His creation in both lives. Meanwhile, Ar- Rahim is exclusively for the believers.
Allah started the Tasmiyah (meaning, `In the Name of Allah, Most Gracious Most Merciful') with His Name, Allah, and described Himself as Ar-Rahman, (Most Gracious) which is softer and more general than Ar-Rahim. The most honorable Names are mentioned first, just as Allah did here.
2-- Al-Hamd (all praise and thanks) be to Allah, the Lord of all that exists.
These thanks are due to Allah's innumerable favors and bounties that only He knows the amount of. Allah's bounties include creating the tools that help the creation worship Him, the physical bodies with which they are able to implement His commands, the sustenance that He provides them in this life, and the comfortable life He has granted them, without anything or anyone compelling Him to do so. Allah also warned His creation and alerted them about the means and methods with which they can earn eternal dwelling in the residence of everlasting happiness. All thanks and praise are due to Allah for these favors from beginning to end. It encompasses all types of praise and thanks to Allah.
## Ibn `Abbas said,
"Al-Hamdu Lillah is the statement of appreciation. When the servant says Al-Hamdu Lillah, Allah says, `My servant has praised Me."
Al-`Alamin is plural for `Alam, which encompasses everything in existence except Allah.
4-- Allah mentioned His sovereignty of the Day of Resurrection, but this does not negate His sovereignty over all other things. For Allah mentioned that He is the Lord of existence, including this earthly life and the Hereafter. Allah only mentioned the Day of Recompense here because on that Day, no one except Him will be able to claim ownership of anything whatsoever. On that Day, no one will be allowed to speak without His permission. Ibn `Abbas commented, "Allah says, `On that Day, no one owns anything that they used to own in the world.'
Ad-Din means the reckoning, the reward or punishment.`Umar said,
- "Hold yourself accountable before you are held accountable,
- weigh yourselves before you are weighed, and
- be prepared for the biggest gathering before He Whose knowledge encompasses our deeds
ُThat Day shall you be brought to Judgement, not a secret of yours will be hidden. (69:18)'
5-- We worship You alone and none else, and rely on You alone and none else. This is the perfect form of obedience and the entire religion is implied by these two ideas. The stress on " you alone" we worship and ask for help implies of the fundamental part of Tawheed that is oneness of Allah
Bismillah is recommended before performing any deed. Bismillah is recommended before starting a Khutbah, before when one enters a place where he wants to relieve himself at beginning of ablution, and before eating. It gives full confidence to accomplish any task as one starts it with the name of Allah. Another benefit of saying Bismillah before any task would help you remind of doing any wrong and you would refrain from doing it.
## Imam Muslim recorded in his Sahih that Messenger of Allah said to Umar bin Abi Salamah when he was a child under his care,
-Say Bismillah
-Eat with your right hand
-and eat from whatever is next to you
## Ibn Abbas said that Messenger of Allah said, If anyone of you before having sexual relations with his wife says, 'In the name of Allah. O Allah protect us from Shaytan and also protect what you grant us ( coming offspring ) from Shaytan', and if it is destined that they should have a child then, Shaytan will never be able to harm that child.
It is said that Allah is the Greatest Name of Allah, because it is referred to when describing Allah by the various attributes. For instance, Allah said in the Quran,
** He is Allah, beside Whom La ilaha illa Huwa (none has the right to be worshipped but He) the Knower of the unseen and the seen. He is the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful. He is Allah, beside Whom La ilaha illa Huwa, the King, the Holy, the One free from all defects, the Giver of security, the Watcher over His creatures, the Almighty, the Compeller, the Supreme. Glory be to Allah! (High is He) above all that they associate as partners with Him. He is Allah, the Creator, the Inventor of all things, the Bestower of forms. To Him belong the Best Names. All that is in the heavens and the earth glorify Him. And He
is the Almighty, the Wise. (59:22-24).
** Say (O Muhammad): "Invoke Allah or invoke the Most Gracious (Allah), by whatever name you invoke Him (it is the same), for to Him belong the Best Names.'' (17:110)
-- Ar-Rahman Ar-Rahim - the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful
Ar-Rahman and Ar-Rahim are two names derived from Ar-Rahmah (the mercy), but Rahman has more meanings that pertain to mercy than Ar-Rahim. Ar-Rahman carries a broader scope of meanings pertaining to the mercy of Allah with His creation in both lives. Meanwhile, Ar- Rahim is exclusively for the believers.
Allah started the Tasmiyah (meaning, `In the Name of Allah, Most Gracious Most Merciful') with His Name, Allah, and described Himself as Ar-Rahman, (Most Gracious) which is softer and more general than Ar-Rahim. The most honorable Names are mentioned first, just as Allah did here.
2-- Al-Hamd (all praise and thanks) be to Allah, the Lord of all that exists.
These thanks are due to Allah's innumerable favors and bounties that only He knows the amount of. Allah's bounties include creating the tools that help the creation worship Him, the physical bodies with which they are able to implement His commands, the sustenance that He provides them in this life, and the comfortable life He has granted them, without anything or anyone compelling Him to do so. Allah also warned His creation and alerted them about the means and methods with which they can earn eternal dwelling in the residence of everlasting happiness. All thanks and praise are due to Allah for these favors from beginning to end. It encompasses all types of praise and thanks to Allah.
## Ibn `Abbas said,
"Al-Hamdu Lillah is the statement of appreciation. When the servant says Al-Hamdu Lillah, Allah says, `My servant has praised Me."
Al-`Alamin is plural for `Alam, which encompasses everything in existence except Allah.
4-- Allah mentioned His sovereignty of the Day of Resurrection, but this does not negate His sovereignty over all other things. For Allah mentioned that He is the Lord of existence, including this earthly life and the Hereafter. Allah only mentioned the Day of Recompense here because on that Day, no one except Him will be able to claim ownership of anything whatsoever. On that Day, no one will be allowed to speak without His permission. Ibn `Abbas commented, "Allah says, `On that Day, no one owns anything that they used to own in the world.'
Ad-Din means the reckoning, the reward or punishment.`Umar said,
- "Hold yourself accountable before you are held accountable,
- weigh yourselves before you are weighed, and
- be prepared for the biggest gathering before He Whose knowledge encompasses our deeds
ُThat Day shall you be brought to Judgement, not a secret of yours will be hidden. (69:18)'
5-- We worship You alone and none else, and rely on You alone and none else. This is the perfect form of obedience and the entire religion is implied by these two ideas. The stress on " you alone" we worship and ask for help implies of the fundamental part of Tawheed that is oneness of Allah
The first part is a declaration of innocence from Shirk (polytheism), while the second negates having any power or strength, displaying the recognition that all affairs are controlled by Allah alone.
6-- Guide us to the straight path.
The guidance mentioned in the Surah implies being directed and guided to success. the meaning of As-Sirat Al-Mustaqim, Imam Abu Ja`far
At-Tabari said, "The Ummah agreed that Sirat Al-Mustaqim, is the
clear path without branches, according to the language
of the Arabs.
At-Tabari said, "The Ummah agreed that Sirat Al-Mustaqim, is the
clear path without branches, according to the language
of the Arabs.
Imam Ahmad recorded in his Musnad that An-Nawwas bin Sam`an said that the Prophet said,
Allah has set an example:
a Sirat (straight path) that is surrounded by two walls on both sides, with several open doors within the walls covered with curtains.
-There is a caller on the gate of the Sirat who heralds,
'O people! Stay on the path and do not deviate
from it.'
'O people! Stay on the path and do not deviate
from it.'
-Meanwhile, a caller from above the path is also warning any person who wants to open any of these doors, 'Woe unto you! Do not open it, for if you open it you will pass through.'
- The straight path is Islam,
- the two walls are Allah's set limits,
- while the doors resemble what Allah has prohibited.
- The caller on the gate of the Sirat is the Book of Allah,
- while the caller above the Sirat is Allah's admonishment in the heart of every Muslim.
- The straight path is Islam,
- the two walls are Allah's set limits,
- while the doors resemble what Allah has prohibited.
- The caller on the gate of the Sirat is the Book of Allah,
- while the caller above the Sirat is Allah's admonishment in the heart of every Muslim.
7-- The way of those upon whom You have bestowed Your grace, not (that) of those who earned Your anger, nor of those who went astray. This Ayah defines the path (Sirat Ul Mustaqeem) mentioned in the previous ayah. Those upon whom Allah has bestowed His grace' are those mentioned in Surat An-Nisa' (chapter 4), when Allah said,
** And whoever obeys Allah and the Messenger (Muhammad), then they will be in the company of those on whom Allah has bestowed His grace, the Prophets, the Siddiqin (the truly faithful), the martyrs, and the righteous. And how excellent these companions are! Such is the bounty from Allah, and Allah is sufficient to know. (4:69-70)
Allah asserted that the two paths He described here are both misguided when He repeated the negation `not'. These two paths are the paths of the Christians and Jews, a fact that the believer should beware of so that he
avoids them. The path of the believers is knowledge of the truth and abiding by it. In comparison, the Jews abandoned practicing the religion, while the Christians lost the true knowledge. This is why `anger' descended upon the Jews, while being described as `led astray' is more appropriate of the Christians. Those who know, but avoid implementing the truth, deserve the anger, unlike those who are ignorant. The Christians want to seek the true knowledge, but are unable to find it because they did not seek it from its proper resources.
It is recommended to say Amin after finishing the recitation of Al-Fatihah. Amin means, "O Allah! Accept our invocation.''
## The evidence that saying Amin is recommended is contained in what Imams Ahmad, Abu Dawud and At- Tirmidhi recorded, that Wa'il bin Hujr said,
"I heard the Messenger of Allah recite,Not (that) of those who earned Your anger, nor of those who went astray), and he said `Amin' extending it with his voice."
## Muslim recorded that the Messenger of Allah said, When any of you says in the prayer, 'Amin` and the angels in heaven say, `Amin', in unison, his previous sins will be forgiven.
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