Surah Al-Fatiha

Time of Revelation

This is the first Makki surah, which was revealed during the initial secret phase of the prophetic call.
Since it is one of the earliest surahs of the Qur’an, it shares a deep connection with the two surahs that follow it.

Different Names

The well-known name of this surah is Surah Al-Fatiha. Fatiha means “The Opener.” Here, it refers to the beginning of the Qur’an because the Qur’an commences with this surah. Therefore, it was named Al-Fatiha.
This surah has several other names as well:

• Fatiḥat al-Kitāb (The Opening of the Book)

• Fatiḥat al-Qur’an (The Opening of the Qur’an)

• Umm al-Kitāb (Mother of the Book)

• Umm al-Qur’an (Mother of the Qur’an)

• Ash-Shāfiyah (The Healer)

• Asās al-Qur’an (The Foundation of the Qur’an)

• As-Sab’ al-Mathānī (The Seven Oft-Repeated Verses)

• Surah As-Salah (The Surah of Prayer)

Virtue and Importance

The most exalted surah of the Qur’an:

حَدَّثَنَا مُسَدَّدٌ، حَدَّثَنَا يَحْيَى، عَنْ شُعْبَةَ، قَالَ حَدَّثَنِي خُبَيْبُ بْنُ عَبْدِ الرَّحْمَنِ، عَنْ حَفْصِ بْنِ عَاصِمٍ، عَنْ أَبِي سَعِيدِ بْنِ الْمُعَلَّى، قَالَ كُنْتُ أُصَلِّي فِي الْمَسْجِدِ فَدَعَانِي رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم فَلَمْ أُجِبْهُ، فَقُلْتُ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ إِنِّي كُنْتُ أُصَلِّي‏.‏ فَقَالَ ‏”‏ أَلَمْ يَقُلِ اللَّهُ ‏{‏اسْتَجِيبُوا لِلَّهِ وَلِلرَّسُولِ إِذَا دَعَاكُمْ‏}‏ ثُمَّ قَالَ لِي لأُعَلِّمَنَّكَ سُورَةً هِيَ أَعْظَمُ السُّوَرِ فِي الْقُرْآنِ قَبْلَ أَنْ تَخْرُجَ مِنَ الْمَسْجِدِ ‏”‏‏.‏ ثُمَّ أَخَذَ بِيَدِي، فَلَمَّا أَرَادَ أَنْ يَخْرُجَ قُلْتُ لَهُ أَلَمْ تَقُلْ ‏”‏ لأُعَلِّمَنَّكَ سُورَةً هِيَ أَعْظَمُ سُورَةٍ فِي الْقُرْآنِ ‏”‏‏.‏ قَالَ ‏”‏ ‏{‏الْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ رَبِّ الْعَالَمِينَ‏}‏ هِيَ السَّبْعُ الْمَثَانِي وَالْقُرْآنُ الْعَظِيمُ الَّذِي أُوتِيتُهُ ‏”‏‏.‏

Narrated Abu Sa`id bin Al-Mu’alla: While I was praying in the Mosque, Allah’s Messenger (ﷺ) called me but I did not respond to him. Later I said, “O Allah’s Messenger (ﷺ)! I was praying.” He said, “Didn’t Allah say’–“Give your response to Allah (by obeying Him) and to His Apostle when he calls you.” (8.24) He then said to me, “I will teach you a Sura which is the greatest Sura in the Qur’an, before you leave the Mosque.” Then he got hold of my hand, and when he intended to leave (the Mosque), I said to him, “Didn’t you say to me, ‘I will teach you a Sura which is the greatest Sura in the Qur’an?’ He said, “Al-Hamdu-Li l-lah Rabbi-l-`alamin (i.e. Praise be to Allah, the Lord of the worlds) which is Al-Sab’a Al-Mathani (i.e. seven repeatedly recited Verses) and the Grand Qur’an which has been given to me.” (Sahih al-Bukhari 4474)

No chapter like it has been revealed.

حَدَّثَنَا قُتَيْبَةُ، قَالَ حَدَّثَنَا عَبْدُ الْعَزِيزِ بْنُ مُحَمَّدٍ، عَنِ الْعَلاَءِ بْنِ عَبْدِ الرَّحْمَنِ، عَنْ أَبِيهِ، عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ، أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم خَرَجَ عَلَى أُبَىِّ بْنِ كَعْبٍ فَقَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم ‏”‏ يَا أُبَىُّ ‏”‏ ‏.‏ وَهُوَ يُصَلِّي فَالْتَفَتَ أُبَىٌّ وَلَمْ يُجِبْهُ وَصَلَّى أُبَىٌّ فَخَفَّفَ ثُمَّ انْصَرَفَ إِلَى رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم فَقَالَ السَّلاَمُ عَلَيْكَ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ ‏.‏ فَقَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم ‏”‏ وَعَلَيْكَ السَّلاَمُ مَا مَنَعَكَ يَا أُبَىُّ أَنْ تُجِيبَنِي إِذْ دَعَوْتُكَ ‏”‏ ‏.‏ فَقَالَ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ إِنِّي كُنْتُ فِي الصَّلاَةِ ‏.‏ قَالَ ‏”‏ أَفَلَمْ تَجِدْ فِيمَا أَوْحَى اللَّهُ إِلَىَّ أَنِ ‏(‏استَجِيبُوا لِلَّهِ وَلِلرَّسُولِ إِذَا دَعَاكُمْ لِمَا يُحْيِيكُمْ ‏)‏ ‏”‏ ‏.‏ قَالَ بَلَى وَلاَ أَعُودُ إِنْ شَاءَ اللَّهُ ‏.‏ قَالَ ‏”‏ تُحِبُّ أَنْ أُعَلِّمَكَ سُورَةً لَمْ يَنْزِلْ فِي التَّوْرَاةِ وَلاَ فِي الإِنْجِيلِ وَلاَ فِي الزَّبُورِ وَلاَ فِي الْفُرْقَانِ مِثْلُهَا ‏”‏ ‏.‏ قَالَ نَعَمْ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ ‏.‏ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم ‏”‏ كَيْفَ تَقْرَأُ فِي الصَّلاَةِ ‏”‏ ‏.‏ قَالَ فَقَرَأَ أُمَّ الْقُرْآنِ فَقَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم ‏”‏ وَالَّذِي نَفْسِي بِيَدِهِ مَا أُنْزِلَتْ فِي التَّوْرَاةِ وَلاَ فِي الإِنْجِيلِ وَلاَ فِي الزَّبُورِ وَلاَ فِي الْفُرْقَانِ مِثْلُهَا وَإِنَّهَا سَبْعٌ مِنَ الْمَثَانِي وَالْقُرْآنُ الْعَظِيمُ الَّذِي أُعْطِيتُهُ ‏”‏ ‏.‏ قَالَ أَبُو عِيسَى هَذَا حَدِيثٌ حَسَنٌ صَحِيحٌ ‏.‏ وَفِي الْبَابِ عَنْ أَنَسِ بْنِ مَالِكٍ وَفِيهِ عَنْ أَبِي سَعِيدِ بْنِ الْمُعَلَّى ‏.‏

Narrated Abu Hurairah: that the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) came out to Ubayy bin Ka’b, and the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said: “O Ubayy!” And he was performing Salat, so Ubayy turned around but he did not respond to him, so Ubayy finished his Salat quickly. Then he turned to the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) and said: ‘As-Salamu ‘Alaikum, O Messenger of Allah!’ The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said: ‘Wa ‘Alaikum As-Salam – what prevented you from responding to me when I called you Ubayy?’ He said: ‘O Messenger of Allah! I was performing Salat.’ So he said: ‘Do you not find among what Allah revealed to me: Respond to Allah and to the Messenger when they call you to what gives you life?’ He said: ‘Of course, I shall not repeat that, if Allah wills.’ He said: ‘Would you like for me to teach you a Surah the likes of which has neither been revealed in the Tawrah, nor the Injil, nor the Zabur, nor in the entire Qur’an?’ He said: “Yes, O Messenger of Allah!’ The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said: ‘What do you recite in your Salat?’ He said: ‘I recite Umm Al-Qur’an.’ So the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said: ‘By the One in Whose Hand is my soul! The like of it has neither been revealed in the Tawrah, nor the Injil nor the Zabur, nor in the Furqan. It is the seven oft-repeated, and the Magnificent Qur’an which I was given.'” (Jami` at-Tirmidhi 2875)

Surah Al-Fatiha is a light that was never revealed before the Noble Prophet (ﷺ)

عَنِ ابْنِ عَبَّاسٍ، قَالَ بَيْنَمَا جِبْرِيلُ قَاعِدٌ عِنْدَ النَّبِيِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم سَمِعَ نَقِيضًا مِنْ فَوْقِهِ فَرَفَعَ رَأْسَهُ فَقَالَ هَذَا بَابٌ مِنَ السَّمَاءِ فُتِحَ الْيَوْمَ لَمْ يُفْتَحْ قَطُّ إِلاَّ الْيَوْمَ فَنَزَلَ مِنْهُ مَلَكٌ فَقَالَ هَذَا مَلَكٌ نَزَلَ إِلَى الأَرْضِ لَمْ يَنْزِلْ قَطُّ إِلاَّ الْيَوْمَ فَسَلَّمَ وَقَالَ أَبْشِرْ بِنُورَيْنِ أُوتِيتَهُمَا لَمْ يُؤْتَهُمَا نَبِيٌّ قَبْلَكَ فَاتِحَةُ الْكِتَابِ وَخَوَاتِيمُ سُورَةِ الْبَقَرَةِ لَنْ تَقْرَأَ بِحَرْفٍ مِنْهُمَا إِلاَّ أُعْطِيتَهُ ‏.‏

Abdullāh b. Abbās reported that while Angel Jibreel was sitting with the Messenger of Allah ﷺ, he heard a sound above him. He lifted his head, and said, “This is a gate which has been opened in heaven today. It was never opened before.” Then an Angel descended through it, he said, “This is an Angel who has come down to earth He never came down before.” He sent greetings and said, “Rejoice with two lights given to you. Such lights were not given to any Prophet before you. These (lights) are: Fātiḥatul-Kitāb (Sūrah al-Fātiḥah), and the concluding (Āyāt) of Sūrah Al-Baqarah. You will never recite a word from them without being granted (your du’ā).” (Reference: Sahih Muslim 806)

The Crying of Iblis at the Time of the Revelation of Surah Al-Fatiha

It is narrated from Sayyiduna Abu Huraira (رضي الله عنه) that the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said:

أنَّ إِبْلِيسَ رَنَّ حِينَ أُنْزِلَتْ فَاتِحَةُ الْكِتَابِ

Indeed, Iblis cried out loudly when Surah Al-Fatiha was revealed.
(Sahih Muslim: 806)

Surah Al-Fatiha is the “Mother of the Qur’an” (the mother of the entire Qur’an).
(Al-Mu’jam Al-Awsat: 4788)

It is narrated from Sayyiduna Abu Huraira (رضي الله عنه) that the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said regarding Surah Al-Fatiha:

هي أُمُّ الْقُرْآنِ، وَهِيَ السَّبْعُ الْمَثَانِي، وَهِيَ الْقُرْآنُ الْعَظِيمُ

This is the Mother of the Qur’an, these are the seven oft-repeated verses, and this is the Magnificent Qur’an.

The Virtue of Reciting Surah Al-Fatihah on Friday

Sayyidah Asma bint Abi Bakr (رضي الله عنها) narrates:

مسند احمد مَنْ قَرَأَ بَعْدَ الْجُمُعَةِ فَاتِحَةَ الْكِتَابِ، وقُلْ هُوَ اللهُ أَحَدٌ، وَقُلْ أَعُوذُ بِرَبِّ الْفَلَقِ، وَقُلْ أَعُوذُ برب النَّاسِ حَفِظَ مَا بَيْنَهُ وَبَيْنَ الْجُمُعَةِ

Whoever recites Surah Al-Fatihah, Qul Huwa Allahu Ahad (Surah Al-Ikhlas), Qul A’udhu bi-Rabbi al-Falaq (Surah Al-Falaq), and Qul A’udhu bi-Rabbi al-Nas (Surah Al-Nas) after Jumu’ah (Friday prayer), he will be protected from one Friday to the next.

Imam Wasi’ (رحمه الله) said:

فجربناه فوجدناه كذالك

I experienced it myself and found it exactly so.”
Musannaf Ibn Abi Shaybah: 29602

Surah Al-Fatiha is a supplication

Sayyiduna Abu Hurairah (رضي الله عنه) reports that he heard the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) saying: Allah Almighty said:

قَسَمْتُ الصَّلَاةَ بَيْنِي وَبَيْنَ عَبْدِي نِصْفَيْنِ، وَلِعَبْدِي مَا سَأَلَ، فَإِذَا قَالَ الْعَبْدُ : (الْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ رَبِّ الْعَالَمِينَ، قَالَ اللهُ تَعَالَى : حَمِدَنِي عَبْدِي، وَإِذَا قَالَ : (الرَّحْمَنِ الرَّحِيمِ، قَالَ اللهُ تَعَالَى : أَثْنَى عَلَيَّ عَبْدِي، وَإِذَا قَالَ : مَالِكِ يَوْمِ الدِّينِ ، قَالَ : مَجْدَنِي عَبْدِي – وَقَالَ مَرَّةً فَوَّضَ إِلَيَّ عَبْدِي – فَإِذَا قَالَ : (إِيَّاكَ نَعْبُدُ وَإِيَّاكَ نَسْتَعِينُ قَالَ : هَذَا بَيْنِي وَبَيْنَ عَبْدِي وَلِعَبْدِي مَا سَأَلَ، فَإِذَا قَالَ : اهْدِنَا الصِّرَاطَ الْمُسْتَقِيمَ صِرَاطَ الَّذِينَ أَنْعَمْتَ عَلَيْهِمْ غَيْرِ المَغْضُوبِ عَلَيْهِمْ وَلَا الضَّالِّينَ قَالَ : هَذَا لِعَبْدِي وَلِعَبْدِي مَا سَأَلَ

“I have divided the prayer between Myself and My servant into two halves, and for My servant is whatever he asks for. When the servant says: (الحمد لله رب العالمين) ‘All praise is due to Allah, the Lord of all the worlds,’ Allah says: ‘My servant has praised Me.’
When he says: (الرحمن الرحيم) ‘The Most Merciful, the Especially Merciful,’ Allah says: ‘My servant has glorified Me.’
When he says: (مالك يوم الدين) ‘Master of the Day of Judgment,’ Allah says: ‘My servant has exalted Me,’ and once He said: ‘My servant has entrusted his affairs to Me.’
Then when he says: (إياك نعبد وإياك نستعين) ‘You alone we worship, and You alone we ask for help,’ Allah says: ‘This is between Me and My servant, and for My servant is whatever he asks.’
And when he says: (اهدنا الصراط المستقيم صراط الذين أنعمت عليهم غير المغضوب عليهم ولا الضالين) ‘Guide us to the straight path — the path of those upon whom You have bestowed favor, not of those who have incurred Your wrath, nor of those who have gone astray,’ Allah says: ‘This is for My servant, and for My servant is what he asked.'” (Sahih Muslim: 878)

Surah Al-Fatiha is a cure

عَنْ أَبِي سَعِيدٍ الْخُدْرِيِّ، قَالَ كُنَّا فِي مَسِيرٍ لَنَا فَنَزَلْنَا فَجَاءَتْ جَارِيَةٌ فَقَالَتْ إِنَّ سَيِّدَ الْحَىِّ سَلِيمٌ، وَإِنَّ نَفَرَنَا غُيَّبٌ فَهَلْ مِنْكُمْ رَاقٍ فَقَامَ مَعَهَا رَجُلٌ مَا كُنَّا نَأْبُنُهُ بِرُقْيَةٍ فَرَقَاهُ فَبَرَأَ فَأَمَرَ لَهُ بِثَلاَثِينَ شَاةً وَسَقَانَا لَبَنًا فَلَمَّا رَجَعَ قُلْنَا لَهُ أَكُنْتَ تُحْسِنُ رُقْيَةً أَوْ كُنْتَ تَرْقِي قَالَ لاَ مَا رَقَيْتُ إِلاَّ بِأُمِّ الْكِتَابِ‏.‏ قُلْنَا لاَ تُحْدِثُوا شَيْئًا حَتَّى نَأْتِيَ ـ أَوْ نَسْأَلَ ـ النَّبِيَّ صلى الله عليه وسلم فَلَمَّا قَدِمْنَا الْمَدِينَةَ ذَكَرْنَاهُ لِلنَّبِيِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم فَقَالَ ‏ “‏ وَمَا كَانَ يُدْرِيهِ أَنَّهَا رُقْيَةٌ اقْسِمُوا وَاضْرِبُوا لِي بِسَهْمٍ ‏”‏‏.‏

Abu Sa’īd al-Khudrī said, “Some of the Companions of the Prophet ﷺ went on a journey. They alighted with a certain clan of the Arabs. Someone of them said, “Our chief has been stung by a scorpion or bitten by a snake. Has any of you something which gives relief to our chief?” A man of the people said, “Yes, I swear by Allah. I can recite an invocation, but we asked you for hospitality and you denied it to us. I shall not recite the invocation until you give me some payment.” So, they promised to give some sheep to him. He came to him and recited Sūrah al-Fātiḥah over him and blew (upon him) till he was cured, and he seemed as if he were set free from a bond. So, they gave him the payment that was agreed between them. They said, “Distribute it.” The man who applied the treatment said, “Do not do it until we approach the Messenger of Allah ﷺ.” And He ﷺ said, “From where did you learn that it was a treatment? You have done right. Apportion them, and give me a share along with you.” (Reference: Sahih al-Bukhari 5007)

In another narration, it is clearly mentioned that those people had refused to offer hospitality to Sayyiduna Abu Sa’id Al-Khudri (رضي الله عنه) and his companions; therefore, they set the condition of thirty goats.

Prayer is not valid without the recitation of Surah Al-Fatiha

Abu Hurairah (رضي الله عنه) narrates that the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said:

مَنْ صَلَّى صَلَاةً لَمْ يَقْرَأُ فِيهَا بِأُمِّ الْقُرْآنِ فَهِيَ خِدَاجٌ ثَلَاثًا غَيْرُ تَمَامٍ

Whoever performed the prayer without reciting Umm al-Qur’an (i.e., Surah Al-Fatihah), then his prayer is deficient, deficient, deficient, incomplete.

Translation of Surah Al-Fatihah

It is necessary that: one should always remember the blessings of Allah Almighty.

بِسْمِ ٱللَّهِ ٱلرَّحْمَـٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ ١

With the name of Allah, the All-Merciful, the Very-Merciful. (1:1)

ٱلْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ رَبِّ ٱلْعَـٰلَمِينَ ٢

Praise belongs to Allah, the Lord of all the worlds. (1:2)

ٱلرَّحْمَـٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ ٣

the All-Merciful, the Very Merciful. (1:3)

مَـٰلِكِ يَوْمِ ٱلدِّينِ ٤

the Master of the Day of Requital. (1:4)

إِيَّاكَ نَعْبُدُ وَإِيَّاكَ نَسْتَعِينُ ٥

You alone do we worship, and from You alone do we seek help. (1:5)

ٱهْدِنَا ٱلصِّرَٰطَ ٱلْمُسْتَقِيمَ ٦

Take us on the straight path. (1:6)

صِرَٰطَ ٱلَّذِينَ أَنْعَمْتَ عَلَيْهِمْ غَيْرِ ٱلْمَغْضُوبِ عَلَيْهِمْ وَلَا ٱلضَّآلِّينَ ٧

the path of those on whom You have bestowed Your Grace, not of those who have incurred Your wrath, nor of those who have gone astray. (1:7)

Summary of the Surah

Surah Al-Fatiha is the summary of the entire Qur’an, and within the summary of Surah Al-Fatiha, four key points are highlighted:

• The belief in the Oneness of Allah (Tawheed)

• Worship of Allah Almighty

• The Islamic way of life

• Self-reformation by taking guidance from the stories of the righteous and the wicked, their characters, and their ultimate ends.

For the summary of Surah-Al-Baqarah Click Here!

سورة الفاتحه