إِنَّ الْحَمْدَ لِلَّهِ ,نَحْمَدُهُ ,وَنَسْتَعِينُهُ وَنَسْتَغْفِرُهُ , وَنَعُوذُ بِاللهِ مِنْ شُرُورِ أَنْفُسِنَا وَمِنْ سَيِّئَاتِ أَعْمَالِنَا ,مَنْ يَهْدِهِ اللهُ فَلَا مُضِلَّ لَهُ , وَمَنْ يُضْلِلْ فَلَا هَادِيَ لَهُ , وَأَشْهَدُ أَنْ لَا إِلَهَ إِلَّا اللهُ وَحْدَهُ لَا شَرِيكَ لَهُ وَأَشْهَدُ أَنَّ مُحَمَّدًا عَبْدُهُ وَرَسُولُهُ
صَلِّ وَسَلِّمْ وَباَرِكْ عَلَيْهِ وَعَلىَ آلِهِ وَصَحْبِهِ وَسَلِّمْ تَسْلِيْماً كَثِيْراً
بِسۡمِ ٱللَّهِ ٱلرَّحۡمَـٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ (١)
ٱلۡحَمۡدُ لِلَّهِ رَبِّ ٱلۡعَـٰلَمِينَ (٢) ٱلرَّحۡمَـٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ (٣) مَـٰلِكِ يَوۡمِ ٱلدِّينِ (٤) إِيَّاكَ نَعۡبُدُ وَإِيَّاكَ نَسۡتَعِينُ (٥) ٱهۡدِنَا ٱلصِّرَٲطَ ٱلۡمُسۡتَقِيمَ (٦) صِرَٲطَ ٱلَّذِينَ أَنۡعَمۡتَ عَلَيۡهِمۡ غَيۡرِ ٱلۡمَغۡضُوبِ عَلَيۡهِمۡ وَلَا ٱلضَّآلِّينَ (٧)
My brothers and sisters,
Surah al Fatiha is a unique surah in the Quran, it is the surah that is obligated by ALLAH SWT to recite in every rikah of each and every salah. There are 4 names of surah Al Fatiha mentioned in Hadees,
Al Fatiha is mentioned in the Hadees where our Rasool ALLAH SAW said: He who doesn’t recite Fatiha from the book, is not from us Muslims. Fatiha generally means opening, which is the opening of the Quran, it acts as the introduction of the whole Quran, therefore the meanings of the entire Quran is summarized in Al Fatiha. Fatiha also means a way out, that saves you from problems.
2nd and 3rd names are similar. Ummul Quran and Ummul Kitab. We all know what Umm means the mother, and Umm also means the basis or the origin. So Ummul kitab means the jist of the kitab.
4th name is mentioned in the Quran itself,
وَلَقَدۡ ءَاتَيۡنَـٰكَ سَبۡعً۬ا مِّنَ ٱلۡمَثَانِى وَٱلۡقُرۡءَانَ ٱلۡعَظِيمَ
This is the powerful verse that explains the status of surat al Fatiha. We have given you seven مَثَانِى and along with it, we have given you the Quran the magnificent. This shows us that is rest of the Quran is the commentary of Surat al Fatiha.
The Surah starts with the praise of ALLAH SWT, explains the attributes of Ar Rahman and Ar Raheem. Explains us about the akhirah () مَـٰلِكِ يَوۡمِ ٱلدِّين. ,
Commands us to worship him alone , explains how we must ask for Dua, explains us whose path we have to follow (the Rasool).
The most important and profound ayah is the one that explains the worship of ALLAH, and ask for his help from our heart. ) إِيَّاكَ نَعۡبُدُ وَإِيَّاكَ نَسۡتَعِينُ
Worship is the action, and isti’ana is spiritual link of a human with his Lord.
Surat Al Fatiha is the very first surah revealed as complete surah. We know that Iqra is the first ayah revealed, then its Muzammil, Mudassir, but these ayaat were not complete surah. The very first surah that is revealed is Surah al Fatiha.
We will conclude with one beautiful blessing of Surah al Fatiha. Once one angel came to Rasool ALLAH SAW, and greeted Rasool ALLAH SAW, and said, Ya Rasool ALLAH, You have been given two lights that no other prophet has been given. Our Lord has said that which of these two lights you recite, you will get what you ask for. The first is the Surah al Fatiha, and second is the end of Surat al Baqarah.
It is indeed very essential for all of us to take these blessings of Surah al Fatiha.