|
| number-3 =001
| name =Al-Fātiḥah
| name-ar =الْفَاتِحَةٱلۡفَاتِحَةِ
| name-en =The Opening
| prev_sura = Quran 114
| next_sura = Quran 2
| classification =Meccan
| juz =1, [[Hizb]] 1
| verses =6 or 7
| words =25 or 29
| letters =113 or 139
| audio = 001FatihaSura Minshawi 1.ogg
}}
[[File:Chapter 1, Al-Fatiha (Mujawwad) - Recitation of the Holy Qur'an.mp3|thumb|right|Recitation of Al-Fatiha in the [[Mujawwad]] style]]
[[Image:Al Fatihah - naskh script.jpg|thumb|A 14th- or 15th-century manuscript of the chapter
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[[File:Headings for Chapter 1, al-Fatiha, and for Chapter 2, al-Baqara (CBL Is 1431, f.9b).jpg|thumb|Headings for Al-Fatiha, and for Chapter 2, [[Al-Baqara]]. From the Qur'an of [[Ibn al-Bawwab]]. [[Baghdad]], 1000/1001. [[Chester Beatty Library]]]]
#بِسْمِ ٱللَّهِ ٱلرَّحْمَـٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ
'''Al-Fatiha''' ({{langx|ar|ٱلۡفَاتِحَةِ|translit=al-Fātiḥa|lit=the Opening}}) is the first chapter ({{Transliteration|ar|[[surah|sura]]}}) of the [[Quran]]. It consists of seven verses (''{{Transliteration|ar|[[ayat]]}}'') which consist of a [[Dua|prayer]] for guidance and mercy.<ref name="qtaf">{{Qtaf|en:ibk|1|1}}</ref>
#ٱلْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ رَبِّ ٱلْعَـٰلَمِينَ
#ٱلرَّحْمَـٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ
#مَـٰلِكِ يَوْمِ ٱلدِّينِ
#إِيَّاكَ نَعْبُدُ وَإِيَّاكَ نَسْتَعِينُ
#ٱهْدٱلْمُسْتَقِيمَ
#صِرَ ٰطَ ٱلَّذِينَ أَنْعَمْتَ عَلَيْهِمْ غَيْرِ ٱلْمَغْضُوبِ عَلَيْهِمْ وَلاَ ٱلضَّاۤلِّينَ
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Al-Fatiha is recited in Muslim obligatory and voluntary [[prayer]]s, known as ''[[salah]]''. The primary literal meaning of the expression "Al-Fatiha" is "The Opener/The Key".
'''Al-Fatiha''', alternatively transliterated '''Al-Fātiḥa''' or '''Al-Fātiḥah''' ({{lang-ar| الفاتحة}}, {{IPA-ar|ʔal faːtiħah|IPA}}; {{small|lit.}} "''The Opening"'' or "''The Opener"'') is the first ''[[surah]]'' (chapter) of the [[Quran]]. It consists of 6{{citation needed|reason=According to Imam Ibn Kathir, there is no disagreement over the view that Al-Fatihah contains seven Ayat|date=June 2021}} or 7 ''[[āyah|āyāt]]'' (verses) which are a [[Dua|prayer]] for guidance and mercy.<ref name="Maududi">{{cite book|last=Maududi|first=Sayyid Abul Ala|title=Tafhim Al Quran|url=http://www.englishtafsir.com/Quran/1/index.html|access-date=2013-06-17|archive-date=2013-07-28|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130728184437/http://www.englishtafsir.com/Quran/1/index.html|url-status=live}}</ref> Al-Fatiha is recited in Muslim obligatory and voluntary prayers, known as ''[[salah]]''.
Quranic chapter titles are not considered by Muslims to be part of the [[Revelation#Islam|divine revelation]] of the Quran.<ref>[https://www.emmanuel.utoronto.ca/about-emmanuel/facultystaff-directory/nevin-reda/ Nevin Reda] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200814201703/https://emmanuel.utoronto.ca/about-emmanuel/facultystaff-directory/nevin-reda/ |date=2020-08-14 }}, Introduction to the Quran in Three Testaments: Torah, Gospel and Quran (Plymouth: Rowman and Littlefield, 2012)</ref> The primary literal meaning of the expression "Al-Fatiha" is "The Opener," which could refer to this Surah being the first in the Quran, the first chapter recited in full in every ''[[rakat]]'' of ''salah'', or to the manner in which it serves as an opening for many functions in everyday Islamic life. Some Muslims interpret it as a reference to an implied ability of the Surah to open a person to faith in God.
The most commonly accepted view about the origins of the ''surah'' is the view of [[Ibn Abbas]], among others, that Al-Fatiha is a [[Meccan surah|Meccan ''surah'']], although some believe that it is either a [[Medinan surah]] or was revealed in both [[Mecca]] and [[Medina]].<ref>{{cite book |last=Ahmad |first=Mirza Bahir Ud-Din |title=The Quran with English Translation and Commentary |publisher= [[Islam International Publications Ltd. ]] |year=1988 |isbn=1-85372-045-3 |pages=1}}</ref> Most narrators recorded that al-Fātiḥah was the first complete Surah revealed to [[Muhammad]].<ref name="Maududi" /> ▼
The name Al-Fatiha ("the Opener") could refer to the ''surah'' being the first in the [[Mus'haf]]s, the first to be recited in each ''[[rakat]]'' of ''[[salah]]'', or to the manner of its usage in many Islamic traditions as an opening prayer. The word itself comes from the [[triliteral root|root]] {{transliterate|ar|f-t-ḥ}} ({{wikt-lang|ar|ف ت ح}}), which means "to open, explain, disclose, conquer", etc.<ref name="Maududi" /><ref>Joseph E. B. Lumbard "Commentary on Sūrat al-Fātiḥah", ''The Study of the Quran''. ed. Seyyed Hossein Nasr, Caner Dagli, Maria Dakake, Joseph Lumbard, Muhammad Rustom (San Francisco: Harper One, 2015), p. 3.</ref> Al-Fatiha is also known by several other names, such as Al-Hamd (The Praise), As-Salah (The Prayer), Umm al-Kitab (Mother of the Book), Umm al-Quran (Mother of the Quran),<ref>{{Href|nasai|914|b=yl}}</ref><ref name="qtaf" /> Sab'a min al-Mathani (Seven Repeated Ones, from Quran {{qref|15|87|pl=y}}),<ref name="khoi">{{cite book |author=Abu al-Qasim al-Khoei |author-link=Abu al-Qasim al-Khoei |title=[[Al-Bayan Fi Tafsir al-Quran]] |pages=446}}</ref> and Ash-Shifa' (The Cure).<ref>Joseph E. B. Lumbard, "Introduction to Sūrat al-Fātiḥah", ''The Study Quran''. ed. Seyyed Hossein Nasr, Caner Dagli, Maria Dakake, Joseph Lumbard, Muhammad Rustom (San Francisco: Harper One, 2015), p. 3.</ref><ref name=":2">{{Cite book |last=Mubarakpuri |first=Safiur Rahman |title=Tafsir Ibn Kathir (10 Volumes; Abridged) |publisher=Darussalam |year=2000 |isbn=9781591440208 |pages=7–8}}</ref>
== Summary ==
Surah Al-Fatiha is narrated in the Hadith to have been divided into two halves between Allah[[God in Islam|God]] and Hishis servant (the person reciting), the first three verses being HisGod's half and last three being the servant's.<ref>{{Cite book|last=Ibn al-Hajjaj|first=Abul Hussain Muslim|url=|title=Sahih Muslim - 7 Volumes|publisher=Darussalam|year=2007|isbn=9960991903978-9960991900|volume=1|pages=501-503501–503}}</ref> There is disagreement as to whether the ''[[Basmala|Bismillah]]'' is the first verse of the ''surah,'' or even a verse in the first place.<ref>{{Cite book|last=Mubarakpuri|first=Safiur Rahman|title=Tafsir Ibn Kathir (10 Volumes; Abridged)|publisher=Darussalam|year=2000|isbn=9781591440208|pages=25|quote=[The scholars] disagree over whether [Bismillah] is a separate Ayah before every Surah, or if it is an Ayah, or a part of an Ayah, included in every Surah where the Bismillah appears in its beginning. [...] The opinion that Bismillah is an Ayah of every Surah, except [At-Tawbah], was attributed to (the Companions) Ibn 'Abbas, Ibn 'Umar, Ibn Az-Zubayr, Abu Hurayrah and 'Ali. This opinion was also attributed to the Tabi'in 'Ata', Tawus, Sa'id bin Jubayr, Makhul and Az-Zuhri. This is also the view of 'Abdullah bin Al-Mubarak, Ash-Shaf i'i, Ahmad bin Hanbal, (in one report from him) Ishaq bin Rahwayh, and Abu 'Ubayd Al-Qasim bin Salam. On the other hand, Malik, Abu Hanifah and their followers said that Bismillah is not an Ayah in Al-Fatihah or any other Surah. Dawud said that it is a separate Ayah in the beginning of every Surah, not part of the Surah itself, and this opinion was also attributed to Ahmad bin Hanbal. Malik, Abu Hanifah and their followers said that Bismillah is not an Ayah in Al-Fatihah or any other Surah. Dawud said that it is a separate Ayah in the beginning of every Surah, not part of the Surah itself, and this opinion was also attributed to Ahmad bin Hanbal.}}</ref> The chapter begins by praising [[God in Islam|Allah]] with the phrase ''[[Alhamdulillah]]'', and stating that it is Allah who has full authority over all creations (verse 1/2),<ref>{{Cite book|last=Mubarakpuri|first=Safiur Rahman|title=Tafsir Ibn Kathir (10 Volumes; Abridged)|publisher=Darussalam|year=2000|isbn=9781591440208|pages=33-37}}</ref> that He is [[Names of God in Islam|''Ar-Rahman Ar-Rahim'']] or the Most Gracious and Most Merciful (verse 2/3),<ref>{{Cite book|last=Mubarakpuri|first=Safiur Rahman|title=Tafsir Ibn Kathir (10 Volumes; Abridged)|publisher=Darussalam|year=2000|isbn=9781591440208|pages=30-33, 37}}</ref> and that He is and will be the true owner of everything and everyone on the [[Last Judgment|Day of Judgement]] (verse 3/4).<ref>{{Cite book|last=Mubarakpuri|first=Safiur Rahman|title=Tafsir Ibn Kathir (10 Volumes; Abridged)|publisher=Darussalam|year=2000|isbn=9781591440208|pages=39-42}}</ref>
The lastchapter threebegins verses,by whichpraising comprise the servant's half, beginGod with the servantphrase and stating that theyit worshipis andGod seekwho onlyis Allah'sthe helplord of the worlds (verse 41/52),<ref>{{Cite askingbook|last=Mubarakpuri|first=Safiur HimRahman|title=Tafsir toIbn guideKathir them(10 toVolumes; theAbridged)|publisher=Darussalam|year=2000|isbn=9781591440208|pages=33–37}}</ref> ''[[Siratthat al-Mustaqim]]''He is (the StraightMost Path)Gracious ofand thoseMost whoMerciful God(verse has2/3),<ref>{{Cite beenbook|last=Mubarakpuri|first=Safiur bountifulRahman|title=Tafsir toIbn Kathir (10 Volumes; Abridged)|publisher=Darussalam|year=2000|isbn=9781591440208|pages=30–33, 37}}</ref> and notthat He is and will be the true owner of thoseeverything whoand haveeveryone earnedon Histhe anger[[Last Judgment|Day of Judgement]] (verse 5-63/6-74).<ref>{{Cite book|last=Mubarakpuri|first=Safiur Rahman|title=Tafsir Ibn Kathir (10 Volumes; Abridged)|publisher=Darussalam|year=2000|isbn=9781591440208|pages=42-5539–42}}</ref>
"If you tried to count Allah's blessings, you would never be able to number them. Indeed, humankind is truly unfair, ˹totally˺ ungrateful" ({{qref|14|34|b=y|pl=y}}).
Some Muslim commentators believe [[Jews]] and [[Christians]] are examples of those evoking God's anger and those who went astray, respectively.<ref name="Leaman">{{cite book|last=Leaman|first=Oliver|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=isDgI0-0Ip4C&q=%22The+Prophet+interpreted+those+who+incurred+God%E2%80%99s+wrath+as+the+Jews+and+the+misguided+as+the+Christians%22&pg=PA614|title=The Qur'an: an Encyclopedia|date=2006|publisher=[[Routledge]]|isbn=0-415-32639-7|editor=Leaman, Oliver|page=614|quote=The Prophet interpreted those who incurred God's wrath as the Jews and the misguided as the Christians.|author-link=Oliver Leaman|access-date=2020-11-05|archive-date=2021-03-28|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210328155435/https://books.google.com/books?id=isDgI0-0Ip4C&q=%22The+Prophet+interpreted+those+who+incurred+God%E2%80%99s+wrath+as+the+Jews+and+the+misguided+as+the+Christians%22&pg=PA614|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="interpretation2">{{cite book|last=Ayoub|first=Mahmoud M.|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=sIXpFtvp2JYC&pg=PA49|title=The Qur'an and Its Interpreters: v.1: Vol 1|date=January 1984|publisher=State University of New York Press|isbn=978-0873957274|page=49|quote=Most commentators have included the Jews among those who have "incurred" divine wrath and the Christians among those who have "gone astray".(Tabari, I, pp. 185-195; Zamakhshari, I, p. 71)|author-link=Mahmoud M. Ayoub|access-date=2020-11-05|archive-date=2021-03-28|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210328155501/https://books.google.com/books?id=sIXpFtvp2JYC&pg=PA49|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|author=Ibn Kathir|author-link=Ibn Kathir|title=The Quran Commentaries for 1.7 Al Fatiha (The opening)|url=https://quranx.com/tafsirs/1.7|access-date=24 January 2020|work=QuranX|archive-date=29 May 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200529191410/https://quranx.com/tafsirs/1.7|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|author=Al-Amin Ash-Shanqit, Muhammad|date=10 October 2012|title=Tafsir of Chapter 001: Surah al-Fatihah (The Opening)|url=https://sunnahonline.com/library/the-majestic-quran/431-tasfir-of-chapter-1-surah-al-fatihah-the-opening|access-date=24 January 2020|work=Sunnah Online|archive-date=31 May 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190531145652/https://sunnahonline.com/library/the-majestic-quran/431-tasfir-of-chapter-1-surah-al-fatihah-the-opening|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite AV media|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Iti-dplakf4|title=The greatest recitation of Surat al-Fatiha|date=6 June 2007|people=Al Kindari, Fahad|publisher=Sweden [[Dawah]] Media Production (on behalf of High Quality & I-Media); LatinAutor - Warner Chappell|access-date=20 December 2019|quote=The saying of the Exalted, 'not the Path of those who have earned Your Anger, nor of those that went astray': the majority of the scholars of tafseer said that 'those who have earned Your Anger' are the Jews, and 'those that went astray' are the Christians, and there is the hadeeth of the Messenger of Allaah (SAW) reported from Adee bin Haatim (RA) concerning this. And the Jews and the Christians even though both of them are misguided and both of them have Allaah's Anger on them - the Anger is specified to the Jews, even though the Christians share this with them because the Jews knew the truth and rejected it and deliberately came with falsehood, so the Anger (of Allah being upon them) was the description most befitting them. And the Christians were ignorant, not knowing the truth, so misguidance was the description most befitting them. So with this the saying of Allaah, 'so they have drawn on themselves anger upon anger' (2:90) clarifies that the Jews are those that 'have earned your Anger'. And likewise His sayings, 'Say: shall I inform you of something worse than that, regarding the recompense from Allaah: those (Jews) who incurred the Curse of Allaah and His Anger' (5:60)}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Surah Al-Fatihah, Chapter 1|url=https://www.al-islam.org/enlightening-commentary-light-holy-quran-vol-1/surah-al-fatihah-chapter-1|access-date=11 December 2019|work=[[al-islam.org]]|quote=Some of the commentators believe that / dallin / 'those gone astray' refers to the misguided of the Christians; and / maqdubi 'alayhim / 'those inflicted with His Wrath' refers to the misguided of the Jews.|archive-date=8 December 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191208094137/https://www.al-islam.org/enlightening-commentary-light-holy-quran-vol-1/surah-al-fatihah-chapter-1|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|author=al-Jalalayn|author-link=Tafsir al-Jalalayn|title=The Tasfirs|url=https://www.altafsir.com/Tafasir.asp?tMadhNo=1&tTafsirNo=74&tSoraNo=1&tAyahNo=7&tDisplay=yes&UserProfile=0&LanguageId=2|access-date=7 February 2020|work=altafsir.com|archive-date=4 September 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190904084752/https://www.altafsir.com/Tafasir.asp?tMadhNo=1&tTafsirNo=74&tSoraNo=1&tAyahNo=7&tDisplay=yes&UserProfile=0&LanguageId=2|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name = "ExplantionQur'an">{{Cite web|url=https://books.google.com.au/books?id=yLKkvUGFP34C&printsec=frontcover&source=gbs_vpt_reviews#v=onepage&q&f=false |last=Abdul-Rahman|first=Muhammad Saed|title=The meaning and explanation of the glorious Qur'an, 2nd Edition, Volume 1 |publisher=MSA Publication Limited |year=2009|isbn=978-1-86179-643-1}}</ref>{{rp|45}} Others view this as an exclusive condemnation of ''all'' Jews and Christians from all times.<ref>{{cite news|author=Bostom, Andrew|author-link=Andrew Bostom|date=29 May 2019|title=Ramadan Koran lesson: Curse Jews and Christians 17-times daily: Part 1|work=[[Israel National News]]|url=http://www.israelnationalnews.com/Articles/Article.aspx/23948|access-date=9 December 2019|archive-date=30 November 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191130175303/http://www.israelnationalnews.com/Articles/Article.aspx/23948|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|author=Bostom, Andrew|author-link=Andrew Bostom|date=29 May 2019|title=Ramadan Koran lesson: Curse Jews and Christians 17-times daily: Part 2|url=http://www.israelnationalnews.com/Articles/Article.aspx/23949|access-date=9 December 2019|work=[[Israel National News]]|archive-date=9 December 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191209040013/http://www.israelnationalnews.com/Articles/Article.aspx/23949|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|author=Shrenzel, Israel|date=4 September 2019|title=Verses and Reality: What the Koran Really Says about Jews|work=[[Jerusalem Center for Public Affairs]]|url=http://jcpa.org/article/verses-and-reality-what-the-koran-really-says-about-jews/|access-date=8 December 2019|archive-date=9 December 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191209040015/http://jcpa.org/article/verses-and-reality-what-the-koran-really-says-about-jews/|url-status=live}}</ref> The [[Noble Quran (Hilali–Khan)]], which is said to be the most widely disseminated Quran in most Islamic bookstores and Sunni mosques throughout the English-speaking world, defines the two groups as Jews and Christians respectively.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://noblequran.com/surah-alfatihah/ |title=Interpretation of the meanings of the Noble Quran - Surah 1 |author=Hilali-Khan|date=2020|work=[[King Fahd Complex for the Printing of the Holy Quran]]}}</ref> ▼
The final three verses, which comprise the servant's half, begin with the servant stating that they worship and seek only God's help (verse 4/5), asking Him to guide them to the ''[[Sirat al-Mustaqim]]'' (the Straight Path) of those who God has been bountiful to, and not of those who have earned his anger (verses 5-6/6-7).<ref>{{Cite book|last=Mubarakpuri|first=Safiur Rahman|title=Tafsir Ibn Kathir (10 Volumes; Abridged)|publisher=Darussalam|year=2000|isbn=9781591440208|pages=42–55}}</ref>
Other Muslim commentators have interpreted these verses as referring exclusively not to a specific group of people but instead interpret these in the more general sense.<ref name=":0">{{Cite book|last=Asad|first=Muhammad|url=http://www.muhammad-asad.com/Message-of-Quran.pdf|title=The Message of the Quran, Commentary on Surah Fatiha|pages=23–24|quote=According to almost all the commentators, God's "condemnation" (ghadab, lit., "wrath") is synonymous with the evil consequences which man brings upon himself by wilfully rejecting God's guidance and acting contrary to His injunctions. ... As regards the two categories of people following a wrong course, some of the greatest Islamic thinkers (e.g. Al-Ghazali or, in recent times, Muhammad 'Abduh) held the view that the people described as having incurred "God's condemnation" - that is, having deprived themselves of His grace - are those who have become fully cognizant of God's message and, having understood it, have rejected it; while by "those who go astray" are meant people whom the truth has either not reached at all, or to whom it has come in so garbled and corrupted a form as to make it difficult for them to recognize it as the truth (see 'Abduh in Manar I, 68 ff.).|author-link=Muhammad Asad|access-date=2019-12-13|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191126180926/http://www.muhammad-asad.com/Message-of-Quran.pdf|archive-date=2019-11-26|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name=":1">{{Cite book|last=Ali|first=Abdullah Yusuf|url=http://www.ulc.org/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/English-Quran-With-Commentaries.pdf|title=The Meaning of The Noble Qur'an, Commentary on al-Fatiha|year=2006|pages=7|quote=...those who are in the darkness of Wrath and those who stray? The first are those who deliberately break God's law; the second those who stray out of carelessness or negligence. Both are responsible for their own acts or omissions. In opposition to both are the people who are in the light of God's Grace: for His Grace not only protects them from active wrong ... but also from straying into paths of temptation or carelessness. The negative gair should be construed as applying not to the way, but as describing men protected from two dangers by God's Grace.|author-link=Abdullah Yusuf Ali|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170312164616/http://www.ulc.org/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/English-Quran-With-Commentaries.pdf|archive-date=2017-03-12}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book|last=Shafi|first=Muhammad|url=http://www.islamicstudies.info/quran/maarif/maarif.php?sura=1|title=Ma'ariful Qur'an|pages=78–79|author-link=Muhammad Shafi Deobandi|access-date=2019-12-13|archive-date=2020-07-18|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200718160303/http://www.islamicstudies.info/quran/maarif/maarif.php?sura=1|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book|title=Tafsir al-Kabir, al-Razi, التفسير الكبير, Tafsir Surah al-Fatiha}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book|title=Al-Kashshaaf, Al-Zamakhshari, الكشاف, Commentary on surah al-Fatiha}}</ref><ref name="Maududi2">{{cite book|last=Maududi|first=Imam Sayyid Abul Ala|url=http://www.englishtafsir.com/Quran/1/index.html|title=Tafhim Al Quran|author-link=Abul A'la Maududi|access-date=2013-06-17|archive-date=2013-07-28|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130728184437/http://www.englishtafsir.com/Quran/1/index.html|url-status=live}}</ref>
▲SomeMost [[Muslims|Muslim]] commentators have interpreted these verses in a more general sense and not referring exclusively to any specific group of people.<ref name=":0">{{Cite book|last=Asad|first=Muhammad|url=http://www.muhammad-asad.com/Message-of-Quran.pdf|title=The Message of the Quran, Commentary on Surah Fatiha|pages=23–24|quote=According to almost all the commentators, God's "condemnation" (ghadab, lit., "wrath") is synonymous with the evil consequences which man brings upon himself by wilfully rejecting God's guidance and acting contrary to His injunctions. ... As regards the two categories of people following a wrong course, some of the greatest Islamic thinkers (e.g. Al-Ghazali or, in recent times, Muhammad 'Abduh) held the view that the people described as having incurred "God's condemnation" - that is, having deprived themselves of His grace - are those who have become fully cognizant of God's message and, having understood it, have rejected it; while by "those who go astray" are meant people whom the truth has either not reached at all, or to whom it has come in so garbled and corrupted a form as to make it difficult for them to recognize it as the truth (see 'Abduh in Manar I, 68 ff.).|author-link=Muhammad Asad|access-date=2019-12-13|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191126180926/http://www.muhammad-asad.com/Message-of-Quran.pdf|archive-date=2019-11-26|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name=":1">{{Cite book|last=Ali|first=Abdullah Yusuf|url=http://www.ulc.org/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/English-Quran-With-Commentaries.pdf|title=The Meaning of The Noble Qur'an, Commentary on al-Fatiha|year=2006|pages=7|quote=...those who are in the darkness of Wrath and those who stray? The first are those who deliberately break God's law; the second those who stray out of carelessness or negligence. Both are responsible for their own acts or omissions. In opposition to both are the people who are in the light of God's Grace: for His Grace not only protects them from active wrong ... but also from straying into paths of temptation or carelessness. The negative gair should be construed as applying not to the way, but as describing men protected from two dangers by God's Grace.|author-link=Abdullah Yusuf Ali|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170312164616/http://www.ulc.org/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/English-Quran-With-Commentaries.pdf|archive-date=2017-03-12}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book|last=Shafi|first=Muhammad|url=http://www.islamicstudies.info/quran/maarif/maarif.php?sura=1|title=Ma'ariful Qur'an|pages=78–79|author-link=Muhammad Shafi Deobandi|access-date=2019-12-13|archive-date=2020-07-18|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200718160303/http://www.islamicstudies.info/quran/maarif/maarif.php?sura=1|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book|title=Tafsir al-Kabir, al-Razi, التفسير الكبير, Tafsir Surah al-Fatiha}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book|title=Al-Kashshaaf, Al-Zamakhshari, الكشاف, Commentary on surah al-Fatiha}}</ref><ref name="Maududi">{{cite book|last=Maududi|first=Sayyid Abul Ala|title=Tafhim Al Quran|url=http://www.englishtafsir.com/Quran/1/index.html|access-date=2013-06-17|archive-date=2013-07-28|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130728184437/http://www.englishtafsir.com/Quran/1/index.html|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://corpuscoranicum.de/kommentar/index/sure/1/vers/1|title=Corpus Coranicum: Commentary on the Quran. Chronologisch-literaturwissenschaftlicher Kommentar zum Koran, hg. von der Berlin-Brandenburgischen Akademie der Wissenschaften durch Angelika Neuwirth unter Mitarbeit von Ali Aghaei und Tolou Khademalsharieh, unter Heranziehung von Übersetzungen von Nicolai Sinai.|last=|first=|date=15 November 2021|website=|archive-url=|archive-date=|access-date=|quote=Das anaphorische ʾiyyāka (V. 6) betont die Exklusivität des Angerufenen, der anders als im Fall der paganen mušrikūn, die Gott zwar in extremen Situationen um Hilfe rufen, ihm aber nicht dienen, vgl. Q 17:67, Adressat sowohl von Hilferufen als auch von Gottesdienst ist. An diese im Zentrum stehende Affirmation der Alleinverehrung Gottes schließt die Bitte um Rechtleitung an (V. 7). Der hier erhoffte ‚gerade Weg‘ soll demjenigen der bereits von Gott mit Huld bedachten Vorläufern folgen. Sie werden nicht explizit gemacht und dürften zur Zeit der Entstehung der fātiḥa auch unbestimmt intendiert sein. Erst später – mit der Herausbildung von Kollektivbildern - ließen sich die Zielgruppen ex silentio erschließen}}</ref> However, some Muslim commentators believe [[Jews]] and [[Christians]] are examples of those evoking God's anger and those who went astray, respectively.<ref name="Leaman">{{cite book|last=Leaman|first=Oliver|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=isDgI0-0Ip4C&q=%22The+Prophet+interpreted+those+who+incurred+God%E2%80%99s+wrath+as+the+Jews+and+the+misguided+as+the+Christians%22&pg=PA614|title=The Qur'an: an Encyclopedia|date=2006|publisher=[[Routledge]]|isbn=0-415-32639-7|editor=Leaman, Oliver|page=614|quote=The Prophet interpreted those who incurred God's wrath as the Jews and the misguided as the Christians.|author-link=Oliver Leaman|access-date=2020-11-05|archive-date=2021-03-28|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210328155435/https://books.google.com/books?id=isDgI0-0Ip4C&q=%22The+Prophet+interpreted+those+who+incurred+God%E2%80%99s+wrath+as+the+Jews+and+the+misguided+as+the+Christians%22&pg=PA614|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="interpretation2">{{cite book|last=Ayoub|first=Mahmoud M.|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=sIXpFtvp2JYC&pg=PA49|title=The Qur'an and Its Interpreters: v.1: Vol 1|date=January 1984|publisher=State University of New York Press|isbn=978-0873957274|page=49|quote=Most commentators have included the Jews among those who have "incurred" divine wrath and the Christians among those who have "gone astray".(Tabari, I, pp. 185-195; Zamakhshari, I, p. 71)|author-link=Mahmoud M. Ayoub|access-date=2020-11-05|archive-date=2021-03-28|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210328155501/https://books.google.com/books?id=sIXpFtvp2JYC&pg=PA49|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{ cite webQtaf| author=Ibn Kathir|author-link=Ibn Kathir|title=The Quran Commentaries for 1.7 Al Fatiha (The opening)|url=httpsen: //quranx.com/tafsirs/ibk|1 .7| access-date=24 January 2020|work=QuranX|archive-date=29 May 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200529191410/https://quranx.com/tafsirs/1.7 |url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|author=Al-Amin Ash-Shanqit, Muhammad|date=10 October 2012|title=Tafsir of Chapter 001: Surah al-Fatihah (The Opening)|url=https://sunnahonline.com/library/the-majestic-quran/431-tasfir-of-chapter-1-surah-al-fatihah-the-opening|access-date=24 January 2020|work=Sunnah Online|archive-date=31 May 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190531145652/https://sunnahonline.com/library/the-majestic-quran/431-tasfir-of-chapter-1-surah-al-fatihah-the-opening|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite AV media|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Iti-dplakf4 | archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211117/Iti-dplakf4| archive-date=2021-11-17 | url-status=live|title=The greatest recitation of Surat al-Fatiha|date=6 June 2007|people=Al Kindari, Fahad|publisher=Sweden [[Dawah]] Media Production (on behalf of High Quality & I-Media); LatinAutor - Warner Chappell|access-date=20 December 2019|quote=The saying of the Exalted, 'not the Path of those who have earned Your Anger, nor of those that went astray': the majority of the scholars of tafseer said that 'those who have earned Your Anger' are the Jews, and 'those that went astray' are the Christians, and there is the hadeeth of the Messenger of AllaahGod (SAW) reported from Adee bin Haatim (RA) concerning this. And the Jews and the Christians even though both of them are misguided and both of them have AllaahGod's Anger on them - the Anger is specified to the Jews, even though the Christians share this with them because the Jews knew the truth and rejected it and deliberately came with falsehood, so the Anger (of AllahGod being upon them) was the description most befitting them. And the Christians were ignorant, not knowing the truth, so misguidance was the description most befitting them. So with this the saying of AllaahGod, 'so they have drawn on themselves anger upon anger' (2:90) clarifies that the Jews are those that 'have earned your Anger'. And likewise His sayings, 'Say: shall I inform you of something worse than that, regarding the recompense from AllaahGod: those (Jews) who incurred the Curse of AllaahGod and His Anger' (5:60) }}{{cbignore}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Surah Al-Fatihah, Chapter 1|url=https://www.al-islam.org/enlightening-commentary-light-holy-quran-vol-1/surah-al-fatihah-chapter-1|access-date=11 December 2019|work=[[al-islam.org]] |date=23 January 2014|quote=Some of the commentators believe that / dallin / 'those gone astray' refers to the misguided of the Christians; and / maqdubi 'alayhim / 'those inflicted with His Wrath' refers to the misguided of the Jews.|archive-date=8 December 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191208094137/https://www.al-islam.org/enlightening-commentary-light-holy-quran-vol-1/surah-al-fatihah-chapter-1|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|author=al-Jalalayn|author-link=Tafsir al-Jalalayn|title=The Tasfirs|url=https://www.altafsir.com/Tafasir.asp?tMadhNo=1&tTafsirNo=74&tSoraNo=1&tAyahNo=7&tDisplay=yes&UserProfile=0&LanguageId=2|access-date=7 February 2020|work=altafsir.com|archive-date=4 September 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190904084752/https://www.altafsir.com/Tafasir.asp?tMadhNo=1&tTafsirNo=74&tSoraNo=1&tAyahNo=7&tDisplay=yes&UserProfile=0&LanguageId=2|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name = "ExplantionQur'an">{{Cite webbook|url=https://books.google.com .au/books?id=yLKkvUGFP34C &printsec=frontcover&source=gbs_vpt_reviews#v=onepage&q&f=false |last=Abdul-Rahman|first=Muhammad Saed|title=The meaning and explanation of the glorious Qur'an, 2nd Edition, Volume 1 |publisher=MSA Publication Limited |year=2009|isbn=978-1-86179-643-1}}</ref>{{rp|45}} Others view this as an exclusive condemnation of ''all'' Jews and Christians from all times.<ref>{{cite news|author=Bostom, Andrew|author-link=Andrew Bostom|date=29 May 2019|title=Ramadan Koran lesson: Curse Jews and Christians 17-times daily: Part 1|work=[[Israel National News]]|url=http://www.israelnationalnews.com/Articles/Article.aspx/23948|access-date=9 December 2019|archive-date=30 November 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191130175303/http://www.israelnationalnews.com/Articles/Article.aspx/23948|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|author=Bostom, Andrew|author-link=Andrew Bostom|date=29 May 2019|title=Ramadan Koran lesson: Curse Jews and Christians 17-times daily: Part 2|url=http://www.israelnationalnews.com/Articles/Article.aspx/23949|access-date=9 December 2019|work=[[Israel National News]]|archive-date=9 December 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191209040013/http://www.israelnationalnews.com/Articles/Article.aspx/23949|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|author=Shrenzel, Israel|date=4 September 2019|title=Verses and Reality: What the Koran Really Says about Jews|work=[[Jerusalem Center for Public Affairs]]|url=http://jcpa.org/article/verses-and-reality-what-the-koran-really-says-about-jews/|access-date=8 December 2019|archive-date=9 December 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191209040015/http://jcpa.org/article/verses-and-reality-what-the-koran-really-says-about-jews/|url-status=live}}</ref> The [[Noble Quran (Hilali–Khan)]], which is said to be the most widely disseminated Quran in most Islamic bookstores and Sunni mosques throughout the English-speaking world, defines the two groups as Jews and Christians respectively.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://noblequran.com/surah-alfatihah/ |title=Interpretation of the meanings of the Noble Quran - Surah 1 |author=Hilali-Khan|date=2020|work=[[King Fahd Complex for the Printing of the Holy Quran]]}}</ref>
The [[Corpus Coranicum]] project, led by professor [[Angelika Neuwirth]] comments on verse 1:6-7 that the quranic primary adressees are "pagan mušrikūn", i.e. the polytheists who inhabited [[Mecca]], due to the fact that this religious population was the overwhelming majority when surah Al-Fatiha was revealed. Since the surah is considered to be a middle [[Meccan surah]] (615-619), Neuwirth explains that "[the adresses] are not made explicit", i.e. not mentioned directly.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://corpuscoranicum.de/kommentar/index/sure/1/vers/1|title=Corpus Coranicum: Commentary on the Quran. Chronologisch-literaturwissenschaftlicher Kommentar zum Koran, hg. von der Berlin-Brandenburgischen Akademie der Wissenschaften durch Angelika Neuwirth unter Mitarbeit von Ali Aghaei und Tolou Khademalsharieh, unter Heranziehung von Übersetzungen von Nicolai Sinai.|last=|first=|date=|website=|url-status=live|archive-url=|archive-date=|access-date=|quote=Das anaphorische ʾiyyāka (V. 6) betont die Exklusivität des Angerufenen, der anders als im Fall der paganen mušrikūn, die Gott zwar in extremen Situationen um Hilfe rufen, ihm aber nicht dienen, vgl. Q 17:67, Adressat sowohl von Hilferufen als auch von Gottesdienst ist. An diese im Zentrum stehende Affirmation der Alleinverehrung Gottes schließt die Bitte um Rechtleitung an (V. 7). Der hier erhoffte ‚gerade Weg‘ soll demjenigen der bereits von Gott mit Huld bedachten Vorläufern folgen. Sie werden nicht explizit gemacht und dürften zur Zeit der Entstehung der fātiḥa auch unbestimmt intendiert sein. Erst später – mit der Herausbildung von Kollektivbildern - ließen sich die Zielgruppen ex silentio erschließen}}</ref>
== Verses and meaning ==
{{Rtl-para|ar|{{script/Arabic|'''بِسْمِ ٱللَّهِ ٱلرَّحْمَـٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ''' ١}}
: {{script/Arabic|'''بِسْمِ ٱللَّهِ ٱلرَّحْمَٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ''' }}<br />In the name of Allah, the Entirely Merciful, the Especially Merciful.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Surah Al-Fatihah - 1-7|url=https://quran.com/al-fatihah?locale=en&font=v1&reading=false&translations=131%2C20|access-date=2021-09-12|website=quran.com}}</ref>
}}
# {{script/Arabic|''' ٱلْحَمْدُ لِلَّٰهِ رَبِّ ٱلْعَالَمِينَ''' }}<br /> [All] praise is [due] to Allah, Lord of the worlds -
[''bi-smi-llahi-r-raḥmāni-r-raḥīm(i)''] <br />
# {{script/Arabic|''' ٱلرَّحْمَٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ''' }}<br /> The Entirely Merciful, the Especially Merciful,
{{verse||1}} In the name of God, the Most Compassionate, Most Merciful. <br />
# {{script/Arabic|''' مَالِكِ يَوْمِ ٱلدِّينِ''' }}<br /> Sovereign of the Day of Recompense. ▼{{Rtl-para|ar|{{script/Arabic|'''ٱلْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ رَبِّ ٱلْعَـٰلَمِينَ''' ٢}}
# {{script/Arabic|''' إِيَّاكَ نَعْبُدُ وَإِيَّاكَ نَسْتَعِينُ''' }}<br /> It is You we worship and You we ask for help. ▼}}
# {{script/Arabic|''' ٱهْدِنَا ٱلصِّرَاطَ ٱلْمُسْتَقِيمَ''' }}<br /> Guide us to the straight path - ▼[''al-ḥamdu li-llāhi rabbi-l-ʿālamīn(a)''] <br />
# {{script/Arabic|'''صِرَاطَ ٱلَّذِينَ أَنْعَمْتَ عَلَيْهِمْغَيۡرِ ٱلْمَغْضُوبِ عَلَيۡهِمۡ وَلَا اَ۬لضَّآلِّينَ''' }}<br /> The path of those upon whom You have bestowed favor, not of those who have earned [Your] anger or of those who are astray.<ref><nowiki>[[Sahih International]]</nowiki> (Chapter 1; Verse 1-7)</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=Surah Al-Fatihah - 1-7|url=https://quran.com/al-fatihah?locale=en&font=v1&reading=false&translations=131%2C20|access-date=2021-09-12|website=quran.com}}</ref>
{{verse||2}} Praise be to God, Lord of the worlds— <br />
{{Rtl-para|ar|{{script/Arabic|''' ٱلرَّحْمَـٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ''' ٣}}
}}
▲The most commonly accepted view about the origins of the ''surah'' is the view of [[Ibn Abbas]], among others, that Al-Fatiha is a [[Meccan surah|Meccan ''surah'']], although some believe that it is either a [[Medinan surah]] or was revealed in both [[Mecca]] and [[Medina]].<ref>{{cite book|last=Ahmad|first=Mirza Bahir Ud-Din|title=The Quran with English Translation and Commentary|publisher=Islam International Publications Ltd.|year=1988|isbn=1-85372-045-3|pages=1}}</ref> Most narrators recorded that al-Fātiḥah was the first complete Surah revealed to [[Muhammad]].<ref name="Maududi" />
[''ar-raḥmāni-r-raḥīm(i)''] <br />
{{verse||3}} the Most Compassionate, Most Merciful, <br />
{{Rtl-para|ar|{{script/Arabic|'''مَـٰلِكِ'''{{small|{{efn-lr|Qira’at: All except for ʻAsem, Al-Kesa’i, Yaʻqub and Khalaf in one of his narrations read it as: <br /> <br />
▲# {{ scriptScript/Arabic|''' مَالِكِ{{color|magenta|مَ}}لِكِ يَوْمِ ٱلدِّينِ''' ٤}} <br /> Sovereign of the Day of Recompense.
''{{color|magenta|ma}}liki yawmi-d-dīn(i)'' <br />
{{verse||4}} King of the Day of Judgement.}}}}''' يَوْمِ ٱلدِّينِ''' ٤}}}}
[''māliki yawmi-d-dīn(i)''] <br />
{{verse||4}} Owner of the Day of Judgement.
<br />
▲# {{Rtl-para|ar|{{script/Arabic|''' إِيَّاكَ نَعْبُدُ وَإِيَّاكَ نَسْتَعِينُ''' ٥}}}} <br /> It is You we worship and You we ask for help.
[''iyyāka naʿbudu wa-iyyāka nastaʿīn(u)''] <br />
{{verse||5}} You we worship and You we ask for help. <br />
▲# {{Rtl-para|ar|{{script/Arabic|''' ٱهْدِنَا ٱلصِّرَاطَٱلصِّرَٰطَ ٱلْمُسْتَقِيمَ''' ٦}}}} <br /> Guide us to the straight path -
[''ihdina-ṣ-ṣirāṭa-l-mustaqīm(a)''] <br />
{{verse||6}} Guide us to the straight path— <br />
{{Rtl-para|ar|{{script/Arabic|'''صِرَٰطَ ٱلَّذِينَ أَنْعَمْتَ عَلَيْهِمْ غَيْرِ ٱلْمَغْضُوبِ عَلَيْهِمْ وَلَا ٱلضَّآلِّينَ''' ٧}}}}
[''ṣirāṭa-llaḏīna anʿamta ʿalayhim ghayri-l-maḡḍūbi ʿalayhim wa-la-ḍ-ḍāllīn(a)''] <br />
{{verse||7}} the path of those You have favored, not those You are angry with or those who are astray.
The name Al-Fatiha ("the Opener") could refer to the ''surah'' being the first in the [[Mus'haf|Mus'hafs]], the first to be recited in each ''[[rakat]]'' of ''[[salah]],'' or to the manner of its usage in many Islamic traditions as an opening prayer. The word itself comes from the root ''f-t-ḥ'' which means to open, explain, disclose, conquer, etc.<ref name="Maududi" /><ref>Joseph E. B. Lumbard "Commentary on Sūrat al-Fātiḥah," ''The Study of the Quran''. ed. Seyyed Hossein Nasr, Caner Dagli, Maria Dakake, Joseph Lumbard, Muhammad Rustom (San Francisco: Harper One, 2015), p. 3.
</ref> Al-Fatiha is also known by several other names, such as Al-Hamd (The Praise), As-Salah (The Prayer), Umm al-Kitab (Mother of the Book), Umm al-Quran (Mother of the Quran),<ref>{{Cite web|title=Hadith - The Book of the Commencement of the Prayer - Sunan an-Nasa'i - Sunnah.com - Sayings and Teachings of Prophet Muhammad (صلى الله عليه و سلم)|url=https://sunnah.com/nasai/11/39|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200813144611/https://sunnah.com/nasai/11/39|archive-date=2020-08-13|access-date=2020-11-30|website=sunnah.com}}</ref> Sab'a min al-Mathani (Seven Repeated Ones, from Quran 15:87),<ref name="khoi">{{cite book|author=Abu al-Qasim al-Khoei|title=[[Al-Bayan Fi Tafsir al-Quran]]|pages=446|author-link=Abu al-Qasim al-Khoei}}</ref> and Ash-Shifa' (The Cure).<ref>Joseph E. B. Lumbard, "Introduction to Sūrat al-Fātiḥah," ''The Study Quran''. ed. Seyyed Hossein Nasr, Caner Dagli, Maria Dakake, Joseph Lumbard, Muhammad Rustom (San Francisco: Harper One, 2015), p. 3.</ref><ref name=":2">{{Cite book|last=Mubarakpuri|first=Safiur Rahman|title=Tafsir Ibn Kathir (10 Volumes; Abridged)|publisher=Darussalam|year=2000|isbn=9781591440208|pages=7-8}}</ref>[[File:Splendour Coran.jpg|thumb|Opening of a Splendour Quran|alt=]]
==Benefits and virtues==
Muslims attribute special significance to some ''surahs'' for their virtues and benefits (fada'il, {{Lang-Langx|ar|فضائل|faḍā’il|label=none}}) described in the [[hadith]]. Acceptance of the different hadith varies between Sunni and Shia Muslims, and there is a variety of terms to classify the different levels of confirmed authenticity of a hadith. However, both Sunnis and Shia believe Al-Fatiha to be one of the greatest ''surahs'' in the Quran, and a cure for several diseases and poisons, both spiritual and mental.<ref name=":2" />
==See also==
* [[Surah]]
*[[Āyah]]
*[[Rakat]]
*[[Salah]]
*[[Basmala]]
== Notes ==
{{Notelist}}
{{Notelist-lr}}
==References==
{{Reflist|30em}}
== Bibliography ==
* {{cite book|author=David James|title=Qur'ans of the Mamluks|url=|date=1988|publisher=Alexandria Press|isbn=9780500973677|location=London|ref={{SfnRef|Qur'ans of the Mamluks}}}}
== External links ==
{{commons category}}
{{Wikiquote|Al-Fatihah (ten qiraat)}}
*[https://quran.com/1 Text of ''Surah'' al-Fatiha with multiple available translations]
{{Sura|1|-|[[Al-Baqara]]}}
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Fatiha}}
[[Category:Al-Fatiha| ]]
[[Category:Chapters in the Quran|Fatiha]] ▼[[Category:Salah]]
▲[[Category:Chapters in the Quran|Fatiha]]
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