THE HOLY QUR'AAN
SURAH 1
Al-Fatiha (The Opening)
This Surah is
named Al-Fatiha because of its subject-matter. Fatihah is that which opens a
subject or a book or any other thing. In other words, Al-Fatihah is a sort of
preface.
This Surah has
a total of 7 verses.
It is one of
the very earliest Revelations to the Holy Prophet. As a matter of fact, we learn
from authentic Traditions that it was the first complete Surah that was revealed
to Muhammed (PBUH). Before this, only a few miscellaneous verses were revealed
which form parts of Surah Alaq, Muzzammil, Muddathir, etc.
This Surah is in fact a prayer which Allah has taught to all those who want to make a study of his book. It has been placed at the very beginning of the book to teach this lesson to the reader: if you sincerely want to benefit from the Quran, you should offer this prayer to the Lord of the Universe. This preface is meant to create a strong desire in the heart of the reader to seek guidance from the Lord of the Universe, who alone can grant it. Thus Al-Fatiha indirectly teaches that the best thing for a man is to pray for guidance to the straight path, to study the Quran with the mental attitude of a seeker-after-truth and to recognize the fact that the Lord of the Universe is the source of all knowledge. He should, therefore, begin the study of the Quran with a prayer to him for guidance. From this theme, it becomes clear that the real relation between Al-Fatiha and the Quran is not that of an introduction to a book but that of a prayer and its answer. Al-Fatiha is the prayer from the servant and the Quran is the answer from the the Master to his prayer. The servant prays to Allah to show him guidance and the Master places the whole of the Quran before him in answer to his prayer, as if to say, "This is the Guidance you begged from Me."
Maududi
THE HOLY QUR'AAN
SURAH 1
AL-FATIHA (THE OPENING)
In the name of Allah, the Beneficent, the Merciful
1 : 1
1. Bismi Allahi alrrahmani alrraheemi
In the name of Allah, the beneficent, the Merciful
1: 2
2. Alhamdu lillahi rabbi alAAalameena
Praise be to Allah, the Cherisher and Sustainer of the worlds;
1 : 3
3. Alrrahmani alrraheemi
The Most Beneficent, the Most Merciful
1 : 4
4. Maliki yawmi alddeeni
Owner of the Day of Judgement!
1 : 5
5. Iyyaka naAAbudu wa-iyyaka nastaAAeenu
We worship You alone and seek only Your help!
1 : 6
6. Ihdina alssirata almustaqeema
Lead us on to the path of righteousness.
1: 7
7. Sirata allatheena anAAamta AAalayhim ghayri almaghdoobi AAalayhim wala alddalleena
The path of those whom you blessed, - and not of those whom you revoked, or of those who strayed away! (R)
EXAMPLES OF OTHER TRANSLATIONS
MUHSIN:
1. In the Name of Allāh, the Most Beneficent, the Most Merciful.
2. All the praises and thanks be to Allāh, the Lord [] of the 'Alamīn (mankind, jinns and all that exists). []
3. The Most Beneficent, the Most Merciful.
4. The Only Owner (and the Only Ruling Judge) of the Day of Recompense (i.e. the Day of Resurrection)
5. You (Alone) we worship, and You (Alone) we ask for help (for each and everything).
6. Guide us to the Straight Way []
7. The Way of those on whom You have bestowed Your Grace [], not (the way) of those who earned Your Anger (such as the Jews), nor of those who went astray (such as the Christians).
001.001
YUSUFALI: In the name
of Allah, Most Gracious, Most Merciful.
PICKTHAL: In the name
of Allah, the Beneficent, the Merciful.
SHAKIR: In the name of
Allah, the Beneficent, the Merciful.
001.002
YUSUFALI: Praise be to
Allah, the Cherisher and Sustainer of the worlds;
PICKTHAL: Praise be to
Allah, Lord of the Worlds,
SHAKIR: All praise is
due to Allah, the Lord of the Worlds.
001.003
YUSUFALI: Most
Gracious, Most Merciful;
PICKTHAL: The
Beneficent, the Merciful.
SHAKIR: The
Beneficent, the Merciful.
001.004
YUSUFALI: Master of
the Day of Judgment.
PICKTHAL: Master of
the Day of Judgment,
SHAKIR: Master of the
Day of Judgment.
001.005
YUSUFALI: Thee do we
worship, and Thine aid we seek.
PICKTHAL: Thee (alone)
we worship; Thee (alone) we ask for help.
SHAKIR: Thee do we
serve and Thee do we beseech for help.
001.006
YUSUFALI: Show us the
straight way,
PICKTHAL: Show us the
straight path,
SHAKIR: Keep us on the
right path.
001.007
YUSUFALI: The way of
those on whom Thou hast bestowed Thy Grace, those whose (portion) is not
wrath, and who go not astray.
PICKTHAL: The path
of those whom Thou hast favoured; Not the (path) of those who earn Thine anger
nor of those who go astray.
SHAKIR: The path of
those upon whom Thou hast bestowed favors. Not (the path) of those upon whom
Thy wrath is brought down, nor of those who go astray.