New Muslims, and sometimes children, are frequently curious about the qualities and values of Surah al Fatiha and why it holds such a prominent place in Quran Kareem, and therefore in Islam. One often asked question is, “Is Surah Fatiha compulsory in salah (prayer)?”
Well, if you want to know more about the detailed answer, keep reading!
What is Surah Al Fatiha?
surah al fatihah (Arabic: سورة الفاتحة, IPA: [ʔal faːtiħah]) is the first surah (chapter) of quran kareem. It consists of 7 ayat (verses) with one hundred and thirteen letters,
which are a prayer for guidance and mercy.
But, why is this surah given the name Al-Fatihah? The literal translation of “al Fatiha” is “The Opening” or “The Opener”.
Since it’s the first chapter of the book, it’s called its opener.
The most widely recognized opinion concerning the surah’s origins is that it is a Meccan surah, according to Ibn Abbas and others,
but, some say it is either a Medinan surah or was revealed in both Mecca and Medina.
According to most narrators, al Fatiha was the first complete Surah given to Prophet Muhammad (Peace Be Upon Him).
Ascertain scholars have argued that this chapter is a summation of the whole Quran, it seems to be an exact table of contents of the Quranic message.
When the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) promised a companion that he would teach him the most important chapter in Quran Kareem,
he read Surah Al Fatihah (Narrated by Abu Said Al-Mu’alla).
Is Surah Fatiha Compulsory In Salah?
Reciting Surat Al-Fatihah is an obligation and a necessity in all the obligatory and supererogatory prayers, including the funeral prayer.
Imam Ibn Uthaymeen and Imam Ibn Baz, may Allah have mercy on them, explain that Al-Fatihah in the funeral prayer is obligatory, and the saying of the Prophet Muhammad was based: “Pray as you have seen me praying.”
- ‘Ubadah ibn al-Samat reported: The Messenger of Allah, peace, and blessings be upon him, said, “There is no prayer for one who does not recite the opening of the Book, Surat al-Fatihah.”
Source: Sahih al-Bukhari 723, Sahih Muslim 394
According to Al-Bukhari and Muslim
- Abu Huraira reported: The Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, said, “Allah Almighty 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, ‘All praise is due to Allah the Lord of the worlds,’ Allah says: My servant has praised Me. When he says, ‘The Gracious, the Merciful,’ Allah says: My servant has exalted Me. When he says, ‘The Master of the Day of Judgment,’ Allah says: My servant has glorified Me and my servant has submitted to Me. When he says, ‘You alone we worship, You alone we ask for help,’ Allah says: This is between Me and My servant, and My servant will have what he has asked for. When he says, ‘Guide us to the straight path, the path of those whom you have favored, not those who went astray,’ Allah says: This is for My servant, and My servant will have what he has asked for.”
Source: Sahih Muslim 395
Surah Fatiha Benefits
- It is a cure for diseases
A companion once recited surah al Fatihah over a scorpion bite, to which the Prophet responded to him saying
“How did you know it was a Ruqyah (cure)?”
(Sahih Al Bukhari)
According to some additional narrations, reciting this Surah 70 times on any area of the body that is in agony would cause the pain to disappear.
- It prevents misguidance
This surah offers a prayer for protection from misguidance and Allah’s wrath. As a result, the heart is protected against tainted knowledge and bad intentions.
The passage also contains the hidden remedy for both of these diseases.
“You (Oh Allah) we worship and from You do we seek help”.
- It completes our Salah
Salah (prayer) is invalid without reciting al Fatiha in every rakaat (unit). Ubadah bin As-Samit said that the Prophet of Allah (PBUH) said,
“There is no prayer for whoever does not recite the Opening of the Book.”
- It’s equivalent to ⅔ of the entire Quran Kareem.
According to the commentary of Majma’ul Bayan, the Holy Prophet (PBUH) said that whoever recites Surah Fatiha,
that will receive the reward for reciting two-thirds ⅔ of the entire al Quran al Kareem,
as well as the reward equivalent to what would be gained by giving charity to all believing men and women all around the world.
What Is The Meaning Of Surah Fatiha?
Surah Al Fatiha has been split into two halves between Allah and His servant (the one reciting),
with the first three verses being Allah’s part and the latter three verses representing the servants’ part.
Surah Fatiha names
1- Al-Hamd (The Praise)
2- As-Salah (The Prayer)
3- Umm al-Kitab (Mother of the Book)
4- Umm al-Quran (Mother of the Quran)
5- Sab’a min al-Mathani (Seven Repeated Ones)
6- Ash-Shifa’ (The Cure)
Surah Fatiha Tafseer
The chapter opens with thanking Allah with the phrase ‘Alhamdulillah’ and declaring that it is Allah who has full control over all creatures,
that He is Ar-Rahman Ar-Rahim or the Most Gracious and Merciful, and that till the Day of Judgement,
He is and will be the rightful owner of everything and everyone.
The following three verses begin with the servants declaring that they worship and seek solely Allah’s aid,
asking Him to direct them to the Sirat al-Mustaqim (the Straight Path) of those to whom Allah has been generous,
rather than those to whom Allah has been wrathful.
What Is The Translation Of Surah Fatiha In English?
- In the name of Allah, the Entirely Merciful, the Especially Merciful.
- [All] praise is [due] to Allah, Lord of the worlds
- The Entirely Merciful, the Especially Merciful,
- Master of the Day of Judgement.
- It is You we worship and You who we ask for help.
- Guide us to the straight path
- The path of those upon whom You have bestowed favor, not of those who have evoked [You are] anger or of those who are astray.
Surah Fatah Transliteration
- Bismillahi ar rahmani ar raheem
- Alhammdulillahi Rabbil aalameen
- Ara-Rahmaanir-Raheem
- Maliki Yawmi-Deen
- iyyaka na’budu wa iyyaka nastaeen
- Ihdina as-Siraatal Mustaqeem
- Siraatal lazeena anamta alaihim ghayril maghdoobi alaihim wala ad-daaalleen
Surah Fatiha Hadith
Surah al Fatiha was mentioned in the Prophet’s Hadith. Abu Hurayrah said that the Messenger of Allah said:
“Al-Hamdu lillahi Rabbil-Alamin is the Mother of the Quran, the Mother of the Book, and the seven repeated Ayat of the Glorious Quran.”
(At-Tirmidhi)
Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) said that Allah said in hadith Qudsi al Fatihah:
“Allah 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’, Allah says: – ‘My servant has praised Me.’
says: ‘Ar-Rahmani ar-Rahim’, Allah (mighty and sublime be He) says: ‘My servant has extolled Me ,’
and what time he says: ‘ Maliki yawmi d-din’, Allah says : ‘My servant has glorified Me’ – and on one occasion He said: ‘My servant has submitted to My power.’
says: ‘Iyyaka na’budu wa iyyaka nastaeen’, 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 wala ad-dallin’,
He says: ‘This is for My servant, and My servant shall have what he has asked for.”
(Muslim, Malik, at-Tirmidhi, Abu-Dawud, an-Nasa’i and Ibn Majah)
Anas ibn Malik reported: The Prophet, peace, and blessings be upon him, was on a journey and he descended from his riding animal as a man among his companions was walking by his side. The Prophet turned to him and he said, “Shall I not tell you of the greatest of the Quran?” The Prophet recited to him, “All praise is due to Allah, the Lord of the worlds,” (1:1) meaning Surat al-Fatihah.
Source: sahih Ibn Hibban 774
According to Al-Albani
Ubayy ibn Ka’b reported: The Messenger of Allah, peace, and blessings be upon him, said to him, “How do you recite in prayer?” Ubayy said, “I recite the foundation of the Book, Surat al-Fatihah.” The Prophet said, “By the One in whose hand is my soul, nothing like it has been revealed in the Torah, nor the Gospel, nor the Psalms, nor the Furqan. Verily, they are the seven oft-repeated verses and the great Quran given to me.”
Source: Sunan al-Tirmidhi 2875
According to Al-Tirmidhi
Ata’ reported: Abu Huraira, may Allah be pleased with him, said, “In every prayer is a recitation. Prayers that were recited aloud by the Prophet, peace, and blessings be upon him, we have recited aloud to you, and what he recited silently we have kept silent with you. Whoever recites the foundation of the Book, Surat al-Fatihah, has done enough, but to recite more is better.”
Source: Sahih al-Bukhari 738, Sahih Muslim 396
According to Al-Bukhari and Muslim
Wa’il ibn Hujr reported: The Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, would recite the verse, “Not those who have earned anger, nor who go astray,” (1:7) and he would say with a raised voice, “Ameen.”
Al-Tirmidhi said, “More than one of the people of knowledge among the companions of the Prophet, peace, and blessings be upon him, their successors, and those after them narrated that a man should raise his voice to say Ameen and he should not make it silent. Such was said by Al-Shafi’i, Ahmad, and Ishaq.”
Source: Sunan al-Tirmidhi 248
According to Al-Nawawi
Abu Sa’id ibn al-Mu’alla reported: I was praying in the mosque when the Messenger of Allah, peace, and blessings be upon him, called out to me but I did not respond. I said later, “O Messenger of Allah, I was praying.” The Prophet said, “Did not Allah say: Respond to Allah and the Messenger when he calls you?” (8:24) Then, the Prophet said, “Shall I not teach you the greatest chapter in the Quran before you leave the mosque?” The Prophet took me by the hand and when he intended to leave, I said to him, “Did you not say that you would teach me the greatest chapter in the Quran?” The Prophet said, “All praise is due to Allah, the Lord of the worlds (1:1), which are the seven oft-repeated verses and the great Quran given to me.”
Source: Sahih al-Bukhari 5006
According to Al-Bukhari
- Aisha reported: The Prophet, peace, and blessings are upon him, would sometimes perform two cycles of prayer before the dawn prayer so lightly that I would say to myself, “Did he recite Surat al-Fatihah?”
Source: Sahih al-Bukhari 1165, Sahih Muslim 724
According to Al-Bukhari and Muslim
Al-Qurtubi said, “It does not mean that she doubted the Prophet had recited Al-Fatihah. Rather,
it only means that his recitation in voluntary prayers was usually long, so when he lightened his recitation in the two cycles before dawn prayer,
it was as if he had not recited it as compared to other prayers.”
Source: Fath al-Bari 3/47
Surah Al Fatiha Reading
Surah Al Fatiha Best Recitation
Here’s Surah Al Fatiha with Tajweed by Mishary Al Afasy’s best recitation so you can listen to it repeatedly,
and notice tajweed rules in Surah Fatiha in order to recite it perfectly.
If you want to listen to it online, click here to start the Quran Fatiha download to listen to it whenever you want.
Here’s also Surah Fatiha Ahmadiyya with Urdu translation to check out.
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With Noor Academy, your kids get to learn with online kids Quran tutor specialized who know how to simplify Quran recitation, memorization,
also, sign up for Quran learning for kids to raise them up on the correct recitation and Tajweed of the whole Quran, not just surah al Fatiha.
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surah al fatiha written in arabic
الْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ رَبِّ الْعَالَمِينَ
الرَّحْمَنِ الرَّحِيمِ
مَالِكِ يَوْمِ الدِّينِ
إِيَّاكَ نَعْبُدُ وَإِيَّاكَ نَسْتَعِينُ
اهْدِنَا الصِّرَاطَ الْمُسْتَقِيمَ
صِرَاطَ الَّذِينَ أَنْعَمْتَ عَلَيْهِمْ غَيْرِ الْمَغْضُوبِ عَلَيْهِمْ وَلَا الضَّالِّينَ
Related Questions
Where was Surah Fatiha revealed?
the scholars say Surah Fatiha is revealed in Mecca and some say in Medina and some say it’s revealed twice: once in Mecca and again in Medina.
why did Iblis cry when surah Fatiha was revealed?
Iblis use to stick mud in his ears when Surah Al-Fatiha was revealed as it is a surah that holds a great blessing for the Ummah of the Prophet SAW
Which Surah is Known As Asas Al Quran?
Surah Fatiha is known as Asas Al Quran. The reason is that it’s considered the summary of the whole Quran. Quran Kareem starts with it,
and there’s no Salah (prayer) accepted before Fatiha is recited following another Surah from the Holy Quran.
What is The Other Name Of Surah Fatiha?
Surah Al Fatiha’s other names include Umm Al-Kitab (The Mother of the Book), Umm Al-Quran (mother of the Quran), Saba al Mathani (Seven repeated [verses],
an appellation is taken from verse 15:87 of the Quran), and Al-Hamd (praise).
