Surah Al-Faatihah: An Introduction
Surah Al-Faatihah is the only surah that Islam has commanded its followers to recite in every prayer, in every rak‘ah, at all times. This has made its memorization easy for every believer.
Despite its small size and few verses, this surah comprehensively covers the main objectives of the religion, including Tawheed (monotheism), worship, rulings, divine promise and warning.
Before we begin its detailed commentary, it is beneficial to introduce the surah by addressing the following aspects:
1. When Was Surah Al-Faatihah Revealed?
The most widely accepted view among scholars is that it was revealed in Makkah, making it one of the earliest revelations of the Qur’an.
Some, however, argue that it was Madinan, while others say it was revealed twice; once in Makkah when prayer was made obligatory and once in Madinah when the Qiblah was changed.
Al-Imam Al-Qurtubi said:
"The first opinion is the most correct because Allah, Blessed and Exalted says in Surah Al-Hijr:
ÙˆَÙ„َÙ‚َدْ آتَÙŠْÙ†َاكَ سَبْعًا Ù…ِّÙ†َ ٱلْÙ…َØ«َانِÙŠ ÙˆَٱلْÙ‚ُرْØ¡َانَ ٱلْعَظِيمَ
'And We have certainly given you the seven oft-repeated verses and the great Qur’an. (Al-Hijr: 87)
And Surah Al-Hijr is unanimously Makkan."
There is also no disagreement that prayer was made obligatory in Makkah, and it is known that there was never a prayer in Islam without Al-Hamdu Lillaahi Rabbil-Aalameen (Al-Faatihah). This is supported by the saying of the Prophet Peace Upon him:
"There is no prayer without the Opening of the Book (Al-Faatihah)."
This Hadith refers to the ruling, not necessarily the first occurrence of prayer.
2. The Number of Verses in Surah Al-Faatihah
It consists of seven verses, as confirmed by the Qur’anic verse:
ÙˆَÙ„َÙ‚َدْ آتَÙŠْÙ†َاكَ سَبْعًا Ù…ِّÙ†َ ٱلْÙ…َØ«َانِÙŠ ÙˆَٱلْÙ‚ُرْØ¡َانَ ٱلْعَظِيمَ
"And We have certainly given you the seven oft-repeated verses and the great Qur’an." (Al-Hijr: 87).
Scholars agree that the "seven oft-repeated" verses refer to Al-Faatihah.
Al-Imam Al-Haafidh Ibn Katheer said:
"It consists of seven verses without dispute."
Some, however, held different views:
Amr ibn Ubayd counted it as eight verses, considering "Ø¥ِÙŠَّاكَ Ù†َعْبُدُ" (You alone we worship) as a separate verse.
Husayn Aj-Ja‘fi counted it as six verses.
Both views are considered unusual (shaadh).
3. Names of Surah Al-Faatihah
Surah Al-Faatihah has numerous names, among the most well-known are:
1. "Al-Faatihah" (The Opening) or "Faatihat Al-Kitaab" (The Opening of the Book) – named so because:
It is the first surah recited in the Qur’an during reading.
It is the first surah written in the Mushaf.
It opens the prayers, even though it was not the first revelation.
This name became widely recognized during the time of the Prophet Peace Upon him.
2. "Umm Al-Qur’an" (The Mother of the Qur’an) or "Umm Al-Kitaab" (The Mother of the Book) because:
It summarizes the objectives detailed throughout the Qur’an.
It praises Allah, contains commands and prohibitions, and mentions rewards and punishments.
It includes theoretical beliefs and practical laws that guide to the Straight Path and distinguishes between the righteous and the misguided.
Al-Imam Ibn Jareer At-Tabari said:
"In Arabic, anything that gathers and leads is called ‘Umm’ (Mother). For example:
The covering of the brain is called Umm al-Ra’s (the mother of the head).
The flag under which an army gathers is called 'Umm'."
3. "As-Sab Al-Mathaanee" (The Seven Oft-Repeated) because:
It consists of seven verses that are repeated in every prayer.
The Prophet Peace Upon him said:
"It is Umm al-Qur’an, As-Sab Al-Mathaanee, and the Glorious Qur’an." (Musnad Imam Ahmad)
4. "Al-Ḥamd" (The Praise)
5. "Al-Kanz" (The Treasure)
6. "Al-Waaqiyah" (The Protector)
7. "Ash-Shifaa" (The Cure) based on the Hadith:
"It is a cure for every disease."
8. "Al-Kaafiyah" (The Sufficient One) because it suffices in prayer, while no other surah suffices without it.
9. "Al-Asaas" (The Foundation)
10. "Ar-Ruqyah" (The Incantation)
Al-Qurtubi mentioned twelve names, while As-Suyuti listed twenty-five names in his book Al-Itqaan.
4. The Virtues of Surah Al-Faatihah
Numerous Ahaadith highlight the virtues of this surah. Among them:
1. The Greatest Surah in the Qur’an
Al-Imam Al-Bukhari narrated from AbÅ« Sa‘eed ibn Al-Mu‘alla:
"I was praying in the mosque when the Prophet Peace Upon him called me, but I did not respond.
When I finished, I went to him and said, ‘O Messenger of Allah, I was praying.’
He said, ‘Didn’t Allah say: "Respond to Allah and His Messenger when he calls you." (Al-Anfaal: 24)?
Then he said, ‘I will teach you the greatest surah in the Qur’an before you leave the mosque.’
Then he took my hand and, before leaving, he said:
"Al-Hamdu Lillaahi Rabbil-Aalameen is As-Sab Al-Mathaanee and the Glorious Qur’an that I have been given."
2. A Special Gift Never Given Before
Imam Muslim and An-Nasaa’i narrated from Ibn Abbaas:
"While Jibreeel was sitting with the Prophet Peace upon him, he heard a sound from above and said:
‘This is a door in the heavens that has been opened today, never opened before.’
An angel descended and said,
‘Rejoice! You have been given two lights never given to any prophet before:
Al-Faatihah and the last verses of Al-Baqarah.
You will receive whatever you ask when reciting them."
3. No Prayer Without It
Imam Muslim narrated from Abu Hurayrah that the Prophet Peace Upon him said:
"Any prayer in which Umm Al-Qur’an (Al-Faatihah) is not recited is incomplete, incomplete, incomplete."
4. The Dialogue Between Allah and His Servant
In a Hadith qudsee (Sacred Hadith), the Prophet Peace Upon him said:
"Allah says:
‘I have divided the prayer between Me and My servant into two halves, and My servant shall have what he asks.’
When the servant says: الْØَÙ…ْدُ Ù„ِÙ„َّÙ‡ِ رَبِّ الْعَالَÙ…ِينَ
Allah responds: ‘My servant has praised Me."
Thus, Surah Al-Faatihah holds a unique status in Islam, being recited in every prayer and containing essential beliefs and divine wisdom.
Narration from Ammar ibn Zuraiq:
Ammar ibn Zuraiq narrated from Al-A’mash, from Shu'bah, from Thabit, from Anas, who said: “I prayed with the Prophet peace upon him, Abu Bakr, Umar, and Uthman, and I did not hear any of them recite Bismillah Ar-Rahman Ar-Raheem.”
I say: This is a sound statement, and the reports from Anas align with this and do not contradict each other. This resolves the debate about the recitation of the basmala.
Sa'eed ibn Jubair reported: “The polytheists used to be present in the mosque, and when the Prophet peace upon him would recite ‘Bismillah Ar-Rahman Ar-Raheem,’ they would say, ‘This is Muhammad invoking the Rahman of Yamaamah,’ referring to Musaylimah. Therefore, the Prophet ordered that ‘Bismillah Ar-Rahman Ar-Raheem’ should be recited quietly.”
It was revealed: “Do not raise your voice in prayer, nor lower it too much.” (Qur’an, Al-Israa 17:110).
Al-Imam At-Tirmidhi said: “This practice has continued to the present day, even though the initial reason for the quiet recitation has passed, just as the practice of walking in the sand during Tawaf continues despite the original reason having passed, and the quiet recitation in prayers during the day continues despite the cause having passed.”
The consensus of the Muslim community is that it is permissible to write “Bismillah Ar-Rahman Ar-Raheem” at the beginning of any book or correspondence. However, when it comes to poetry, a narration from Mujalid reports that Al-Shabi’i said: “It is agreed that ‘Bismillah Ar-Rahman Ar-Raheem’ should not be written at the beginning of poetry.”
Az-Zuhri stated: “It has been the practice that ‘Bismillah Ar-Rahman Ar-Raheem’ is not written in poetry.”
Sa'eed ibn Jubair held a contrary view, and most of the later scholars followed his opinion.
Abu Bakr Al-Khatib said: “This is the opinion we prefer and recommend.”
Islam encourages the recitation of ‘Bismillah Ar-Rahman Ar-Raheem’ before starting any action such as eating, drinking, slaughtering, having intimacy, performing ablution, riding the sea, and other actions. Allah says: “Eat from that over which the name of Allah has been mentioned.”
He also said: “Ride upon it, and say: ‘Bismillah, its course and its resting place are by the will of Allah.’”
The Prophet peace upon him said: “Close your door, mention the name of Allah, extinguish your lamp and mention the name of Allah, cover your container and mention the name of Allah, and tie your water-skin and mention the name of Allah.”
He also said: “If one of you is about to come to his wife, let him say: ‘Bismillah, Allahumma jannibna Ash-Shaytan wa jannib Ash-Shaytan ma razaqtana,’ for if Allah decrees that they have a child from that union, the Shaytan will not harm the child.”
He also said to Umar ibn Abi Salamah: “O young man, say the name of Allah, eat with your right hand, and eat from what is in front of you.”
The Prophet peacee upon him said: “The Shaytan seeks to make food unlawful by not mentioning the name of Allah upon it.”
He also said: “Whoever does not slaughter an animal, let him say ‘Bismillah’ before slaughtering it.”
Uthman ibn Abi Al-As complained to the Prophet peace upon him about pain in his body since embracing Islam. The Prophet peacee upon him instructed him to place his hand on the painful area of his body, say ‘Bismillah’ three times, and then say seven times: A’udhu bi Izzatillahi wa qudratihi min sharri ma ajidu wa uhadhir.’
All of these narrations are authentic.
Al-Imam Ibn Maajah and At-Tirmidhi also narrated from the Prophet peace upon him: “The barrier between the jinn and the private areas of the children of Adam is when one enters the bathroom, he should say: ‘Bismillah.’”
Al-Imam Ad-Daarqutnee narrated from Aa'ishah that the Prophet peace upon him would mention the name of Allah when performing ablution and then pour water over his hands.
