THE OPENING Of HOLLY QURAN
Revealed at Makkah
PRELUDE

Surah Fatihah, as the name indicates, is the Opening Chapter of the Holy Qur-an. The "Opt repeated seven verses" (15:87) of this chapter are recited many times everyday during the Salat or daily Prayers. This chapter is also called Umm al-Kitab or the Gist of the Book, that means, it contains the sum and substance of the Holy Qur-an

The Author of the Holy Qur-an, while revealing His identification, said that His name is "Allah". Then He mentioned what or who He is. He mentioned that He is the "Rabb" or the Creator (and Sustainer) of the whole universe. Thereafter He mentioned that He is the "Rahman" i.e. the Provider of Sustenance for His creation. Then He said, He is the "Rahim" i.e. Most Rewarding for the activities of His creatures; and at the same time He said that He is "Malik" i.e., Master of Judgment for the good and bad deeds done by mankind.

Allah, by disclosing His identity to man, was so kind as to teach him that man should worship Him alone, and should seek His help for fulfillment of all his desires. Let his life be straight and upright, and may he be protected from falling into pitfalls.



I seek refuge with Allah, from the Shaitan, the driven away.]

With the name of Allah, most Gracious, most Rewarding

THE Hamd belong to Allah, the Rabb of all the worlds;

2 the Rahman, the Rahim;

3 Malik of the Day of Requital.

4 You alone we do serve, and to You alone we beseech for help.

5 Guide us on the Right Path,

6 the path of those upon whom You have bestowed favors;

7 not of those upon whom wrath is brought down, nor of those gone-astray.


COMMENTARY

I seek refuge with Allah, from the Shaitan (i.e., the Evil-one, meaning, every insolent or rebellious one from among the jinn, the men and the beasts, Raghib), the driven away (16:98).]
(We commence, 1:4) with (the assistance of) the name of Allah, (the Rahman, i.e.) most Gracious (whose love and mercy are manifested in making providence for all His creatures in the universe), (the Rahim, i.e.) most Rewarding (whose love and mercy are manifested in amply rewarding their righteous actions).
THE Hamd (i.e., all the praises and gratitude) belong to Allah, the Rabb (-the Creator, the Evolver, the Nourisher and the Maintainer) of all the worlds (like the material, spiritual and celestial worlds; to make them progress through evolution until they reach the goal of perfection; and it is due to this attribute in Allah that He brought everything into existence);
2 the Rahman (-the most Gracious, Who manifested His love and mercy to all His creatures and met all their needs, includimg the spiritual needs of mankind through Divine guidance, without their any effort to deserve it, 17:110; 25:60), the Rahim (i.e., the most Rewarding, Who manifests His love and mercy by amply rewarding the creatures for every deeds they do, 3:194);
3 Malik (-Master) of the Day (or the period, 55:29; 70:4) of Requital (which is constantly at work; His chastisement is to make people chaste by rectification, and is not the result of His wrath on man's disobedience; He, being the Master, is more than a king or a judge; and though Just, is at the same time Merciful and Forgiving to the sinners, 39:53).
4 (As we realize your mercy) You alone we do serve (O our Rabb! not merely by reciting Your glory, but by imbibing Your virtues through humble service to You), and to You alone we beseech for help (in obtaining our right place in Your kingdom).
5 Guide us on the (Middle, hence the) Right Path (90:10-18; Matt. 6:11, by protecting us from leaning to either extreme: the rejection or the exaggeration of the Guidance),-
6 the path of those upon whom You have bestowed favors (4:69, and taken into Your mercy);
7 not (the path) of those upon whom wrath is brought down (like the Jews, 2:61,90; 3:111; 5:60, who not only rejected 'Isa Masih, but also tried to kill him on the cross, 2:72; 3:53), nor of those gone-astray (from the Right Path, like the Christians, who not only exaggerated 'Isa Masih, 5:77, but also raised the human prophet to godhead, 4:171; 5:73).