Surah Al-Faatiha (1) — Ayah 1

Surah Al-Fatihah is the very first surah of the Noble Quran, which has been mentioned with great virtue in the hadiths. Fatihah means beginning and commencement. That is why it is called Al-Fatihah, i.e., Fatihatul Kitab.

Its several other names are also established from the hadiths, such as Umm al-Quran, Al-Sab’ al-Mathani, Al-Quran al-Azeem, Al-Shifa, Al-Ruqyah (Ruqyah), and other names. One of its important names is Al-Salat as well, as mentioned in a Hadith Qudsi where Allah Almighty said: «قسمت الصلوة بيني وبين عبدي.» [الحديث صحيح مسلم كتاب الصلوة] I have divided «صلوة» (prayer) between Myself and My servant.

The meaning is Surah Al-Fatihah, half of which is about the praise and glorification of Allah Almighty, His mercy, Lordship, justice, and sovereignty, and the other half is supplication and entreaty that the servant makes in the presence of Allah. In this hadith, Surah Al-Fatihah is referred to as prayer, which clearly shows that its recitation in prayer is very necessary. Thus, in the statements of the Noble Prophet ﷺ, this has been explained in detail. He said: «لاصلوة لمن لم يقرا بفاتحه الكتاب» [صحيح بخاري و مسلم] The prayer of the one who has not recited Surah Al-Fatihah is not valid.

In this hadith, the word «من» is general, which includes every person who prays, whether praying alone or behind an imam as a follower. Whether the prayer is silent or aloud, obligatory or voluntary, it is necessary for every person praying to recite Surah Al-Fatihah. This generality is further supported by the hadith in which it is mentioned that once, during the Fajr prayer, some of the noble companions, may Allah be pleased with them all, were also reciting the Quran along with the Noble Prophet ﷺ, due to which the recitation became heavy upon him ﷺ. After the prayer ended, when he ﷺ asked, “Were you also reciting along with me?” They replied in the affirmative, so he ﷺ said: «لاتفعلوا الابام القرآن فانه لاصلوة لمن لم يقرابها» Do not do so (i.e., do not recite along with me), but do recite Surah Al-Fatihah, because without its recitation, the prayer is not valid [ابوداؤد، ترمذي، نسائي]

In the same way, it is narrated from Abu Hurairah ؓ that the Prophet ﷺ said: «من صلى صلوة لم يقرا فيها بام القرآن فهي خداج. ثلاثا غير تمام» Whoever prayed without Al-Fatihah, his prayer is incomplete. He ﷺ said this three times. It was asked to Abu Hurairah ؓ: «انانكون وراء الامام» We pray behind the Imam, what should we do then? Abu Hurairah ؓ replied: «اقرا بها فى نفسك» When you are behind the Imam, recite Surah Al-Fatihah to yourself. [صحيح مسلم]

From both of these hadiths, it is clear that what is mentioned in the Quran ﴿وَاِذَا قُرِئَ الْقُرْاٰنُ فَاسْتَمِعُوْا لَهٗ وَاَنْصِتُوْا لَعَلَّكُمْ تُرْحَمُوْنَ﴾ [7: 24]

When the Quran is recited, listen to it and remain silent, or the hadith «واذا قرا فانصتوا» (if authentic) When the Imam recites, remain silent. This means that in audible prayers, the followers should listen silently to the rest of the recitation except for Surah Al-Fatihah. Do not recite the Quran with the Imam. Or the Imam should recite the verses of Surah Al-Fatihah with pauses so that the followers can also recite Surah Al-Fatihah according to the authentic hadiths, or the Imam should pause after Surah Al-Fatihah so that the followers can recite Surah Al-Fatihah. In this way, there remains no contradiction between the Quranic verse and the authentic hadiths, all praise is due to Allah. Both can be acted upon. Whereas, prohibiting Surah Al-Fatihah would prove, God forbid, that the Quran and hadiths are in conflict and only one of them can be acted upon. It is not possible to act upon both at the same time. «فتعوذ بالله من هذا.» See the footnote of Surah Al-A'raf verse 24 (For research on this issue, refer to the book Tahqiq al-Kalam by Maulana Abdul Rahman Mubarakpuri and Tawdhih al-Kalam by Maulana Irshad ul-Haq Athari, may Allah protect him, etc.). Here, it should also be clear that according to Imam Ibn Taymiyyah رحمه الله, the opinion of the majority of the Salaf is that if the follower is listening to the Imam's recitation, he should not recite, and if he is not listening, then he should recite. [مجموع فتاوي ابن تيميه 23/265]

1. This surah is Makki. Makki or Madani means that the surahs revealed before the Hijrah (13th year of Prophethood) are Makki, whether they were revealed in Makkah Mukarramah or its surroundings, and Madani are those surahs that were revealed after the Hijrah, whether they were revealed in Madinah or its surroundings or even far from it, even if they were revealed in Makkah and its surroundings. Regarding «بِسْمِ اللّٰهِ», there is a difference of opinion as to whether it is an independent verse of every surah, or a part of the verse of every surah, or it is only a verse of Surah Al-Fatiha, or it is not an independent verse of any surah, but is written at the beginning of every surah only to distinguish it from another surah. The scholars of Makkah and Kufa have considered it a verse of every surah including Surah Al-Fatiha, while the scholars of Madinah, Basra, and Shaam have not accepted it as a verse of any surah, except for verse number 30 of Surah An-Naml, in which by consensus «بِسْمِ اللّٰهِ» it is a part. Similarly, there is also a difference of opinion regarding reciting it aloud (in audible prayers). Some are of the opinion that it should be recited aloud, and some say it should be recited quietly (in a low voice). Most scholars have considered reciting it quietly to be better. «بِسْمِ اللّٰهِ» has been separated right at the beginning, that is, I read or begin or recite in the name of Allah. It has been emphasized to recite "Bismillah" before starting every important task. Thus, it has been commanded to recite it before eating, slaughtering, ablution, and intercourse «بِسْمِ اللّٰهِ». However, at the time of reciting the Noble Qur'an, before «بِسْمِ اللّٰهِ الرَّحْمٰنِ الرَّحِيْمِ», it is also necessary to recite «اَعُوْذُ باللّٰهِ مِنَ الشَّيْطٰنِ الرَّجِيْمِ», when you begin to recite the Noble Qur'an, seek refuge with Allah from the accursed Satan.