Surah Al-Fatiha is the best surah revealed in the Quran and in all heavenly books. Scholars have differed regarding the time of its revelation, as some consider it Meccan, and some consider it Medinan, but the most likely opinion is that it is Meccan because of a verse revealed in Surah Al-Hijr, which is also Meccan:
«وَلَقَدْ آتَيْنَاكَ سَبْعًا مِّنَ الْمَثَانِي وَالْقُرْآنَ الْعَظِيمَ»
Wa laqad āteynāka sab’an mina al-mathānī wal-Qur’āna al-‘aẓīm
“And We have certainly given you, [O Muhammad], seven of the often repeated [verses] and the great Qur’an.”
The seven oft-repeated verses refer to Surah Al-Fatiha. In this article, we will discuss the benefits of surah al fatiha and its great importance in Islam.
What does the title “Al-Fatiha” mean?
Surah Al-Fatiha was named so because the Book of Allah SWT was opened with it, and it is the first surah in the order of the Quran, which indicates its greatness and the many benefits of surah al fatiha. It is also the first thing that Muslims and non-Muslims must learn if they want to learn about Islam.
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The Importance of Surah Al-Fatiha in Islam
Surah Al-Fatiha has great importance in Islam because it is the greatest and best surah in the miraculous Book of Allah. It was narrated from Abu Hurairah, may Allah be pleased with him, that the Messenger of Allah, PBUH, said to Ubayy ibn Ka’b:
«أَتُحِبُّ أَنْ أُعَلِّمَكَ سُورَةً لَمْ يَنْزِلْ فِي التَّوْرَاةِ وَلَا فِي الْإِنْجِيلِ وَلَا فِي الزَّبُورِ وَلَا فِي الْفُرْقَانِ مِثْلُهَا ؟» قَال: نعم يا رسول الله، قَال رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم: «كَيْفَ تَقْرَأُ فِي الصَّلَاةِ ؟» قال: فَقَرَأَ أُمَّ الْقُرْآنِ فَقَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ: «وَالَّذِي نَفْسِي بِيَدِهِ مَا أُنْزِلَتْ فِي التَّوْرَاةِ وَلَا فِي الْإِنْجِيلِ وَلَا فِي الزَّبُورِ وَلَا فِي الْفُرْقَانِ مِثْلُهَا»
“Do you love that I teach you a surah that has not been revealed in the Torah, nor in the Gospel, nor in the Psalms, nor in the Quran, the like of it?” He said: Yes, O Messenger of Allah. The Messenger of Allah, PBUH, said: “How do you recite in prayer?” He said: So he recited Umm al-Quran (the Mother of the Quran – Al-Fatiha), so the Messenger of Allah, PBUH, said: “By the One in Whose Hand is my soul, nothing like it has been revealed in the Torah, nor in the Gospel, nor in the Psalms, nor in the Quran.”
It also clarifies the correct way of supplication, and the prayer, which is the pillar of religion, is not valid without it. It can also be used to get rid of diseases of the hearts and heal the body. It shows praise for Allah, glorification of Him, and affirming servitude to Him alone.
It contains the most important lessons of the creed as it contains the different types of Tawhid (Oneness of Allah): Tawhid al-Asma was-Sifat (Oneness of Names and Attributes), Tawhid ar-Rububiyyah (Oneness of Lordship), and Tawhid al-Uluhiyyah (Oneness of Worship).
It also divides people into three categories: the believers who have responded to Allah’s commands and avoided His prohibitions, those who have incurred His wrath, who are the Jews and those who are like them, and those who are astray, who are the Christians and those who are like them. It has a sufficient response to the people of innovation and misguidance, and contains the most important supplication that the Muslim cannot do without, which is:
«اهْدِنَا الصِّرَاطَ الْمُسْتَقِيمَ»
Ihdinā aṣ-ṣirāṭa al-mustaqīm
“Guide us to the straight path.”
This is one of the most important sorat alfatiha benefits.
Many people wonder about What Surah to Read After Fajr? There is no specific surah that the Prophet, PBUH, recommended to be recited at this time.
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How Surah Al-Fatiha Enhances Your Prayer
One of the names of Surah Al-Fatiha is “As-Salah” (The Prayer), and it is a basic pillar without which the prayer is not accepted. When you recite it in prayer, Allah SWT responds to you in every verse:
“عندما يقول العبد الحمد لله رب العالمين يقول الله: حمدني عبدي، وإذا قال: الرحمن الرحيم قال الله: أثنى علي عبدي، فإذا قال: مالك يوم الدين قال: مجدني عبدي، وإذا قال: إياك نعبد وإياك نستعين قال: هذا بيني وبين عبدي، ولعبدي ما سأل فإذا قال: اهدنا الصراط المستقيم صراط الذين أنعمت عليهم غير المغضوب عليهم ولا الضالين، قال: هذا لعبدي، ولعبدي ما سأل”
“When the servant says, ‘Praise be to Allah, Lord of the worlds,’ Allah says, ‘My servant has praised Me.’ And when he says, ‘The Most Gracious, the Most Merciful,’ Allah says, ‘My servant has praised Me.’ And when he says, ‘Master of the Day of Judgment,’ Allah says, ‘My servant has glorified Me.’ And when he says, ‘It is You we worship and You we ask for help,’ Allah says, ‘This is between Me and My servant, and My servant will have what he asked for.’ And when he says, ‘Guide us to the straight path, the path of those upon whom You have bestowed favor, not of those who have evoked [Your] anger or of those who are astray,’ Allah says, ‘This is for My servant, and My servant will have what he asked for.”
The Virtues of Surah Al-Fatiha
The virtues of Surah Al-Fatiha are many due to its great status in the Islamic religion, as it is called the treasure, the Mother of the Book, the Great Quran, Al-Hamd (the Praise), As-Salah (the Prayer), and other names that refer to the many benefit of suratul fatiha.
1- Greatest Surah in the Book
Surah Al-Fatiha is considered the greatest surah in the Book of Allah, as testified by the Prophet, PBUH, himself. It is also called the Mother of the Quran, and there is no surah in the Gospel, the Torah, the Psalms, or the Quran better than it, according to the saying of the Messenger of Allah, PBUH:
«لَأُعَلِّمَنَّكَ سُورَةً هي أعْظَمُ سُورَةٍ في القُرْآنِ، قالَ: الحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ رَبِّ العالَمِينَ هي السَّبْعُ المَثانِي، والقُرْآنُ العَظِيمُ الذي أُوتِيتُهُ».
“I will teach you a surah that is the greatest surah in the Quran. He said: ‘Alhamdulillah Rabbil Aalameen’ (Praise be to Allah, Lord of the Worlds) It is the seven oft-repeated verses and the Great Quran that I have been given.”
2- Healing and Blessings
Through Surah Al-Fatiha, healing from various diseases can be achieved, whether they are psychological, such as envy, or physical, such as a scorpion sting. It is also used in Ruqyah (spiritual healing) and grants those who read it much blessing in health, wealth, and time, and facilitates all their affairs.
3- Accepted Supplication
Surah Al-Fatiha teaches us the correct way for supplications to be answered, through praising Allah, glorifying Him, and thanking Him for His many blessings, and singling Him out for worship alone, then, one should supplicate to Allah with whatever he desires. Surah Al-Fatiha is characterized by containing the greatest supplication of all, which is “«اهْدِنَا الصِّرَاطَ الْمُسْتَقِيمَ» Ihdinā aṣ-ṣirāṭa al-mustaqīm.”
Sins may be a barrier between a servant and the response to his supplications, so we must increase in glorifying and seeking forgiveness from Allah. This is one of the best surah al nasr benefits, as it shows us the necessity of glorification even after victory.
4- Great Reward
When a Muslim reads any letter of the Quran, he receives a good deed for it, and a good deed is multiplied tenfold, and Allah multiplies for whom He wills. So what about reading the greatest surah in the Quran? This is because its verses contain all the meanings of the Holy Quran. This is one of the most important things that clarifies the benefits of surah al fatiha.
There are certain times when the reward of a believer is multiplied greatly, and this is one of the most important benefits of surah al qadr, as it introduces us to the great night that is equivalent to a thousand months, but is better than that.
5- Enhancing Spiritual Aspects
Through Surah Al-Fatiha, the relationship between a servant and his Lord can be strengthened, as it makes you feel great gratitude for being a servant of Allah. Who am I that the Lord SWT speaks to me and addresses me? This makes you feel that you are in the company of Allah and that you are able to face all problems and worries, as you are not alone.
One of the most important surah quraish benefits is that it shows Allah’s blessings upon His servants, where Allah has provided for them from where they did not expect, and provided them with food and security without any power or strength from them. In this matter, there is a strengthening of the spiritual aspect. If Allah is with you, then who is against you?
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Why is Surah Al-Fatiha recited in every prayer?
Surah Al-Fatiha is the most important basic pillar of prayer, without which prayer is not valid. It was narrated from Ubadah ibn al-Samit, may Allah be pleased with him, that the Messenger of Allah, PBUH, said:
«لَا صَلَاةَ لِمَن لَمْ يَقْرَأْ بِفَاتِحَةِ الْكِتَابِ»
“There is no prayer for the one who does not recite the Opening of the Book (Al-Fatiha).”
The majority of scholars among the companions, the predecessors, and the school of Imam Malik and Al-Shafi’i say that it is obligatory to recite Al-Fatiha in prayer.
A Muslim must strive to understand and contemplate the Quran. This can be done by creating a plan for completing the Quran and setting a fixed time for recitation. You can use a simple interpretation book, such as Mukhtasar fi al-Tafsir (The Concise Interpretation), and learn the meaning of surah al adiyat, for example, and other surahs. It is preferable to start with short surahs and learn about their virtues, such as the benefits of surah al muzzammil, and apply them in every situation you go through in your life.
Can Surah Al-Fatiha be recited for specific needs or intentions?
Surah Al-Fatiha can be recited with the intention of Ruqyah (spiritual healing) and healing from diseases such as envy, or for the purpose of gaining reward from Allah.
A Muslim must master reciting the Quran correctly by learning the rules of Tajweed and Understanding ikhfa shafawi examples in quran, and other lessons, so that his reward will be multiplied.
How does the Quran guide moral and ethical behavior?
The Quran guides moral behavior through its encouragement of good morals such as honesty, fulfilling promises, trustworthiness, justice, sincerity, and generosity. It also clarifies the virtue of morals with Allah and the reward that the believer receives when adhering to them, and through enjoining good and forbidding evil, which includes all noble morals.
Morals do not exist unless a person believes in Allah and knows that there is a reward and a punishment for everything he will do. Many surahs of the Quran clarify the necessity of worshipping Allah alone and not associating partners with Him, which pushes a person to have upright morals. This is one of the most important maryam surah benefits.
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