সূরা আল-ফাতিহা

Surah Al-Fatihah (“The Opening”) is the 1st surah of the Quran: a Makkan surah of 7 ayahs.

Background

Among the earliest complete surahs revealed in Makkah. It is called Umm al-Kitab (the Mother of the Book) and as-Sab‘ al-Mathani (the seven oft-repeated ayahs), and no prayer is complete without it.

Main themes

• All praise belongs to Allah, Lord of all the worlds
• His mercy, and His mastery of the Day of Judgement
• Worship and seeking help are for Him alone
• A prayer for the straight path of those He has blessed

Virtue

The Prophet ﷺ called it the greatest surah in the Quran (Bukhari 4474), and said: “There is no prayer for one who does not recite the Opening of the Book.” (Bukhari 756)