Surah Al-Fatihah: Recitation, Meaning and Virtues

About Surah Al-Fatihah

Surah Al-Fatihah is the 1st chapter of the Quran and consists of 7 verses. It was revealed during the Meccan period. Its name means "the opening" or "the beginning".

Because this surah presents all the central messages of the Quran in summary form, it is known by several names:

• Umm al-Kitab — Mother of the Book
• Sab' al-Mathani — The Seven Oft-Repeated (Verses)
• al-Asas — The Foundation
• al-Wafiyah — The Complete
• al-Kafiyah — The Sufficient
• ash-Shafiyah — The Healing

Surah Al-Fatihah in Arabic

بِسْمِ اللَّهِ الرَّحْمَٰنِ الرَّحِيمِ

الْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ رَبِّ الْعَالَمِينَ الرَّحْمَٰنِ الرَّحِيمِ مَالِكِ يَوْمِ الدِّينِ إِيَّاكَ نَعْبُدُ وَإِيَّاكَ نَسْتَعِينُ اهْدِنَا الصِّرَاطَ الْمُسْتَقِيمَ صِرَاطَ الَّذِينَ أَنْعَمْتَ عَلَيْهِمْ غَيْرِ الْمَغْضُوبِ عَلَيْهِمْ وَلَا الضَّالِّينَ

Transliteration

Bismillāhi'r-raḥmāni'r-raḥīm.

Al-ḥamdu lillāhi rabbi'l-ʿālamīn. Ar-raḥmāni'r-raḥīm. Māliki yawmi'd-dīn. Iyyāka naʿbudu wa iyyāka nastaʿīn. Ihdinā'ṣ-ṣirāṭa'l-mustaqīm. Ṣirāṭa'llaḏīna anʿamta ʿalayhim ġayri'l-maġḍūbi ʿalayhim wa lā'ḍ-ḍāllīn.

English Meaning

In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful.

1. All praise belongs to Allah, Lord of the worlds.
2. The Most Gracious, the Most Merciful.
3. Master of the Day of Judgement.
4. You alone we worship, and You alone we ask for help.
5. Guide us to the straight path — the path of those You have blessed, not of those who have incurred wrath, nor of those who have gone astray.

Virtues of Surah Al-Fatihah

1. A surah without equal:

"Nothing like Umm al-Kitab (Al-Fatihah) was revealed in the Torah, the Gospel, the Psalms or the Criterion." — Tirmidhi, Fada'il al-Qur'an, 1

2. The greatest surah:

"We have given you the seven oft-repeated verses and the great Quran." — Surah Al-Hijr, verse 87 (the "seven" here refers to Al-Fatihah)

3. A surah of healing: In the time of the Companions it was also recited as a supplication for healing, and the Prophet approved of this.

Why Is Al-Fatihah Recited in Prayer?

Reciting Al-Fatihah in every unit of prayer is:

• According to the Shafi'i school: obligatory (fard). Without it the prayer is invalid.
• According to the Hanafi school: wajib. If omitted, a prostration of forgetfulness (sajdat as-sahw) is required.
• Maliki and Hanbali: generally regarded as fard.

This is because Al-Fatihah is the essence of the Quran and a covenant of servitude.

The Structure of the Surah

The surah is understood in three parts:

1. Praise and gratitude to Allah (verses 1-3)

   • Praise of the Lord of the worlds
   • The attributes ar-Rahman and ar-Rahim
   • Master of the Day of Judgement

2. The covenant of servitude (verse 4)

   • Worship of Allah alone
   • Seeking help from Allah alone

3. The supplication for guidance (verses 5-7)

   • Being guided to the straight path
   • The path of those who have been blessed
   • Not incurring wrath, not going astray

Frequently Asked Questions

When is Al-Fatihah recited outside of prayer?

Al-Fatihah may be recited at any time. It is customary to recite it especially when making a request or in need, in times of illness, as a gift of reward for the deceased, and at the close of a supplication.

Is there a difference between reciting it alone and reciting it in prayer?

Both bring reward. However, because it is fard or wajib within the prayer, it carries a distinct ruling there. Outside of prayer, reciting it is a voluntary act.

What is meant by "reciting the Fatihah" for someone?

It refers to reciting Al-Fatihah and dedicating its reward — for example for someone who has passed away. In many Muslim communities this is customary after a funeral, when visiting graves, and in supplications for good.

Read Surah Al-Fatihah in the Nurlu App

In the Nurlu app you will find Surah Al-Fatihah with:

• the original Arabic text
• transliteration
• audio recitation options
• reminders at prayer times

all free of charge.