Al-Fatiha (Arabic: ٱلْفَاتِحَة, al-Fātiḥah), also spelled Al-Fatihah, is the first chapter (Surah) of the Quran. It is believed by some to be a synthesis of the Quran.
The literal meaning of the expression "al-Fātiḥah" is "The Opener," which could refer:
to this first chapter being "the Opener of the Book" (فَاتِحَة ٱلْكِتَاب, Fātiḥat al-Kitāb), as sort of a preface, to its being the first Surah recited in full in every prayer (Namaz / Salah / Salat / Solat / Salaah / Salaat) cycle (rakʿah), or to how it serves as an opening for many functions (such as weddings and funerals) in everyday Islamic life.
It is also called "the Mother of the Book" (Umm Al-Kitab) and "the Mother of the Qur'an" (Umm Al-Quran); Sab'a al Mathani ("Seven repeated [verses]", an appellation taken from Quraan 15:87); Al-Hamd ("praise"), because a hadith (hadees / hadis / hades / ahadees / ahadith) narrates Hazrat Muhammad (PBUH) as having said that God says: "The prayer [al-Fatihah] is divided into two halves between Me and My servants. When the servant says, 'All praise is due to God', the Lord of existence, God says, 'My servant has praised Me'."; Al-Shifa' ("the Cure"), because a hadith narrates Hazrat Muhammad (PBUH) as having said: "The Opening of the Book is a cure for every poison."; Al-Ruqyah ("remedy" or "spiritual cure"), and al-Asas, "The Foundation", referring to its serving as a foundation for the entire Koran.
It is an obligatory part of the Salah (Islamic prayer), recited at least 17 times during the five daily prayers. Its seven Ayahs / Ayat / Ayah / Aayat/ Ayaat / aayaat (verses) are a prayer for the guidance, lordship, and mercy of God. Some Muslims interpret it as a reference to an implied ability of the surah to open a person to faith in God.
Al Fatihah is often translating to The Opening. Surah Al Fatihah is the first surah (chapter) in the Qu'ran, and it consists of seven ayahs (verses) that form a prayer for Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala's mercy and guidance, and express the believer's dependence on the lordship and mercy of Allah.
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This preface is meant to create a strong desire in the heart of the reader to seek guidance from the Lord of the Universe, Who alone can grant it. Thus Al-Fatihah indirectly teaches that the best thing for a man is to pray for guidance to the straight path, to study the Quran with the mental attitude of a seeker- after-truth and to recognize the fact that the Lord of the Universe is the source of all knowledge. He should, therefore, begin the study of the Quran with a prayer to him for guidance.
From this theme, it becomes clear that the real relation between Al-Fatihah and the Quran is not that of an introduction to a book but that of a prayer and its answer. Al-Fatihah is the prayer from the servant and the Quran is the answer from the Master to his prayer. The servant prays to Allah to show him guidance and the Master places the whole of the Quran before him in answer to his prayer, as if to say, "This is the Guidance you begged from Me."
It is the only Chapter of the Holy Quran that has got the reputation of being an indispensable part of Namaz, which is to be recited regularly in every Rakah of Salat / namaz.
Ubadah bin As-Samit reported Allah’s Messenger ﷺ saying as:
“Whoever does not recite Surat Al-Fatihah in his prayer, his prayer is invalid. (Sahih Bukhari)
