Tafseer Surat Al-Fatiha

Thursday Halaqa Notes

2/14/13

MCA Santa Clara, CA

Sr. Dana Jarrar

Tafseer Surat Al-Fatiha

• Since understanding the Qur'an increases Khushoo' in Salat, let’s try to understand some of the Qur’an together, starting with Surat Al Fatiha, since it is the surah we read in every rak3ah of the Salat.
• In the time of Rasulullah (Salla Allahu 3laihi wassalam), the arabs would give many names to things they give importance to. So there are several names for Surat Al Fatiha (The Opening), like nicknames, that further describe the Surah.

1. Umm Al Kitab, Mother of the Book
2. Umm Al Qur’an, Mother of the Qur’an
3. Al Hamd, the Praise
4. Al Asaas, the Foundation
5. Al Waaqiyah, the Protector
6. Al Kaafiyah, the Sufficient
7. Al Kanz, the Treasure
8. Al Ruqya, the Spiritual Cure
9. Al Sab'al Mathani, the Seven Oft Repeated Verses

• Surat Al Fatiha is a Makkan surah. It contains 7 ayahs, 25 words, and 113 letters. 
• The most important surahs to understand are Al Fatiha and Al Baqarah because both have important dua’s. 
• Surat Al Fatiha is the first chapter of the Qur’an and it’s the first Surah we recite in each rakah. 
• Surat Al Fatiha is the first complete surah to be revealed. The first verses were the first five of Surat al ‘Alaq. The last Surah to be revealed is Surat Al Nasr.
• Ali b. Abi Talib, radiaAllahu 3anhu, said, ‘If I wanted to write all the meanings of surat al Fatiha, it would take 70 camels to carry all that I say.‘ 
• Allah sent 104 books, and put them together into 4 holy books. Then He put all the meanings together into the Qur’an. Then put them all into Al Fatiha. 
• The main message of the Qur’an is summarized into one ayah - “iyaka na3budu wa iyaka nasta3een - It is You we worship and You we ask for help.” This is the message he wants us to get. The message of Tawhid- the oneness of Allah. 
• When we first stand to pray we say Allahu Akbar, then we should say the Isti3atha - Autho billahi min al shaytan al rajeem - I seek refuge from Shaytan the outcase. Then we recite a du’a. Then we recite Surat Al Fatiha:

1. Bismillah ar-Rahman ar-Rahim: In the name of Allah, the All-Merciful, the Ever-Merciful

• The basmalah was for Rasulullah, salla Allahu 3laihi wassalam, to know the beginning and end of the surahs. 

2. Alhamdu lillahi Rabbil ‘alameen: All praise is due to Allah, Lord of the worlds

• Here we are saying Alhamdulillah for everything, thank you Allah for everything. How can we get to this level where we can thank Him for everything? By getting to know Him. By remembering Allah in good times and bad. If someone asks you how you are, always mention Allah. 
• Allah says in the Qur’an in Surat Yunus ayah 58: “Say: In the grace of Allah and in His mercy - in that they should rejoice; it is better than that which why gather.” We will be entering Jannah by the mercy of Allah.
• Even the people in hellfire will be thanking Allah - they will be thankful they are not in a lower level of hell. 
• We also thank Allah for being our Lord, Rab al ‘alameen. Rabb is the owner of blessings. If there were more than one God, then we would be confused on who to obey. Look at your body - how many eyes, ears, arms, and legs do you have - 2. But how many hearts do you have - 1! If you had two hearts, your body would be confused on which heart to follow. The manager of your heart is Allah. So when you say Alhamdulillahi Rabbil ‘alameen you need to feel the word Rab. This is the name that gathered all the names of Allah. Remind yourself of the blessings Allah gave you. And He’s not just your Rab, he’s the Rab of all the creations.

3. Ar-Rahman Ar-Raheem: The Most Merciful, the Ever-Merciful

• The difference between Rahman and Raheem is like the difference between mardaan (one who is sick today) and mareed (one who has a constant disease). Allah is the Most Merciful, and he is the Always Merciful. 
• Another detail about this ayah, is that Allah is Ar-Rahman to all the people - including the kuffar. But Allah is Al-Raheem to the mu’mineen because He will be merciful to us in the dunya and the aakhirah.

These first 3 ayahs have 3 stories: 

1. Alhamdulillah Rab il ‘alameen = evokes the love of Allah. 

• When you say this you should feel the complete love for Allah. Your heart loves it’s Rab - Creator. Ibn Al-Qayyim said there has to be a kamaal of love for Allah, because He gave us all so much.
• We know that the sun is coming up 7:05. But we take it for granted. So we need to stand at that time and thank Allah. Because maybe this day the sun won’t come up.
• When you see your children, thank Allah. When you come into your house say alhamdulillah. Work on your love for Allah. And tie everything in your life to Allah. 

2. Ar-Rahman ar-Raheem = evokes hope in Allah 

• When we think about Allah’s mercy we feel confidence, safety and serenity - tuma’neena, amaan, sakinah - the opposite of fear - al rajaa’.
• But at the same time, don’t feel too safe and say ‘I can do whatever I want because Allah will forgive me’. We are full of sins.
• So when we think about Allah’s mercy that reminds us we need to ask Allah to forgive us. Which logically brings us to the next ayah.

3. Maaliki yawm id- deen = evokes fear of Allah

• When we think about Allah as the Master of the Day of Judgement we feel rahbeh, khawf - fear, because Allah is going to judge you. 
• So #3 work on your fear: when you are talking remember that Allah is the Master of the Day of Judgement - tie the two together. 
• But if you backbite and forget this, when you remember you have to ask Allah to forgive you. 

• Remember these three things when you pray. Put them in your heart.
• If you can find time for facebook, you can find time for the Qur’an. I’m not saying don’t go on facebook, do as many things as you can for khayr - good things. But find time for the Qur’an too. 
• story: a taxi driver was playing Surat Mariam in his car and a non-muslim woman started crying. 

If you want to reach hidaya - guidance you have to take these steps:

1. “Alhamdulillah Rab il ‘alameen - Praise be to Allah Lord of the Worlds” = Thank Allah
2. “Ar Rahman ar Raheem - The Most Merciful The Ever Merciful” = Praise Allah 
3. “Maliki yawm id-deen - Master of the Day of Judgment” = Glorify Allah
4. “Iyyaka na’budu - It is You we worship”  = Ikhlas: Worship Allah alone
5. “Wa iyaka nastae’een - And it is You we ask for help” = Tawakkul: Rely on Allah alone  

• Now we can ask for guidance - “Ihdina sirat al mustaqeem - Guide us to the straight path” = Hidaya: guidance - now we deserve guidance.

Another connection of the ayahs:

• Rahma - Mercy (Allah you are Ar Rahman Ar Raheem)
• Hidaya - Guidance (ihdina sirat al mustaqeem)
• Ni’ma - Blessing of being on the straight path (sirat altheena an3amta 3layhim, ghayri maghdoobi 3layhim wa la daaleen.)
• If you have Allah’s Mercy and Guidance, you will get the blessing of being on the straight path sirat al mustaqeem. 
• Because Allah gave you Rahma, he gave you Hidaya, and then gave you ni3ma. Allah gives Hidaya from his Rahma. No one worships Allah except by Allah’s hidaya. 

The connection of Surat Al-Fatiha to Surat Al-Baqara and Aali 'Imran:

• “ghayril maghdoobi ‘alayhim” refers to the the Jews
• “wala daleen” - refers to the Christians.
• Surat Al-Baqara talks about Jews.
• Surat Aali ‘Imran - talks about the Christians.
• See how the surahs are connected.

The connection of Surat Al-Fatiha to all other Surahs

• Can connect all the Surahs to Fatiha subhanAllah.
• Look at Surat Al- Feel and Surat Quraysh - this is an important order that has a meaning.
• The proper way is to read the surahs after Fatiha in the order it is in the Qur'an. 
• For example: rak'ah 1: Surat al Ikhlas , rak'ah 2: Surat al Naas.
• For example- rak’ah 1: Ayat al Kursi, rak’ah 2: Khawateem Surat al Baqara. Don’t say it in the other order, that is disliked. 

The connection between the ayahs in Surat Al Fatiha and the movements in Salat

• “Alhamdulillahi Rab ‘alameen, ar Rahman ar Raheem” can be connected to the first acts of Salat  = standing (qiyam) and saying Allahu Akbar, then saying the Fatiha. 
• “Maaliki yawm id deen” can be connected to the second movement in Salat - Ruku’: When you think of the Master of the Day of Judgement, it reminds you of death. Death is the only thing that could make your head fall down. And that is what we do in Ruku’ - bring our head down. 
• While our head is bowing down, we say “subhan rabbi al ‘atheem - Glory be to my Lord the Most High”. Like when you bow to a king. Allah is high, and we are bowing low. (Here, you can remember the ayahs in Surat al Waaqi’ah until ayah sabbih). 
• Coming up from ruku’ - think about how on the Day of Judgement we will get up again after death. So we say “sami3a Allahu liman hamida - Allah hears the one who praises him”. “Rabbana wa lakal hamd - Our Lord all praise is for You”. Allah heard our praise, so we tell him you deserve.
• So the first part of our Salat, like the first part of Al-Fatiha, is for Allah. The second part - going into sujood & up from sujood - like the second part of Al-Fatiha, is for the servant. 
• So Salat is just acting the fatiha - the fatiha in action.