SURAH #AL_FATIHAH* (The Name, Revelations, Compositions, Virtues, In The Prayer) [Part Two] Bismillahirahmaanirrahiim According to the Prophet (sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam), Surah Al-Fatihah is considered as “the greatest Surah” of the Quran. The following provides information about this great Surah along with its many benefits and virtues including its use in healing. The many names of Surah Al-Fatehah. This chapter has a great many names, each one indicating a different aspect of its meaning. In the eyes of Arabs if a thing had many different names, this was an indication of its importance. The popular names of this Surah are the following: * Al-Fatihah (The Opening) – It is named Al-Fatihah, the Opening – because it opens the Book and by it the recitation in prayer commences. * Umm al-Quran (Mother of the Quran) – According to At-Tirmidhi on the authority of Abu Hurayrah that the Messenger of Allah (sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) said, “The chapter commencing with] “All praises and thanks are due to Allah the Lord of the Worlds” is the Mother of the Quran, the Mother of the Book, the Seven Oft Repeated Verses and the Great Quran.” Ibn Jarir at-Tabari said that it was named so because the meaning of the entire Quran is summarized therein. The Arabs named anything that concisely summarizes something or comprises its most important part, Umm, or Mother. * Umm al-Kitab (Mother of the Book) – Al-Bukhari said in the beginning of the Book of Tafsir in his Sahih: “It is named Umm al-Quran because it is the first chapter written in the Quranic texts and the recitation in prayer commences with it.” * Sab’ul-Mathani (The Seven Oft Repeated Verses) – It is also named Sab’ul-Mathani, the Seven Oft Repeated Verses, because they are frequently recited and indeed recited in every rakaah of the prayer. Allaah says is in the Quran : “And indeed, We have bestowed upon you seven of Al-Mathani (the seven repeatedly recited Verses), (i.e. Surat Al-Fatiha) and the Grand Quran. [Quran: Surah Al-Hijr (87)]” * Al-Hamd (Praises to Allah) – It is also named Al-Hamd, the Praise, because it contains mention of hamd just as Al-Baqarah is named so because it contains mention of the cow. Some scholars also gave the reasoning that Al-Hamd comprises heart of Al-Fatihah. * As-Salah (The Prayer) – It is named the Prayer because its recitation is a condition for the validity of the prayer. * Ash-Shifa – It is also named Ash-Shifa’, the Cure, due to what Ad-Darimi reports on the authority of Abu Sa’id that the Messenger of Allah (sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) said: “The Opening of the Book is a cure to every poison.” * Ar-Ruqyah – It is also named Ar-Ruqya, the Spiritual Cure due to the hadith of Abu Sa’id reported by Bukhari that after he had recited it to cure a person who had been bitten by a scorpion, the Messenger of Allah (sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) asked him, “…And what made you to know that it was a ruqya.” * Asas al-Quran (the Foundation of the Quran) – Ash-Sha’bi records on the authority of Ibn Abbas that he named it , and that he said, “The foundation of Al-Fatihah is, “Bismillah…” (with the Name of Allah, the All-Merciful, the Most Merciful.) Other scholars have also named it asAl-Kanz (the Treasure), Ash-Shukr (Gratitude), ad-Dua (Supplication), Ash-Shafiyah (the sufficient), Al-Kafiyah (the Sufficient), Al-Wafiyah, the Fulfillment and more. *PERIOD OF REVELATION* » It is one of the very earliest Revelations to the Holy Prophet. » As a matter of fact, we learn from authentic Traditions that it was the first complete Surah which was revealed to Muhammad (Allahs peace be upon him). » Before this, only a few miscellaneous verses were revealed which form parts of `Alaq, Muzzammil, Muddaththir, etc. » It was revealed in Mecca as stated by Ibn Abbas, Qatadah and Abu’l-Aliyah. » It is also postulated that it was revealed in Madinah as stated by Abu Hurayrah, Mujahid, ‘Ata ibn Yasar and Az-Zuhri. » It is also said that it was revealed on two separate occasions – once in Makkah and once in Madinah. » However the first opinion is the most likely due to Allah’s saying, “We have sent to you the Seven Of Repeated Verses.” [Al-Hijr 15:87] This verse was revealed in Makkah by agreement of the exegeses. * THEME * » This Surah is in fact a prayer which Allah has taught to all those who want to make a study of His book. » It has been placed at the very beginning of the book to teach this lesson to the reader: if you sincerely want to benefit from the Quran, you should offer this prayer to the Lord of the Universe. » 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. *THE RULING OF RECITING AL-FATIHAH* » The opinion of the majority of the scholars, amongst them Malik, Ash-Shafi’i and Ahmad, is that it is obligatory to recite Al-Fatihah in the prayer and that the prayer is invalid without it. » Their opinion is based upon many proofs; from amongst them, the sayings of the Prophet (sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam), who said that “There is no prayer for the one who does not recite the Opening of the Book.” » Narrated ‘Ubâdah bin As-Sâmit Allâh’s Messenger said, “Whoever does not recite Sûrat Al-Fâtihah in his prayer, his prayer is invalid. (Sahih Al-Bukhâri, Vol.1, Hadîth No. 723). » However, Abu Hanifa and some others had differing opinions on this. » In the case where one is a follower in a congregational prayer then the scholars fell into three opinions with regards to his reciting Al-Fatiha,: 1. It is obligatory upon him to recite it in all prayers. 2. It is upon him not to recite it in all prayers. 3. He should recite it in those prayers in which the recitation is silent, but not in those prayers in which the recitation is loud. *VIRTUES OF AL-FATIHAH* » Imam Ahmad bin Hanbal recorded in the Musnad that Abu Sa`id bin Al-Mu`alla said, I was praying when the Prophet called me, so I did not answer him until I finished the prayer. ~ I then went to him and he said, (What prevented you from coming) ~ I said, O Messenger of Allah! I was praying. ~ He said, (Didnt Allah say) : (O you who believe! Answer Allah (by obeying Him) and (His) Messenger when he calls you to that which gives you life) ~ He then said, (I will teach you the greatest Surah in the Quran before you leave the Masjid.) ~ He held my hand and when he was about to leave the Masjid, I said, `O Messenger of Allah! You said: I will teach you the greatest Surah in the Quran. ~ He said (Yes). (Al-Hamdu lillahi Rabbil-`Alamin). (It is the seven repeated (verses) and the Glorious Quran that I was given.) Al-Bukhari, Abu Dawud, An-Nasai and Ibn Majah also recorded this Hadith. » Also, Imam Ahmad recorded that Abu Hurayrah said, The Messenger of Allah went out while Ubayy bin Ka`b was praying and said, (O Ubayy!) Ubayy did not answer him. ~ The Prophet said, (O Ubayy!) ~ Ubayy prayed faster then went to the Messenger of Allah saying, `Peace be unto you, O Messenger of Allah! ~ He said, (Peace be unto you. O Ubayy, what prevented you from answering me when I called you) ~ He said, `O Messenger of Allah! I was praying. ~ He said, (Did you not read among what Allah has sent down to me) (Answer Allah (by obeying Him) and (His) Messenger when he calls you to that which gives you life) ~ He said, `Yes, O Messenger of Allah! I will not do it again. ~ The Prophet said, (Would you like me to teach you a Surah the likes of which nothing has been revealed in the Tawrah, the Injil, the Zabur (Psalms) or the Furqan (the Quran)) ~ He said, `Yes, O Messenger of Allah! ~ The Messenger of Allah said, (I hope that I will not leave through this door until you have learned it.) ~ He (Ka`b) said, `The Messenger of Allah held my hand while speaking to me. Meanwhile I was slowing down fearing that he might reach the door before he finished his conversation. When we came close to the door, I said: O Messenger of Allah! What is the Surah that you have promised to teach me ~ He said, (What do you read in the prayer.) ~ Ubayy said, `So I recited Umm Al-Quran to him. ~ He said,(By Him in Whose Hand is my soul! Allah has never revealed in the Tawrah, the Injil, the Zabur or the Furqan a Surah like it. It is the seven repeated verses that I was given.) » Also, At-Tirmidhi recorded this Hadith and in his narration, the Prophet said,(It is the seven repeated verses and the Glorious Quran that I was given.) At-Tirmidhi then commented that this Hadith is Hasan Sahih. » There is a similar Hadith on this subject narrated from Anas bin Malik Further, `Abdullah, the son of Imam Ahmad, recorded this Hadith from Abu Hurayrah from Ubayy bin Ka`b, and he mentioned a longer but similar wording for the above Hadith. » In addition, At-Tirmidhi and An-Nasai recorded this Hadith from Abu Hurayrah from Ubayy bin Ka`b who said that the Messenger of Allah said,(Allah has never revealed in the Tawrah or the Injil anything similar to Umm Al-Quran. It is the seven repeated verses and it is divided into two halves between Allah and His servant.) This is the wording reported by An-Nasai. At-Tirmidhi said that this Hadith is Hasan Gharib. » Also, Imam Ahmad recorded that Ibn Jabir said, I went to the Messenger of Allah after he had poured water (for purification) and said, `Peace be unto you, O Messenger of Allah! ~ He did not answer me. ~ So I said again, `Peace be unto you, O Messenger of Allah! ~ Again, he did not answer me, so I said again, `Peace be unto you, O Messenger of Allah! ~ Still he did not answer me. ~ The Messenger of Allah went while I was following him, until he arrived at his residence. I went to the Masjid and sat there sad and depressed. ~ The Messenger of Allah came out after he performed his purification and said, (Peace and Allahs mercy be unto you, peace and Allahs mercy be unto you, peace and Allahs mercy be unto you.) ~ He then said, (O `Abdullah bin Jabir! Should I inform you of the best Surah in the Quran) ~ I said, `Yes, O Messenger of Allah! ~ He said, (Read, `All praise be to Allah, the Lord of the existence, until you finish it.) This Hadith has a good chain of narrators. Some scholars relied on this Hadith as evidence that some Ayat and Surahs have more virtues than others. » Furthermore, in the chapter about the virtues of the Quran, Al-Bukhari recorded that Abu Sa`id Al-Khudri said, Once, we were on a journey when a female servant came and said, `The leader of this area has been poisoned and our people are away. Is there a healer among you ~ Then a man whose healing expertise did not interest us stood for her, he read a Ruqyah for him, and he was healed. ~ The chief gave him thirty sheep as a gift and some milk. ~ When he came back to us we said to him, `You know of a (new) Ruqyah, or did you do this before ~ He said, `I only used Umm Al-Kitab as Ruqyah. ~ We said, `Do not do anything further until we ask the Messenger of Allah . ~ When we went back to Al-Madinah we mentioned what had happened to the Prophet . ~ The Prophet said, (Who told him that it is a Ruqyah Divide (the sheep) and reserve a share for me.) » Also, Muslim recorded in his Sahih, and An-Nasai in his Sunan that Ibn `Abbas said, ~ While Jibril (Gabriel) was with the Messenger of Allah, he heard a noise from above. ~ Jibril lifted his sight to the sky and said, `This is a door in heaven being open, and it has never been opened before now. ~ An angel descended from that door and came to the Prophet and said, `Receive the glad tidings of two lights that you have been given, which no other Prophet before you was given: the Opening of the Book and the last (three) Ayat of Surat Al-Baqarah. You will not read a letter of them, but will gain its benefit. This is the wording collected by An-Nasai (Al-Kubra 5:12) and Muslim recorded similar wording (1:554). ~ Mujahid said, ‘When this chapter was revealed it bore down heavily upon iblis and he let out a loud wail in lament…’ *AL-FATIHAH AND THE PRAYER* ~ Muslim recorded that Abu Hurayrah said that the Prophet said, (Whoever performs any prayer in which he did not read Umm Al-Quran, then his prayer is incomplete.) He said it thrice. ~ Abu Hurayrah was asked, “When we stand behind the Imam He said, Read it to yourself, for I heard the Messenger of Allah said, (Allah, the Exalted, said, `I have divided the prayer (Al-Fatihah) into two halves between Myself and My servant, and My servant shall have what he asks for. > If he said (All praise and thanks be to Allah, the Lord of existence.) Allah says, `My servant has praised Me. > When the servant says, (The Most Gracious, the Most Merciful.) Allah says, `My servant has glorified Me. > When he says, (The Owner of the Day of Recompense.) Allah says, `My servant has glorified Me, or `My servant has related all matters to Me. > When he says, (You (alone) we worship, and You (alone) we ask for help.) Allah says, `This is between Me and My servant, and My servant shall acquire what he sought. > When he says, (Guide us to the straight path.The way of those on whom You have granted Your grace, not (the way) of those who earned Your anger, nor of those who went astray), Allah says, `This is for My servant, and My servant shall acquire what he asked for.) These are the words of An-Nasai, while both Muslim and An-Nasai collected the following wording, A half of it is for Me and a half for My servant, and My servant shall acquire what he asked for. *COMPOSITION OF SURAH AL-FATIHAH* It consists of seven verses and there is no difference of opinions concerning this. Scholars have differed concerning the statement “Bismillah-ir-Rahman-ir-Raheem” (with the Name of Allah, the All-Merciful, the Most Merciful.” The majority of the reciters of Kufa postulate that the “verse of Bismillah” comprises an independent verse of Al-Fatihah and this is also the opinion of a group of the Sahabah, Tabi’in and a large group of the later scholars. However the reciters and jurists of Madinah regard it to be part of a verse, and not an independent verse, or not a verse at all. Those who postulate that “Bismillah” is not a verse of Al-Fatihah state that the seventh verse commences with the words, “not [the path] of those who have earned [Your] Anger … ” (This is because there is no disagreement that Surah Al-Fatihah has seven verses). SUBHANALLAAH INDEED ALLAAH THE BELONGED OF THE KNOWLEDGES
Posted on: Wed, 21 Jan 2015 01:43:50 +0000
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