Qur'an: Al Fatihah

1. In the Name of Allâh, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful

2. All the praises and thanks be to Allâh, the Lord^[1] of the ‘Âlamîn (mankind, jinn and all that exists).^[2]

3. The Most Gracious, the Most Merciful.

4. The Only Owner (and the Only Ruling Judge) of the Day of Recompense (i.e. the Day of Resurrection)

5. You (Alone) we worship, and You (Alone) we ask for help (for each and everything).

6. Guide us to the Straight Way.^[3]

7. The Way of those on whom You have bestowed Your Grace^[4] , not (the way) of those who earned Your Anger ^[5] (i.e. those who knew the Truth, but did not follow it) nor of those who went astray (i.e. those who did not follow the Truth out of ignorance and error). ^{[6], [7]}

^[1] (V.1:2) Lord: The actual word used in the Qur’ân is Rabb There is no proper equivalent for Rabb in English language. It means the One and the Only Lord for all the universe, its Creator, Owner, Organizer, Provider, Master, Planner, Sustainer, Cherisher, and Giver of security. Rabb is also one of the Names of Allâh. We have used the word "Lord" as the nearest to Rabb . All occurrences of "Lord" in the interpretation of the meanings of the Noble Qur’ân actually mean Rabb and should be understood as such.
^[2] (V.1:2). Narrated Abu Sa‘îd bin Al-Mu‘alla: While I was praying in the mosque, Allâh’s Messenger صلى الله عليه وسلم called me but I did not respond to him. Later I said, "O Allâh’s Messenger, I was praying." He said, "Didn’t Allâh say - Answer Allâh (by obeying Him) and His Messenger when he صلى الله عليه وسلم calls you." (V.8:24). He then said to me, "I will teach you a Sûrah which is the greatest Sû rah in the Qur’ân, before you leave the mosque." Then he got hold of my hand, and when he intended to leave (the mosque), I said to him, "Didn’t you say to me, "I will teach you a Sûrah which is the greatest Sûrah in the Qur’an?" He said, " Al-Hamdu lillahi Rabbil-‘âlamîn [i.e. all the praises and thanks be to Allâh, the Lord of the ‘Âlamîn (mankind, jinn and all that exists)], Sûrat Al-Fâtihah which is As-Sab‘ Al-Mathâni (i.e. the seven repeatedly recited Verses) and the Grand Qur’ân which has been given to me." (Sahih Al-Bukhâri, Vol.6, Hadîth No. 1).
^[3] (V.1:6) Guidance is of two kinds:
a) Guidance of Taufîq i.e., totally from Allâh, i.e. Allâh opens one’s heart to receive the truth (from disbelief to Belief in Islâmic Monotheism).
b) Guidance of Irshâd i.e. through preaching by Allâh’s Messengers and the pious preachers who preach the truth i.e. Islâmic Monotheism.
^[4] (V.1:7) i.e. the way of the Prophets, the Siddîqûn (i.e. those followers of the Prophet, who were first and foremost to believe in him, like Abu Bakr As-Siddîq), the martyrs and the righteous, [as Allâh عز وجل said: "And whoso obeys Allâh and the Messenger (Muhammad صلى الله عليه وسلم), then they will be in the company of those on whom Allâh has bestowed His Grace, of the Prophets, the Siddîqûn, the martyrs, and the righteous. And how excellent these companions are!" (V.4:69)].
^[5] (V.1:7) Narrated ‘Adi bin Hâtim رضي الله عنه: I asked Allâh’s Messenger صلى الله عليه وسلم , about the Statement of Allâh: 1. " غير المغضوب عليهم Ghairil-maghdûbi ‘alaihim (not the way of those who earned Your Anger)," he صلى الله عليه وسلم replied "They are the Jews". And 2. ولا الضالين Walad dâllîn (nor of those who went astray)," he صلى الله عليه وسلم replied: "The Christians, and they are the ones who went astray" [This Hadith is quoted by At-Tirmidhi and Musnad Abu Dâwûd ].
^[6] (V.1:7): Narrated ‘Ubâdah bin As-Sâmit رضي الله عنه Allâh’s Messenger صلى الله عليه وسلم said, "Whoever does not recite Sûrat Al-Fâtihah in his prayer, his prayer is invalid. (Sahih Al-Bukhâri, Vol.1, Hadîth No. 723).
^[7] (V.1:7): Narrated Abu Hurairah رضي الله عنه : Allâ h’s Messenger صلى الله عليه وسلم said, "When the Imâm says: Ghairi l-maghdûbi ‘alaihim Walad-dâllîn [i.e. not the way of those who earned Your Anger, nor the way of those who went astray (1:7)], then you must say, Amîn , for if one’s utterance of Amîn coincides with that of the angels, then his past sins will be forgiven." (Sahih Al-Bukhâri, Vol.6, Hadîth No. 2).