Comment on the first four verses of Sūratul Fātiḥah (Q.1:1-4).

Answer Details

Suratul Fatihah (The Opening) is the first chapter of the Qur'an and is recited in every unit of the daily prayers. A comment on its first four verses is as follows:

Verse 1: Bismillahir-Rahmanir-Rahim (In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful).

• The believer begins every good act in the name of Allah, seeking His help and blessing.
• Two of Allah's beautiful names appear here: ar-Rahman, whose mercy embraces all creation in this world, and ar-Rahim, whose special mercy is reserved for the believers in the Hereafter.

Verse 2: Al-hamdu lillahi Rabbil-'alamin (All praise is due to Allah, the Lord of the Worlds).

• All genuine praise belongs to Allah alone, for He is the source of every blessing.
• He is Rabb, the Creator, Sustainer and Nourisher of all the worlds, of men, jinn, angels, animals and everything that exists.

Verse 3: Ar-Rahmanir-Rahim (The Most Gracious, the Most Merciful).

• The two attributes of mercy are repeated to emphasise that Allah's dealing with His creation is founded upon mercy rather than harshness, encouraging the servant to hope in Him.

Verse 4: Maliki yawmid-Din (Master of the Day of Judgement).

• Allah is the sole Owner and Ruler of the Day of Recompense, when every soul will be requited for its deeds.
• The verse instils the fear of accountability and balances the hope raised by His mercy, so that the believer worships Allah between hope and fear.

General lessons: the verses teach the Oneness of Allah (Tawhid), gratitude to Him, hope in His mercy, and awareness of the final reckoning.