Translation of the meanings Surah Al-Fātihah - English Translation - Abdullah Hasan Yaqoub - The Noble Qur'an Encyclopedia

Al-Fātihah

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بِسۡمِ ٱللَّهِ ٱلرَّحۡمَٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ

1. In the Name of Allāh ^[1], the Most Compassionate, the Most Merciful.

[1]. Allāh is God’s most unique Name. It is the Almighty’s Supreme Name. Allāh is linguistically unique in that it is originally a proper and underived noun belonging only to the one Almighty God, Creator and Sustainer of the heavens and the earth and all that is within them, the Eternal and Absolute, to whom alone all worship is due. Noah, Abraham, Moses, Jesus and Muhammad, among others, all called God by this Grand Name, Allāh, .

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ٱلۡحَمۡدُ لِلَّهِ رَبِّ ٱلۡعَٰلَمِينَ

2. All praise ^[2] is due to Allāh, Lord ^[3] of the worlds ^[4].

[2]. Reciting this chapter is one of the essential parts of the Muslim prayer, and is to be recited in every single ritual prayer both by the Imaam leading the prayer and by those who are being led by him, because the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ said: “There is no prayer for the one who does not recite the Opening of the Book (i.e., Al-Fatihah, this chapter) in it.
[3]. There is no proper equivalent for Rabb in English language. "Rabb" (translated here as "Lord") includes all of the following meanings: "creator, sustainer, provider, maintainer, owner, master, ruler, controller, and guardian.
[4]. I.e. the heavens, the earth and all that is within them and all that is between them.

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ٱلرَّحۡمَٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ

3. The Most Compassionate, the Most Merciful ^[5].

[5]. The Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) said: “Allāh 'God' has one hundred mercies. He sent down one of them on humans, jinn, animals and venomous creatures. Through it they show mercy to each other, and through it wild beasts show mercy to their young. Allāh has reserved ninety-nine mercies with which He bestows mercy on his servants on the Day of Judgement”.

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مَٰلِكِ يَوۡمِ ٱلدِّينِ

4. Master ^[6] of the Day of Judgment.

[6]. The Only Ruling Judge, King, and Owner of the Day of Recompense.

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إِيَّاكَ نَعۡبُدُ وَإِيَّاكَ نَسۡتَعِينُ

5. It is You (alone) we worship and You alone we ask for help.

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ٱهۡدِنَا ٱلصِّرَٰطَ ٱلۡمُسۡتَقِيمَ

6. Guide us to the straight Path ^[7].

[7]. And keep us on it, i.e. Islam, the true religion of God.

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صِرَٰطَ ٱلَّذِينَ أَنۡعَمۡتَ عَلَيۡهِمۡ غَيۡرِ ٱلۡمَغۡضُوبِ عَلَيۡهِمۡ وَلَا ٱلضَّآلِّينَ

7. The Path of those You have blessed ^[8], not of those who incurred Your anger ^[9] nor of those who went astray ^[10].

[8]. Of the Prophets (such as Noah, Abraham, Moses, Jesus and Muhammad, among others, peace be upon them all), the affirmers of Truth, the martyrs, Allah's witnesses, and the righteous.
[9]. Who are deviants, obstinate, or hypocritical. Often understood as those who knew the truth but rejected or opposed it.
[10]. Who are ignorant of the Truth and worship God following only their whims and wishful thinking and wander off into myths and false beliefs. Often understood as those who missed the truth, straying from guidance out of ignorance or misguidance.