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== | {{QualityScore|Lead=2|Structure=2|Content=2|Language=3|References=2}} | ||
Al-Fatiha (الْفَاتِحَة) or ''The Opening'' or ''The Opener'' is the first chapter, or [[surah]], of the [[Qur'an]]. It comprises seven verses and is recited at least once during each unit of each of the five daily Islamic [[prayers]]. | |||
Islamic sources are divided on when this chapter was [[Revelation|revealed]] to Muhammad, with Ibn Abbas arguing for a [[Mecca|Meccan]] descent and others a [[Medina|Medinan]] descent. | |||
==Text== | |||
'''1:1''' <font size="3">بِسْمِ اللّهِ الرَّحْمـَنِ الرَّحِيمِ</font> | '''1:1''' <font size="3">بِسْمِ اللّهِ الرَّحْمـَنِ الرَّحِيمِ</font> | ||
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'''1:7''' <font size="3">صِرَاطَ الَّذِينَ أَنعَمتَ عَلَيهِمْ غَيرِ المَغضُوبِ عَلَيهِمْ وَلاَ الضَّالِّينَ</font> | '''1:7''' <font size="3">صِرَاطَ الَّذِينَ أَنعَمتَ عَلَيهِمْ غَيرِ المَغضُوبِ عَلَيهِمْ وَلاَ الضَّالِّينَ</font> | ||
== Transliteration == | ==Transliteration== | ||
'''1:1''' ''Bi-smi-llāhi -r-raḥmāni -r-raḥīm(i)'' | '''1:1''' ''Bi-smi-llāhi -r-raḥmāni -r-raḥīm(i)'' | ||
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'''1:7''' ''Ṣirāṭa -l-laḏīna 'an`amta `alayhim ġayri-l-maġḍūbi `alayhim wa-lā -ḍ-ḍāllīn(a)''<ref>Arabic text and original transliteration are from [[w:Al-Fatiha|Al-Fatiha]], accessed September 5, 2008.</ref> | '''1:7''' ''Ṣirāṭa -l-laḏīna 'an`amta `alayhim ġayri-l-maġḍūbi `alayhim wa-lā -ḍ-ḍāllīn(a)''<ref>Arabic text and original transliteration are from [[w:Al-Fatiha|Al-Fatiha]], accessed September 5, 2008.</ref> | ||
== Word-for-Word Translation == | ==Word-for-Word Translation== | ||
'''1:1''' In-name-GEN-of Allah-GEN-of the-merciful-GEN the-compassionate-(GEN) | '''1:1''' In-name-GEN-of Allah-GEN-of the-merciful-GEN the-compassionate-(GEN) | ||
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'''1:7''' Path-ACC-of the-<those who>-2M.PL favor-PERF-2M.S upon-OBJ-2M.PL <other than>-GEN anger-PART-PASS-S-GEN upon-OBJ-2M.PL and-not the-<gone astray>-PL-OBL | '''1:7''' Path-ACC-of the-<those who>-2M.PL favor-PERF-2M.S upon-OBJ-2M.PL <other than>-GEN anger-PART-PASS-S-GEN upon-OBJ-2M.PL and-not the-<gone astray>-PL-OBL | ||
== English Translation == | ==English Translation== | ||
'''1:1''' In the name of [[Allah]], the merciful and compassionate | '''1:1''' In the name of [[Allah]], the merciful and compassionate | ||
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'''1:7''' Path of those whom you favor, not those who anger you and not those who have gone astray | '''1:7''' Path of those whom you favor, not those who anger you and not those who have gone astray | ||
== Translation notes == | ==Translation notes== | ||
'''1:1''' In <font size="3">بِسْمِ اللّهِ</font>, "In the name of Allah", the [[w:basmala | basmala]], the word "the" is implied. This would read well as "By the name of Allah". | '''1:1''' In <font size="3">بِسْمِ اللّهِ</font>, "In the name of Allah", the [[w:basmala | basmala]], the word "the" is implied. This would read well as "By the name of Allah". | ||
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'''1:5''' Already we have an ambiguity in the Qur'an. The words إِيَّاك ('īyāka) and وإِيَّاكَ (wa'īyāka) have no clear translation and no fewer than three variants. Arthur Jeffrey located several Qur'ans with different readings and one without any version of this sura.<ref>Jeffrey, Author, "[http://www.answering-islam.org/Books/Jeffery/fatiha.htm A Variant Text of the Fatiha]"'', The Muslim World'', Volume 29 (1939), pp. 158-162.</ref> One of the variants is the pair حِيَّاك (ḥīyāka) and وإِيَّاكَ (wīyāaka). "[These] seem all to be independent attempts to interpret the unvoweled, unpointed skeleton term ([[w:rasm |rasm]]) that stood in the original codex." (Jeffrey) The most likely translation is a 2nd person masculine singular emphatic accusative (emphatic object). | '''1:5''' Already we have an ambiguity in the Qur'an. The words إِيَّاك ('īyāka) and وإِيَّاكَ (wa'īyāka) have no clear translation and no fewer than three variants. Arthur Jeffrey located several Qur'ans with different readings and one without any version of this sura.<ref>Jeffrey, Author, "[http://www.answering-islam.org/Books/Jeffery/fatiha.htm A Variant Text of the Fatiha]"'', The Muslim World'', Volume 29 (1939), pp. 158-162.</ref> One of the variants is the pair حِيَّاك (ḥīyāka) and وإِيَّاكَ (wīyāaka). "[These] seem all to be independent attempts to interpret the unvoweled, unpointed skeleton term ([[w:rasm |rasm]]) that stood in the original codex." (Jeffrey) The most likely translation is a 2nd person masculine singular emphatic accusative (emphatic object). | ||
== Variant Texts == | ==Variant Texts== | ||
As mentioned in '''Translation Notes, 1:5''', Arthur Jeffrey identified several variant texts of this sura. Each has a very different wording, but all express similar sentiments. | As mentioned in '''Translation Notes, 1:5''', Arthur Jeffrey identified several variant texts of this sura. Each has a very different wording, but all express similar sentiments. | ||
== Commentary == | ==Commentary== | ||
===In relation to positioning within the Qur'an=== | |||
Several lines of evidence converge to show that this was a prayer prepended to the Qur'an, perhaps to be said before reading it. This prayer was composed orally before the | Several lines of evidence converge to show that this was a prayer prepended to the Qur'an, perhaps to be said before reading it. This prayer was almost certainly composed orally before the rest of the Qur'an was put to writing, and likely changed over time. This prayer may not have been included in the recension that produced the current longest-to-shortest ordering of the suras as it clearly and prominently breaks this model. When the Qur'an was printed the exact pronunciation had likely been forgotten, which would explain the ambiguity of 1:5. | ||
The lines of evidence to support this hypothesis are: | |||
'''1.''' Unlike every other surah, Allah is in the second person. That is, Allah is spoken to. It would be bizarre for the supposed divine author of a revelatory work to speak to himself, particularly, to pledge to serve and seek help from himself. | '''1.''' Unlike every other surah, Allah is in the second person. That is, Allah is spoken to. It would be bizarre for the supposed divine author of a revelatory work to speak to himself, particularly, to pledge to serve and seek help from himself. | ||
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One variant lacks the [[w:basmala | basmala]], so it is unlikely to have originated in this surah. | One variant lacks the [[w:basmala | basmala]], so it is unlikely to have originated in this surah. | ||
The [[hadith]] literature | ===In relation to Jews and Christians=== | ||
The [[hadith]] literature makes negative references to the Jews and Christians in connection with this surah.<ref>Sunan Abi Dawood, narrated by Adi ibn Hatim</ref><ref>Sunan al-Tirmidhi, narrated by Adi ibn Hatim</ref> | |||
Dr. Muhammad Muhsin Khan and Dr. Muhammad Taqi-ud-Din al-Hilali specify Jews and Christians within their translation of Ayah 6-7, which reads: | |||
''Guide us to the Straight Way. The Way of those on whom You have bestowed Your Grace, not (the way) of those who earned Your Anger (such as the Jews), nor of those who went astray (such as the Christians)''. | ''Guide us to the Straight Way. The Way of those on whom You have bestowed Your Grace, not (the way) of those who earned Your Anger (such as the Jews), nor of those who went astray (such as the Christians)''. | ||
Dr. Mark Durie, the author of ''The Third Choice: Islam, Dhimmitude and Freedom'', comments: | [[w:Zohurul Hoque|Dr. Zohurul Hoque's]] commentary on Ayah 5-7 reads: | ||
{{Quote||5 Guide us on the (Middle, hence the) Right Path (90:10-18; Matt. 6:11, by protecting us from leaning to either extreme: the rejection or the exaggeration of the Guidance) | |||
6 the path of those upon whom You have bestowed favors (4:69, and taken into Your mercy); | |||
7 not (the path) of those upon whom wrath is brought down (like the Jews, 2:61,90; 3:111; 5:60, who not only rejected 'Isa Masih, but also tried to kill him on the cross, 2:72; 3:53), nor of those gone-astray (from the Right Path, like the Christians, who not only exaggerated 'Isa Masih, 5:77, but also raised the human prophet to godhead, 4:171; 5:73).<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.qurantoday.com/fatihah.htm|title=Translation and Commentary of the Holy Qur'an|author=Hoque, Dr Zohural|work=Quran Today|accessdate=26 June 2014}}</ref>}} | |||
Dr. [[W:Mark Durie|Mark Durie]], the author of ''The Third Choice: Islam, Dhimmitude and Freedom'', comments: | |||
{{Quote|1=|2=“The best-known chapter of the Quran is al-Fatihah ‘The Opening’. This sura is recited as part of all the mandatory daily prayers – the salat –and repeated within each prayer. A faithful Muslim who said all their prayers would recite this sura at least seventeen times a day, and over five thousand times a year. | |||
This is a prayer asking Allah’s help to lead the believer along the ‘straight path’. As such it is true to the heart of Islam’s message of guidance. | This is a prayer asking Allah’s help to lead the believer along the ‘straight path’. As such it is true to the heart of Islam’s message of guidance. | ||
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It is remarkable that the daily prayers of every Muslim, part of the core of Islam, include a rejection of Christians and Jews as misguided and objects of Allah’s wrath.” | It is remarkable that the daily prayers of every Muslim, part of the core of Islam, include a rejection of Christians and Jews as misguided and objects of Allah’s wrath.” | ||
To be genuine and effective, reconciliation between Muslims and those they refer to as 'People of the Book' (Jews and Christians), requires that Al-Fatihah and its meaning be discussed openly. That devout Muslims are daily declaring before Allah that Christians have gone astray and Jews are objects of divine wrath, must be considered a matter of central importance for interfaith relations. This is all the more so because the interpretation of verse 7 which relates it to Christians and Jews is soundly based upon the words of Muhammad himself. As Al-Fatihah is the daily worship of Muslims, and represents the very essence of Islam itself, the meaning of these words cannot be ignored or glossed over.<ref> | To be genuine and effective, reconciliation between Muslims and those they refer to as 'People of the Book' (Jews and Christians), requires that Al-Fatihah and its meaning be discussed openly. That devout Muslims are daily declaring before Allah that Christians have gone astray and Jews are objects of divine wrath, must be considered a matter of central importance for interfaith relations. This is all the more so because the interpretation of verse 7 which relates it to Christians and Jews is soundly based upon the words of Muhammad himself. As Al-Fatihah is the daily worship of Muslims, and represents the very essence of Islam itself, the meaning of these words cannot be ignored or glossed over.<ref>{{cite web|url= http://blog.markdurie.com/2009/12/greatest-recitation-of-surat-al-fatiha.html |title=Greatest recitation of surat al fatiha |author=[[w:Mark Durie| Durie, Mark]] |date=3 December 2009|}}</ref>}} | ||
==See Also== | |||
*[[The Origins of the Quran|The Origins of the Qur'an]] | |||
* [[The Origins of the Quran|The Origins of the Qur'an]] | *[[Organization of the Quran|Organization of the Qur'an]] | ||
* [[Organization of the Qur'an]] | |||
==External Links== | ==External Links== | ||
* [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Iti-dplakf4 The Greatest Recitation of Surat Al-Fatiha - Fahd Al Kanderi] | *[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Iti-dplakf4 The Greatest Recitation of Surat Al-Fatiha - Fahd Al Kanderi] | ||
==References== | ==References== | ||
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[[Category:Qur'an]] | [[Category:Qur'an]] | ||
[[Category:Salah (prayer)]] | |||