Surah Al-Fatihah: The Opening

 Aching for the Divine

1 – Surah Al-Fatihah

The Opening

 

Journeying Towards Taqwa

Without opening your heart to Allah and submitting yourself to Islam, taqwa cannot be attained.

This is the beginning of the journey to Allah.

An open mind and an open heart are perquisites for the journey towards taqwa to commence.

This surah is the key to taqwa – the key to reach Allah, to be close to Him.

 

Life Lessons

It is Allah who opens doors, brings in blessings and bestows mercy on us.

 

Principles

Every good action must have a significant start.

 

1:1 In the name of Allah, the Entirely Merciful, the Especially Merciful.

 

Journeying Towards Taqwa

Allah is the name of my Rabb.

Bismillah – is the secret of success, as my wife says, ‘Just say, Bismillah.’

Mercy – without it I’m certainly doomed.

The muttaqi shows mercy towards himself, his family, and others.

 

Life Lessons

To begin everything worthwhile with Bismillah.

To know that Allah’s mercy is vast and that He forgives all sins no matter how great. All we have to do is ask.

 

Principles

Allah’s mercy prevails over His wrath. [Sahih Muslim 2751b & 2751c]

The Prophet, sallallahu alayhi wasallam, said: "Allah will not be merciful to those who are not merciful to mankind." [Sahih al-Bukhari 7376 & Sahih Muslim 2319a]

 

1:2 All praise is due to Allah, Lord of the worlds 

 

Journeying Towards Taqwa

Allah is my Rabb.

My insignificance is part of the Alamin.

May Allah grant me taufiq to praise Him. Amin.

Praising Allah sincerely and frequently is a struggle, even at the best of times.

 

Life Lessons

When we praise Allah, we automatically humble ourselves to be a slave of Allah – The abd.

Freedom in this world can only be achieved by being the slave of the Divine.

The worst slavery is the slavery to the creation, to one’s ego and desires and slaves of man-made ideas.

 

Principles

Worshipping Allah is the highest priority.

 

 

1:3 The Entirely Merciful, the Especially Merciful,

 

Journeying Towards Taqwa

Without mercy we have no hope, none of us.

This is a reminder to repent frequently.

Taqwa is only attained through Allah’s grace, but the muttaqi must keep seeking Allah’s forgiveness.

The muttaqi must also forgive others, as he seeks Allah’s forgiveness.

 

Life Lessons

We must never despair the mercy of our Lord.

 

Principles

Repetition is for emphasis.

 

 

1:4 Sovereign of the Day of Recompense.

 

Journeying Towards Taqwa

Allah is my King.

The day of dread – may Allah save me on that day.

I hope and pray Allah accepts me and forgives me.

Oh Allah, teach me to fear you so that I may please you. Amin.

 

Life Lessons

No matter who you are, one day you will die; and on the Day of Judgement you and I will meet our Maker.

 

Principles

The reality of the hereafter cannot be denied.

Divine justice innately known to us all.

 

 

1:5 It is You we worship, and You we ask for help.

 

Journeying Towards Taqwa

Worship is the only means to attain taqwa.

The muttaqi asks Allah for help daily, sincerely, and abundantly.

 

Life Lessons

Always ask Allah as He never tires of answering to our supplications.

 

Principles

All worship is solely for Allah alone.

Humans duty is to worship and ask Allah.

 

 

1:6 Guide us to the straight path –

 

Journeying Towards Taqwa

Without Allah’s guidance no-one will attain taqwa.

The Path of taqwa is the Straight Path.

The Straight Path is a difficult and treacherous path.

Nothing less than Paradise is at the end of the Straight Path.

 

Life Lessons

The straight path that leads to Allah is hard and difficult to tread but not impossible.

Find good companions to tread this path together – friends, spouses and close relatives.

 

Principles

Do not assume you are rightly guided always.

Be humble enough to admit that sometimes we could be misguided or in error.

 

 

1:7 The path of those upon whom You have bestowed favour, not of those who have evoked [Your] anger or of those who are astray.

 

Journeying Towards Taqwa

It is only the muttaqi who is grateful and appreciative of all of Allah’s favours.

They are also far away from His anger and from being astray.

The muttaqi runs towards repentance when he realises that he has angered His Rabb or indeed approached misguidance in any way.

 

Life Lessons

When God favours you – do not take Him for granted. Live up to the commitments Allah expects from you.

Favours from Allah are also tests from Him.

Favours require more patience, more humility and more effort to please Him – it never should make one arrogant.

 

Principles

Consider and reflect whether you are one of those who have earned Allah’s anger or of those who have gone astray.

Do not always think you are one of those favoured ones.

Allah will punish those who create sects in Allah’s religion for which He has given no authority.