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Conversing with Allah: Reflecting On Surah al-Fatihah For Khushoo In Salah

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Surah al-Fatihah

This Surah of the Qur’an has special importance in our Salah. No matter what other Surahs or passages you happen to recite in your prayer, none of them could take the place of the Fatihah. The Prophet ﷺ said, “There is no Salah for the one who does not recite al-Fatiha.”1Sahih Muslim, Hadith no. 394

Surah al-Fatihah should be looked at as a conversation between the Believer and the Creator. Adopting this new perspective is a powerful way to uplift your Salah and gain humility and focus (khusū’). In an authentic narration, the Prophet ﷺ informed us that:

Allah, the Almighty, tells us, ‘I have divided prayer (i.e. Surah al-Fatihah) equally between Myself and My servant. Half of it is for Me and half of it is for My servant. And My servant will receive whatever they ask.

When the servant says, “All praise is due to God alone, Lord of all the worlds” (al-hamdu lillahi rabbi al-alamin), I will say, “My servant has praised Me.”

When My servant says, “the Extremely Merciful, Forever Merciful” (al-Rahman al-Rahim), I will say, “My servant has extolled Me.”

When My servant describes Me as “Master of the Day of Judgment” (Maliki yawmi al-din), I will say, “My servant has glorified Me.”

When My servant says, “You alone do we worship, and unto You alone do we turn for aid” (iyyaka na’budu wa iyyaka nasta’in), I will say, “This is divided between Me and My servant.” And My servant shall receive whatever they ask.

When My servant says, “Guide us the Straight Path” (ihdina al-sirata al-mustaqim), “the way of those upon whom You have bestowed Your blessings, not of those who have been condemned, nor of those that go astray” (sirata al-ladhina an[amta alayhim ghayri al-maghdubi alayhim wa la al-dallin), I will say, “This is for My servant, and My servant will receive whatever they asked for”.

Surah al-Fatihah comprehensively summarizes the key beliefs and concepts of Islam. It outlines the fundamental relationship every person is meant to have with their Maker and Creator. It can be broken down into two parts:

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Part 1: Who is Allah subḥānahu wa ta'āla (glorified and exalted be He)?

Part 2: Who am I?

Part 1: Who is Allah subḥānahu wa ta'āla (glorified and exalted be He)?

The first three verses of Surah al-Fatihah introduce us to who Allah subḥānahu wa ta'āla (glorified and exalted be He) is. They are dedicated to increasing our knowledge of Allah subḥānahu wa ta'āla (glorified and exalted be He) because, through the increase in knowledge, we increase in our love, devotion, and submission to Allah subḥānahu wa ta'āla (glorified and exalted be He).

All praise is for Allah—Lord of all worlds

the Extremely & Eternally Merciful

 the Master of the Day of Judgement.

When you recite “All praise is for Allah”, think about how much He has blessed you with: your health, your wealth, and the opportunities you have been given in life. Feel blessed and privileged. Then realize that being able to thank Him is in and of itself another blessing to thank Him for— even if we tried, we cannot enumerate the blessings of Allah subḥānahu wa ta'āla (glorified and exalted be He).

Part of the meaning of alhamdulillah is to declare that all forms of praise are due to Allah subḥānahu wa ta'āla (glorified and exalted be He) as a matter of fact; regardless of whether the ungrateful people fail to acknowledge that. Allah subḥānahu wa ta'āla (glorified and exalted be He) is, was, and always will be deserving of all sincere praise. The amount of praise He deserves is enough to fill the heavens and the earth, and everything in between. Even then, it would not reach the level He deserves.

Khusū’ Tip!

When reciting ٱلْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ رَبِّ ٱلْعَـٰلَمِينَ think about one blessing you are currently experiencing and enjoying. Ask yourself: what would life be like if it was taken away?

Allah subḥānahu wa ta'āla (glorified and exalted be He) is the Rabb of everything, which means He created us and takes care of us. He is the Master of humans, animals, plants, angels, planets, stars, skies, the seen, and the unseen. Everything that has existed or shall ever exist in this world is subservient to Him, bound to His power, and totally dependent upon His grace.

Surah al-FatihahAllah subḥānahu wa ta'āla (glorified and exalted be He) is ar-Rahman and ar-Raheem, two names that express the extreme mercy and compassion He has and manifests upon His creation— a mercy so abundant it is beyond all estimation. Were it not for His mercy, our existence would have been eroded by both our sins and ingratitude as well as by our arrogance and recklessness.

It is because of His rahma that a mother is able to endure pregnancy and exhaust her efforts in raising a child, despite its burdensome nature.

These two Names of Allah should evoke a sense of hope and optimism in our hearts that Allah subḥānahu wa ta'āla (glorified and exalted be He) will forgive us for our wrongs and overlook our shortcomings. Islam does not depict God as an enemy who pursues man with relentless vengeance, or plots and schemes against His creation with spite and vindictiveness.

Allah subḥānahu wa ta'āla (glorified and exalted be He) is the Master of the Day of Judgement, the Only One in charge of the greatest day in human history. The day everyone will receive their book of deeds; those who believed and did good will receive it in their right hand and those who disbelieved and wronged others will receive it in their left. Which hand do you think you will be stretching out on that day?

It is the day on which true justice will be served, the victims of oppression will have their cases heard in the Supreme Court of Allah and the tyrants will have no escape.

Khusū’ Tip!

If you are the victim of abuse or oppression, and the perpetrator seems to have gotten away with it, find solace in the fact that Allah subḥānahu wa ta'āla (glorified and exalted be He) will serve perfect justice on yawm ad-deen and that Allah never forgets.

When hearing this verse we should be struck by the greatness of Allah subḥānahu wa ta'āla (glorified and exalted be He) and feel a sense of awe and fear towards Him; contrasting sharply with the previous verse about His Mercy. Though Allah subḥānahu wa ta'āla (glorified and exalted be He) is merciful, He is also severe in punishment. We should not become complacent. We are His slaves and He is our Master.

Part 2: Who am I?

Surah al-Fatihah now transitions from speaking about Allah subḥānahu wa ta'āla (glorified and exalted be He) to speaking to Allah subḥānahu wa ta'āla (glorified and exalted be He). This 3rd person to 2nd person shift signals a change in mood and energy. This part is about you.

You alone do we worship, and from You alone do we seek help.

Guide us along the Straight Path,

 the path of those on whom You have bestowed Your Grace, not of those who have incurred Your wrath, nor of those who have gone astray.

It should be as though the previous verses have brought you into a state of awe and reverence towards Allah subḥānahu wa ta'āla (glorified and exalted be He), and now you wish to declare something to this Merciful Lord of all worlds: You alone do we worship, and from You alone do we seek help. You declare that you are the slave of Allah subḥānahu wa ta'āla (glorified and exalted be He) who wants nothing more than to worship Him alone without equals. This is who you are: Allah’s slave. You have chosen to be this because you recognize that no one is capable of what Allah subḥānahu wa ta'āla (glorified and exalted be He) is capable of, and that being His slave is the most liberating existence for your soul. Where most have chosen to be slaves to money, fame, or desires; you have chosen to be the slave of Allah subḥānahu wa ta'āla (glorified and exalted be He), the Maker of everything. It is not easy to live up to the expectations Allah subḥānahu wa ta'āla (glorified and exalted be He) has placed upon His slaves and that is why you seek His support: and from You alone do we seek help.

PC: Visual Karsa (unsplash)

Khusū’ Tip!

As you recite: إِيَّاكَ نَعْبُدُ, remind yourself that just like you are the slave of Allah subḥānahu wa ta'āla (glorified and exalted be He) in this Salah, being mindful of Him and obedient of His laws, you are also the slave of Allah subḥānahu wa ta'āla (glorified and exalted be He) at work, when with friends, and when playing sports. Behave like you are Allah’s subḥānahu wa ta'āla (glorified and exalted be He) slave in every part of your life.

You then make a plea to Allah subḥānahu wa ta'āla (glorified and exalted be He): Guide us along the Straight Path. This is the greatest duʿa in the Qur’an, found in the greatest Surah of the Qur’an.2Majmu’ al-Fatawa by Ibn Taymiyya, Vol 8, p. 330

The need for Divine guidance outstrips our need for anything else. The Pharaoh was the most powerful man of his era and yet it did not help him find salvation. Qarun had all the riches of the world but in the end, the earth swallowed him up upon the command of Allah subḥānahu wa ta'āla (glorified and exalted be He). When there is no faith (imān), there is no success. This is why asking for guidance is paramount.

Did you know?

Imam Ibn al-Qayyim said that the various meanings of Guide us along the Straight Path include

  1. Acknowledging the truth & seeking it out
  2. Acting upon it
  3. Remaining steadfast upon it
  4. Calling others to it3Asrar as-Salah by Ibn al-Qayyim, p. 51
  5. Resisting those who will oppose you for it

Khusū’ Tip!

When reciting ٱهْدِنَا ٱلصِّرَٰطَ ٱلْمُسْتَقِيمَ remember that faith fluctuates. It may be great one day but plummets the next. Have the intention of seeking consistency and steadfastness in faith.

Surah al-Fatihah then explains what this Straight Path looks like: the path of those on whom You have bestowed Your Grace. This is referring to real-life examples from the past of the Prophets, martyrs, and the righteous. Their stories, sacrifices, and life choices help inform our understanding of what the Straight Path looks like.

Finally, the Surah makes clear what the Straight Path does not look like: not of those who have incurred Your wrath, nor of those who have gone astray. This is referring to the losers. The examples of such people, both individuals and nations, are given throughout the Qur’an, leaving little doubt as to what ideas, behaviors, and attitudes Allah subḥānahu wa ta'āla (glorified and exalted be He) does not love. If we follow the way of the Prophets and keep away from the way of the disbelievers we will not only find salvation, but our hearts will find contentment; as the mind, body, and soul will fall into alignment with their natural, most optimal state of being. All the components that make us whole were created by Allah subḥānahu wa ta'āla (glorified and exalted be He), and once we are upon the Straight Path they are functioning in the manner they were originally created to function.

Now say Ameen, O Allah subḥānahu wa ta'āla (glorified and exalted be He) accept my duʿa, and mean it.

[Want to learn more about how to focus in Salah & develop Khusū’? Pre-order this new book by Ustadh Asim Khan here.]

 

Related:

Structural Cohesion In The Quran [A Series]: Surah Al Fatihah – MuslimMatters.org

The Theme of Surah al-Fatihah – MuslimMatters.org

 

 

Keep supporting MuslimMatters for the sake of Allah

Alhamdulillah, we're at over 850 supporters. Help us get to 900 supporters this month. All it takes is a small gift from a reader like you to keep us going, for just $2 / month.

The Prophet (SAW) has taught us the best of deeds are those that done consistently, even if they are small. Click here to support MuslimMatters with a monthly donation of $2 per month. Set it and collect blessings from Allah (swt) for the khayr you're supporting without thinking about it.

Ustadh Asim Khan is a published author of 3 books, including the Simple Seerah & the best-selling “The Heart of the Qur’an”, a commentary on Surah Yasin. He is a Hafiz of Qur’an, has gained a Masters in Pharmacy from the University College London UK, and studied Arabic and Quranic Sciences in Cairo, Egypt. His true passion lies in Tafsir studies where you can find numerous online lectures of his on Qur'ān related topics.

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