Fātiḥat al-Kitāb (lit. opening of the book) is a special surah that was apparently revealed twice: once in Mecca and once in Medina.[su_tooltip content=”Suyūṭī, al-Itqān, 1/140-141.”][1][/su_tooltip] This could show the significance and centrality of this chapter in the Quran. All Muslims are required to recite this chapter in their five obligatory daily prayers. It is also an integral part of other recommended and optional prayers. According to one narration, it was the fifth chapter of the Quran that was revealed, after Sūrat al-Muddaththir (74) and before Sūrat al-Masad (111).[su_tooltip content=”Tamhid, 1/135.”][2][/su_tooltip]
The chapter consists of seven verses, the first one being In the name of Allah, the all-beneficent, the all-merciful, which, in other chapters, is not counted as a whole independent verse in the common numbering of the verses.
A unique feature of this surah is its tone, where its verses are expressed as the speech of servants to God, unlike all other surahs where God is the speaker.
It is common among Muslims – and sometimes narrated from the Infallibles or the companions – that all of the Quran is summarised in Sūrat al-Fātiḥah. This view might be deduced from the verse, Certainly We have given you [the surah of] the seven oft-repeated verses and the great Quran (15:87), where the Quran is mentioned on a par with [the surah of] the seven oft-repeated verses, which apparently refers to Sūrat al-Fātiḥah, as confirmed by many narrations. This can certainly be true, given the content of this chapter. Verses 1-3 talk about God, His qualities, and His creation, blessings, and lordship. Verse 4 captures the hereafter. Verses 5-6 refer to monotheism, guidance, revelation, and religion. Verse 7 alludes to the stories of the previous nations.[su_tooltip content=”Manar, 1/66.”][3][/su_tooltip] Indeed, these headings cover the most important elements discussed in the Quran.
Some of the other names of this surah are:
- Al-Ḥamd: The Praise. This is deduced from the second verse of the chapter. The chapter is referred to by this name in many narrations.
- Umm al-Kitāb: The Root or Mother of the Book. A few possible explanations for this name are: 1. It refers to the chapter’s position at the beginning of the Quran. 2. It refers to the chapter’s inclusion of the main points discussed in the book. 3. The content of this chapter captures the core teachings of all divine books.[su_tooltip content=”Razi, 1/156-157.”][4][/su_tooltip] Its verses are part of muḥkamāt (clear, solid, decisive) verses which are called umm al-kitāb in verse 3:7.[su_tooltip content=”Furqan, 1/63.”][5][/su_tooltip] 5. It is said that Arabs call the army’s flag umm.[su_tooltip content=”Thalabi, 1/127.”][6][/su_tooltip] Muslims go back to this chapter repeatedly every day, just as the soldiers aim and resort to their flag in a battle.[su_tooltip content=”Razi, 1/158.”][7][/su_tooltip] Alternatively, it leads the other chapters of the Quran both in terms of order and content, just as the army is led by its flag.[su_tooltip content=”Furqan, 1/63-64.”][8][/su_tooltip]
- Sabʿ al-Mathānī: The Seven Repeated Verses. This name is deduced from verse 15:87. Some reasons for why it is called mathānī (repeated, doubled) are: 1. It must be recited twice (at least) in every prayer;[su_tooltip content=”Tibyan, 1/22; Manar, 1/95.”][9][/su_tooltip] this is confirmed by a narration from Imam al-Ṣādiq (a).[su_tooltip content=”Ayyashi, 1/19, h. 3.”][10][/su_tooltip] Its verses are dichotomous, meaning that each of them is divisible into two parts;[su_tooltip content=”Furqan, 1/67.”][11][/su_tooltip] this is confirmed by another narration from Imam al-Ṣādiq (a).[su_tooltip content=”Ayyashi, 1/22, h. 17.”][12][/su_tooltip] 3. It describes both lordship (rubūbiyyah) and servitude (ʿubūdiyyah).[su_tooltip content=”Kashif, 1/32.”][13][/su_tooltip] In other words, the entire chapter is divided into two parts: one comprising of God’s praise, and one comprising of the servants’ requests. 4. It is coupled by another chapter in the prayer. 5. It was revealed twice: once in Mecca and once in Medina.[su_tooltip content=”Razi, 1/158; Furqan, 1/66.”][14][/su_tooltip] 6. It includes the praise (thanāʾ) of God as a central part of the chapter.[su_tooltip content=”Manar, 1/95.”][15][/su_tooltip] Some exegetes have rightfully noted that mathānī is a quality of the entire Quran and every verse of it, as per verse 39:23. Therefore, the seven of al-mathānī in verse 15:87 apparently means: seven of the Quran. In other words, it means a seven-verse chapter of the Quran which has analogous and repeated verses.[su_tooltip content=”Furqan, 1/65, with some elaboration.”][16][/su_tooltip] Since chapter 15 was revealed in Mecca, and given that verse 15:87 refers to Sūrat al-Fātiḥah, it can be deduced that Sūrat al-Fātiḥah was revealed in Mecca prior to chapter 15.[su_tooltip content=”Razi, 1/160.”][17][/su_tooltip]
- Al-Kāfiyah: The Sufficient.
- Al-Shifāʾ: The Healing. Apparently, these two names (The Sufficient and The Healing) are deduced from certain narrations about this chapter. For example, this chapter can take the place of the other chapters in the prayer, but not vice versa. It suffices where the other chapters do not suffice – which may not necessarily be limited to the prayer.[su_tooltip content=”Mustadrak.S, 1/238; Thalabi, 1/128; Suyūṭī, al-Jāmiʿ al-Ṣaghīr, 1/247, h. 1615; Kanz, 1/557, h. 2498.”][18][/su_tooltip] > Similarly, it is identified as having special impact in healing physical illnesses. The Prophet said: ‘Fātiḥat al-Kitāb is a cure for every pain,’[su_tooltip content=”Thalabi, 1/129; Tabrisi, 1/87; Suyūṭī, al-Jāmiʿ al-Ṣaghīr, 2/208, h. 5827; Kanz, 1/557, h. 2500.”][19][/su_tooltip] or ‘for every poison,’[su_tooltip content=”Thalabi, 1/128; Abu al-Futuh, 1/32.”][20][/su_tooltip] or ‘for every illness except death.’[su_tooltip content=”Ayyashi, 1/20, h. 9; Tabrisi, 1/88; also narrated from Imam al-Ṣādiq (a): Rawandi, p. 189, h. 524; Bihar, 89/261.”][21][/su_tooltip] Similarly, Imam al-Ṣādiq (a) said: ‘If al-Ḥamd does not heal someone, then nothing will.’[su_tooltip content=”Ayyashi, 1/20, h. 10.”][22][/su_tooltip]
[1] Suyūṭī, al-Itqān, 1/140-141.
[2] Tamhid, 1/135.
[3] Manar, 1/66.
[4] Razi, 1/156-157.
[5] Furqan, 1/63.
[6] Thalabi, 1/127.
[7] Razi, 1/158.
[8] Furqan, 1/63-64.
[9] Tibyan, 1/22; Manar, 1/95.
[10] Ayyashi, 1/19, h. 3.
[11] Furqan, 1/67.
[12] Ayyashi, 1/22, h. 17.
[13] Kashif, 1/32.
[14] Razi, 1/158; Furqan, 1/66.
[15] Manar, 1/95.
[16] Furqan, 1/65, with some elaboration.
[17] Razi, 1/160.
[18] Mustadrak.S, 1/238; Thalabi, 1/128; Suyūṭī, al-Jāmiʿ al-Ṣaghīr, 1/247, h. 1615; Kanz, 1/557, h. 2498.
[19] Thalabi, 1/129; Tabrisi, 1/87; Suyūṭī, al-Jāmiʿ al-Ṣaghīr, 2/208, h. 5827; Kanz, 1/557, h. 2500.
[20] Thalabi, 1/128; Abu al-Futuh, 1/32.
[21] Ayyashi, 1/20, h. 9; Tabrisi, 1/88; also narrated from Imam al-Ṣādiq (a): Rawandi, p. 189, h. 524; Bihar, 89/261.
[22] Ayyashi, 1/20, h. 10.