Tafseer - Surah Fatihah

 

How to Understand the Quran

1. Use the Quran to Interpret the Quran

2. Explain the Quran using Sunnah of Muhammad p.b.u.h

Surah Fatihah Verse 1:

- There is a disagreement with the scholars whether Bismillah -- is supposed to considered as a verse from the Quran or not. 

- You can recite Bismillah and consider it as an ayah, however it is based on the Qira'a you are reciting

- Opinion of Imam Shafi considers Bismillah as verse as his opinion is based on Makkah. 

بِسْمِ -

 means the in name of Allah. The first part of the sentence is hidden, the verb changes. 

We use Bismillah in everything we do. Suppose you're eating, I eat in the name of Allah. Suppose you're driving, I drive in the name of Allah. 

ٱللَّهِ

Allah is the name of the only deity worthy of worship, it is not given to anyone other than Him. Nothing in the creation is worthy of this name and it cannot be prescribed to any other name, place, object, or thing in the universe. 

Surah Fatihah Verse 2:

Allah has said this statement Himself. 

The people in Jannah will say this statement.

Everyone in the creation will say this statement. 

This statement is that GREAT. 

Prophet SAWS said the best Dua is Alhamdulillah, the best Zikr is La Illaha il Allah. 

ٱلْحَمْدُ

means to praise over that which is beautiful. There is a difference in the Arabic language between the word 'hamd' and 'al shukr'. Thanking and praising are two different things. 'al-hamdu' is whether someone has giving or hasn't given you something, you still praise Him just for his attributes. 

You cannot say I thank his generosity

You cannot say I thank his courage 

Thanks is only in return of something (al-shukr). While al-hamd can be in return of something, or just praising someone for his attributes, it's more general.

Al-Hamd is only done with the tongue (lisaan)

Al Shukr can be done with tongue, heart, and limbs

In order for us to fully thank Allah azzawajal for his blessings, you can do that with the tongue by saying "Alhamdulillah", and the heart (sincerely), and limbs (if Allah gave you money, use it for good things). 

The "Thanks" is completed with three things only

- Tongue

- Heart

- Limbs 

Allah gave you family, food, water, air, etc. We have to praise Him for that. But not only that, but because of His attributes as well. Who has the most perfect attributes? Allah does (asma-ul-husna), the best of names, we give Hamd by saying Alhamdulillah. 

 لِلَّهِ

Allah is worthy of all praise and gratitude for the things he has given us, and due to His perfect attributes. 

رَبِّ

In the Arabic language, the word "Rabb" means 3 things:

1- Saiyid - The master who is to be obeyed. 

2- The person who raises someone up and takes care of him

3- Al Malik - the owner of all everything in the creation. 

ٱلْعَـٰلَمِينَ ٢

everything other than Allah. This word is new to the Arabic language; derives from the root word of "aalam" (world), plural of it. Alameen (many worlds), or everything other than Him. The worlds depend on different creatures:

1. Jinn (aalam-al-jinn)

2. Humans (aalam-al-insaan)

3. Birds (aalam-a-tair)

All of these different worlds for all of these different creatures & creations.

Also, every generation is called "Aalam". 

Firaun asked Musa. AS 

Who is Rabb-ul-Alameen

Musa AS said the Lord of everything in the samaa, in the Earth, and that which is between them. 

Surah Fatihah Verse 3:

derived from the root word of "rahma" (mercy)

ٱلرَّحْمَـٰنِ

In Arabic Grammar, there is something called "wazn". Every word in the Arabic language has a specific balance. 

Rahmaan is a statement of mubalagah (exaggeration) as much as you can from the "rahma"

Like Jo'aan (I'm full of hunger, I can eat everything). Pure exaggeration.

The entity is full of mercy and instant, Allah is having mercy with you right now. 

ٱلرَّحِيمِ

Raheem is a statement of mubalagah (exaggeration) too.

When someone is tall or short, it is a permanent thing and remains forever

His mercy is permanent, and never changes, and is ever-lasting. 

Surah Fatihah Verse 4:

مَـٰلِكِ

Allah is the owner of everything in the creation exclusively to them - the ownership belongs to Allah only. 

1. Malik - owner, not a king [we all own houses, cars, chair; but we are not kings]

2. Maalik - king but don't have ownership of kingdom [Queen Elizabeth was a king, but she didn't own the UK right]

But Allah is malik-un-maalik. He is the King that has ownership of everything alone to Him, including time and the Day of Judgement--

يَوْمِ ٱلدِّينِ

Day of Judgement

Surah Fatihah Verse 5:

إِيَّاكَ

The word "iyyaka" with the Kaaf, is for the pronoun. 

This verse refers to Allah alone; exclusivity. 
Anything else cannot be added here. 

Worshipping and seeking help is from Allah alone. 
This verse is proof to every grave worshipper, saint catcher etc. that what they're doing is wrong. 

Allah reminds you 17 times a day, that Him alone you worship and Him alone you seek for help, so do not break that promise. 

Surah Fatihah Verse 6:

Why do we ask Allah to guide us when we are already Muslims?

We are already upon the straight path? 

Someone can be standing in the prayer and he is not in the straight path, whether be in sins he's doing, whether the creed he believes in, or the actions he does. 

ٱهْدِنَا

It is a dua/request we make to Allah azzawajal to guide us. It means to keep us on the straight path today, and in the future. It is used as an affirmation. 

ٱلصِّرَٰطَ 

is the path

ٱلْمُسْتَقِيمَ

description - which is completely straight and has no bend. 

Surah Fatihah Verse 7:

صِرَٰطَ ٱلَّذِينَ أَنْعَمْتَ عَلَيْهِمْ
The path of those who've you've bestowed your favour upon. 

- refers to those people who already walked the path which is straight. (differs from Al Mustaqeem which is the description of the path)

2 Attributes:

1. It is straight

2. It is the path that the people who Allah has given favour upon are treading right now 24/7.

Who did Allah bestowed upon? 

Using the Quran itself, in Chapter 4 - The Women (Nisa), 

1. The Prophets, 

2. The Truthful (like Abu Bakr RA),

3, The Shuhhadah (Martyrs), 

4. Saliheen (the Righteous people)

That's the path we ask Allah to be upon. 

غَيْرِ ٱلْمَغْضُوبِ عَلَيْهِمْ

Not of those who "EARNED" your anger. It doesn't say ghadibta alaihim (the one that Allah is angry upon), Allah Himself is not angry upon them, it is what their hands have sent forth themselves to EARN the anger of Allah azzawajal.

Anger has never been attributed to Allah, He has not attributed it to Himself. We always prescribe goodness to Allah SWT, so He can teach us manners. The things that are evil in this world, we do not attribute it to Him. 

Those who earn the anger of Allah, is the person who knows the truth, and leaves the truth.

He knows that Islam is the truth, evidences, he knows he needs to pray, but leaves it. 

Any Museebah (trial) comes by with the permission of Allah (SWT)

Whoever, believes in Allah, Allah will settle this Allah.

He knows this trial came from Allah but He does not attribute this evil to Him (out of respect). 

Scholars say this refers to Yahood - Jews too. 

وَلَا ٱلضَّآلِّينَ

Misguided people - who are confused, and don't know which way to go. They don't believe anything. 

Scholars say this refers to Nasaara - Christians too.