Surah al-Fatihah Recitation and Translation - Part 1

prayer revelation

[Just to let you know, the text below is a transcription of what I've said in this video. So please excuse any words or phrases that don't quite look right.] 

 

Surah al-Fatihah—the opening chapter of the Qur'an—is the mother of the revelation. It's as if the rest of the Qur'an is simply an explanation of this short and powerful chapter. And as you know, there is no prayer, there is no Salat, without Surah al-Fatihah.

But how do we pronounce the words? And what do they mean? Surah al-Fatihah. I'm going to recite each verse and then say the meaning.

 

« أعوذُ بِٱللَّهِ مِنَ ٱلشَّيۡطَٰنِ ٱلرَّجِيمِ »

A’udhu billahi minash-Shaytanir-rajim 

I take refuge in God from the rejected Satan.

 

« بِسْمِ اللَّـهِ الرَّحْمَـٰنِ الرَّحِيمِ »

Bismillahir-Rahmanir-Rahim

I begin in the Name of God. The Lord of Mercy. The Giver of Mercy.

 

« اَلْحَمْدُ لِلّٰهِ رَبِّ الْعٰلَمِیْنَۙ »

Alhamdulillahi Rabbil-‘alamin 

All praise belongs to God, Lord of all that exists.

 

« الرَّحْمٰنِ الرَّحِیْمِۙ »

Ar-Rahmanir-Rahim 

The Lord of Mercy, the Giver of Mercy.

 

« مٰلِكِ یَوْمِ الدِّیْنِؕ »

Maliki yawmid-din 

Master of the Day of Judgement.

 

«  اِیَّاكَ نَعْبُدُ وَ اِیَّاكَ نَسْتَعِیْنُؕ »

Iyyaka na’budu wa iyyaka nasta’in 

You alone we serve and You alone we ask for help.

 

« اِهْدِنَا الصِّرَاطَ الْمُسْتَقِیْمَۙ »

Ihdinas-siratal mustaqim 

Guide us on the straight path.

 

« صِرَاطَ الَّذِیْنَ اَنْعَمْتَ عَلَیْهِمْ غَیْرِ الْمَغْضُوْبِ عَلَیْهِمْ وَ لَا الضَّآلِّیْنَ۠ »

Sirat alladhina an’amta ‘alayhim ghairil maghdubi ‘alayhim wa lad-dallin

The path of those whom You have favoured, not of those who have incurred Your anger, nor of those who have gone astray.

 

« امين »

Amin!

Ameen. May it be so.

 

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