The Prophet ﷺ said: "Whoever does not recite Al-Fatiha in his prayer, his prayer is invalid."
— Sahih al-Bukhari 756
— Sahih al-Bukhari 756
Introduction: The Opening Chapter
Surah Al-Fatiha (سُورَةُ الْفَاتِحَة) — "The Opening" — is the first chapter of the Holy Quran. It consists of 7 verses (ayaat) and is the most frequently recited surah in the world. Every Muslim recites it at least 17 times every day — in every rakaat of every prayer.
Its other names include: Umm al-Kitab (Mother of the Book), Umm al-Quran (Mother of the Quran), Al-Sab' al-Mathani (The Seven Oft-Repeated Verses), Al-Shifa (The Cure), and Al-Ruqyah (The Healing Prayer).
Surah Al-Fatiha — Complete Arabic Text
بِسۡمِ اللّٰهِ الرَّحۡمٰنِ الرَّحِيۡمِ
اَلۡحَمۡدُ لِلّٰهِ رَبِّ الۡعٰلَمِيۡنَ ۙ
الرَّحۡمٰنِ الرَّحِيۡمِ ۙ
مٰلِكِ يَوۡمِ الدِّيۡنِ ؕ
اِيَّاكَ نَعۡبُدُ وَاِيَّاكَ نَسۡتَعِيۡنُ ؕ
اِهۡدِنَا الصِّرَاطَ الۡمُسۡتَقِيۡمَ ۙ
صِرَاطَ الَّذِيۡنَ اَنۡعَمۡتَ عَلَيۡهِمۡ ۙ غَيۡرِ الۡمَغۡضُوۡبِ عَلَيۡهِمۡ وَلَا الضَّآلِّيۡنَ
اَلۡحَمۡدُ لِلّٰهِ رَبِّ الۡعٰلَمِيۡنَ ۙ
الرَّحۡمٰنِ الرَّحِيۡمِ ۙ
مٰلِكِ يَوۡمِ الدِّيۡنِ ؕ
اِيَّاكَ نَعۡبُدُ وَاِيَّاكَ نَسۡتَعِيۡنُ ؕ
اِهۡدِنَا الصِّرَاطَ الۡمُسۡتَقِيۡمَ ۙ
صِرَاطَ الَّذِيۡنَ اَنۡعَمۡتَ عَلَيۡهِمۡ ۙ غَيۡرِ الۡمَغۡضُوۡبِ عَلَيۡهِمۡ وَلَا الضَّآلِّيۡنَ
Surah Al-Fatiha — English Translation (Word by Word)
| Verse | Arabic | English Translation |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | بِسۡمِ اللّٰهِ الرَّحۡمٰنِ الرَّحِيۡمِ | In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful |
| 2 | اَلۡحَمۡدُ لِلّٰهِ رَبِّ الۡعٰلَمِيۡنَ | All praise is due to Allah, Lord of all the worlds |
| 3 | الرَّحۡمٰنِ الرَّحِيۡمِ | The Most Gracious, the Most Merciful |
| 4 | مٰلِكِ يَوۡمِ الدِّيۡنِ | Master of the Day of Judgment |
| 5 | اِيَّاكَ نَعۡبُدُ وَاِيَّاكَ نَسۡتَعِيۡنُ | You alone we worship, and You alone we ask for help |
| 6 | اِهۡدِنَا الصِّرَاطَ الۡمُسۡتَقِيۡمَ | Guide us to the straight path |
| 7 | صِرَاطَ الَّذِيۡنَ اَنۡعَمۡتَ عَلَيۡهِمۡ... | The path of those upon whom You have bestowed favour, not of those who have evoked Your anger or those who are astray |
Meaning & Tafsir of Surah Al-Fatiha
Al-Fatiha is a conversation between the servant and Allah. The Prophet ﷺ narrated: "Allah said: 'I have divided the prayer between Myself and My slave into two halves, and My slave shall have what he has asked for.'" (Sahih Muslim 395)