بِسْمِ اللَّهِ الرَّحْمَٰنِ الرَّحِيمِ الْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ رَبِّ الْعَالَمِينَ الرَّحْمَٰنِ الرَّحِيمِ مَالِكِ يَوْمِ الدِّينِ إِيَّاكَ نَعْبُدُ وَإِيَّاكَ نَسْتَعِينُ اهْدِنَا الصِّرَاطَ الْمُسْتَقِيمَ صِرَاطَ الَّذِينَ أَنْعَمْتَ عَلَيْهِمْ غَيْرِ الْمَغْضُوبِ عَلَيْهِمْ وَلَا الضَّالِّينَ
In the name of Allah, the Entirely Merciful, the Especially Merciful. All praise is due to Allah, Lord of the worlds - The Entirely Merciful, the Especially Merciful, Sovereign of the Day of Recompense. It is You we worship and You we ask for help. Guide us to the straight path - The path of those upon whom You have bestowed favor, not of those who have evoked [Your] anger or of those who are astray.
شروع اللہ کے نام سے جو بڑا مہربان نہایت رحم والا ہے۔ سب تعریف اللہ کے لیے ہے جو تمام جہانوں کا پالنے والا ہے۔ بڑا مہربان نہایت رحم والا۔ جزا کے دن کا مالک۔ ہم صرف تیری ہی عبادت کرتے ہیں اور صرف تجھ ہی سے مدد مانگتے ہیں۔ ہمیں سیدھے راستے کی ہدایت فرما۔ ان لوگوں کے راستے کی جن پر تو نے انعام کیا، نہ ان کے جن پر غضب کیا گیا اور نہ گمراہوں کے۔
Reflection
Al-Fatihah, the opening chapter of the Quran, serves as a perfect prayer that encapsulates the essence of Islam. It begins with praise and recognition of Allah's attributes—His lordship over all creation, His mercy, and His authority over the Day of Judgment. It then establishes the core of worship: that it is directed solely to Allah, as is all seeking of help. The prayer concludes with the most important request a believer can make: guidance to the straight path, defined as the way of those who have earned Allah's favor, not those who have gone astray. This surah teaches the proper relationship between humans and their Creator, combining reverence, dependence, and the primacy of seeking guidance.
Context
Al-Fatihah is the opening chapter of the Quran and is recited in every unit of the five daily prayers. It serves as both an introduction to the Quran and as the most essential prayer in Islam, teaching believers how to approach Allah and what to ask of Him.