in the more general sense. Verses and meaning [Bismi l-lāhi r-raḥmāni r-raḥīm(i)] In the name of God, the Entirely Merciful, the Especially Merciful. [’alḥamdu lil-lāhi rab-bi l-‘ālamīn(a)] [All] praise is [due] to God, Lord of the worlds – [’ar-raḥmāni r-raḥīm(i)] The Entirely Merciful, the Especially Merciful, [Māliki yawmi d-dīn(i)] Sovereign of the Day of Recompense. [’iy-yāka na‘budu wa’iy-yāka nasta‘īn(u)] It is You we worship and You we ask for help. [’ihdinā ṣ-ṣirāṭa l-mustaqīm(a)] Guide us to the straight path – [Ṣirāṭa l-ladhīna ’an‘amta ‘alayhim, ghayri l-maghḍūbi ‘alayhim wala ḍ-ḍāl-līn(a)] The path of those upon whom You have bestowed favor, not of those who have earned [Your] anger or of those who are astray. With full tajweed symbols بِسۡمِ ٱللَّهِ ٱلرَّحۡمَـٰنِ ٱلرَّحِیمِ ۝١ ٱلۡحَمۡدُ لِلَّهِ رَبِّ ٱلۡعَـٰلَمِینَ ۝٢ ٱلرَّحۡمَـٰنِ ٱلرَّحِیمِ ۝٣ مَـٰلِكِ یَوۡمِ ٱلدِّینِ ۝٤ إِیَّاكَ نَعۡبُدُ وَإِیَّاكَ نَسۡتَعِینُ ۝٥ ٱهۡدِنَا ٱلصِّرَ ٰ⁠طَ ٱلۡمُسۡتَقِیمَ ۝٦ صِرَ ٰ⁠طَ ٱلَّذِینَ أَنۡعَمۡتَ عَلَیۡهِمۡ غَیۡرِ ٱلۡمَغۡضُوبِ عَلَیۡهِمۡ وَلَا ٱلضَّاۤلِّینَ ۝٧ Background The most commonly accepted view about the origins of the surah is the view of Ibn Abbas, among others, that Al-Fatiha is a Meccan surah, although some believe that it is either a Medinan surah or was revealed in both Mecca and Medina. Most narrators recorded that al-Fātiḥah was the first complete Surah revealed to Muhammad. The name Al-Fatiha ("the Opener") could refer to the surah being the first in the Mus'hafs, the first to be recited in each rakat of salah, or to the manner of its usage in many Islamic traditions as an opening prayer. The word itself comes from the root (), which means "to open, explain, disclose, conquer", etc. Al-Fatiha is also known by several other names, such as Al-Hamd (The Praise), As-Salah (The Prayer), Umm al-Kitab (Mother of the Book), Umm al-Quran (Mother of the Quran), Sab'a min al-Mathani (Seven Repeated Ones, from Quran 15:87), and Ash-Shifa' (The Cure). Benefits and virtues Muslims attribute special significance to some surahs for their virtues and benefits () described in the hadith. Acceptance of the different hadith varies between Sunni and Shia Muslims, and there is a variety of terms to classify the different levels of confirmed authenticity of a hadith. However, both Sunnis and Shia believe Al-Fatiha to be one of the greatest surahs in the Quran, and a cure for several diseases and poisons. See also Basmala Notes References Bibliography External links Text of Surah al-Fatiha with multiple available translations