Tafsir Ibn Kathir- Surah 1. Al-Fathiha , Introduction (part 01)

Tafsir Ibn Kathir- Surah 1. Al-Fathiha , Introduction
(part 01) Introduction to Fatihah
Which was revealed in Makkah
The Meaning of Al-Fatihah and its Various Names
This Surah is called
- Al-Fatihah, that is, the Opener of the Book, the
Surah with which prayers are begun. - It is also called, Umm Al-Kitab (the Mother of the Book), according to
the majority of the scholars.
In an authentic Hadith recorded by At-Tirmidhi, who
graded it Sahih, Abu Hurayrah said that the
Messenger of Allah said,
ﺍﻟْﺤَﻤْﺪُ ﻟﻠﻪِ ﺭَﺏَ ﺍﻟْﻌَﺎﻟَﻤِﻴﻦَ ﺃُﻡُّ ﺍﻟْﻘُﺮْﺁﻥِ ﻭَﺃُﻡُّ ﺍﻟْﻜِﺘَﺎﺏِ ﻭَﺍﻟﺴَّﺒْﻊُ ﺍﻟْﻤَﺜَﺎﻧِﻲ ﻭَﺍﻟْﻘُﺮْﺁﻥُ ﺍﻟْﻌَﻈِﻴﻢُ Al-Hamdu lillahi Rabbil-`Alamin is the Mother of the
Qur'an, the Mother of the Book, and the seven
repeated Ayat of the Glorious Qur'an. It is also called
Al-Hamd and As-Salah, because the Prophet said that
his Lord said, ﻗَﺴَﻤْﺖُ ﺍﻟﺼَّﻠَﺎﺓَ ﺑَﻴْﻨِﻲ ﻭَﺑَﻴْﻦَ ﻋَﺒْﺪِﻱ ﻧِﺼْﻔَﻴْﻦِ، ﻓَﺈِﺫَﺍ ﻗَﺎﻝَ ﺍﻟْﻌَﺒْﺪُ : ﺍﻟْﺢَﻣْﺪُﺩِﻟﻠﻪ ﺭَﺏِّ ﺍﻟْﻌَﺎﻟَﻤِﻴﻦَ، ﻗَﺎﻝَ ﺍﻟﻠﻪُ : ﺣَﻤِﺪَﻧِﻲ ﻋَﺒْﺪِﻱ
The prayer (i.e., Al-Fatihah) is divided into two halves
between Me and My servants. When the servant
says, `All praise is due to Allah, the Lord of
existence,' Allah says, 'My servant has praised Me.
Al-Fatihah was called the Salah, because reciting it is a condition for the correctness of Salah - the prayer.
Al-Fatihah was also called Ash-Shifa' (the Cure). It is
also called Ar-Ruqyah (remedy), since in the Sahih,
there is the narration of Abu Sa`id telling the story of
the Companion who used Al-Fatihah as a remedy for
the tribal chief who was poisoned. Later, the Messenger of Allah said to a Companion,
ﻭَﻣَﺎ ﻳُﺪْﺭِﻳﻚَ ﺃَﻧَّﻬَﺎ ﺭُﻗْﻴَﺔٌ
How did you know that it is a Ruqyah? Al-Fatihah was
revealed in Makkah as Ibn Abbas, Qatadah and Abu
Al-Aliyah stated. Allah said,
ﻭَﻟَﻘَﺪْ ﺀﺍﺗَﻴْﻨَـﻚَ ﺳَﺒْﻌًﺎ ﻣِّﻦَ ﺍﻟْﻤَﺜَﺎﻧِﻲ And indeed, We have bestowed upon you the seven
Mathani (seven repeatedly recited verses), (i.e. Surah
Al-Fatihah) (15:87). Allah knows best. How many Ayat does Al-Fatihah contain There is no disagreement over the view that Al-
Fatihah contains seven Ayat. According to the
majority of the reciters of Al-Kufah, a group of the
Companions, the Tabi`in, and a number of scholars
from the successive generations, the Bismillah is a
separate Ayah in its beginning. We will mention this subject again soon, if Allah wills, and in Him we trust. The Number of Words and Letters in Al-Fatihah The scholars say that Al-Fatihah consists of twenty-
five words, and that it contains one hundred and
thirteen letters. The Reason it is called Umm Al-Kitab In the beginning of the Book of Tafsir, in his Sahih,
Al-Bukhari said; "It is called Umm Al-Kitab, because
the Qur'an starts with it and because the prayer is
started by reciting it.'' It was also said that it is called
Umm Al-Kitab, because it contains the meanings of
the entire Qur'an. Ibn Jarir said, "The Arabs call every comprehensive matter that contains several specific
areas an Umm. For instance, they call the skin that
surrounds the brain, Umm Ar-Ra's. They also call the
flag that gathers the ranks of the army an Umm.'' He
also said, "Makkah was called Umm Al-Qura, (the
Mother of the Villages) because it is the grandest and the leader of all villages. It was also said that the
earth was made starting from Makkah.''
Further, Imam Ahmad recorded that Abu Hurayrah
narrated about Umm Al-Qur'an that the Prophet said,
«ﻫِﻲَ ﺃُﻡُّ ﺍﻟْﻘُﺮْﺁﻥِ ﻭَﻫِﻲَ ﺍﻟﺴَّﺒْﻊُ ﺍﻟْﻤَﺜَﺎﻧِﻲ ﻭَﻫِﻲَ ﺍﻟْﻘُﺮْﺁﻥُ ﺍﻟْﻌَﻈِﻴﻢُ » (It is Umm Al-Qur'an, the seven repeated (verses) and
the Glorious Qur'an.)
Also, Abu Ja`far, Muhammad bin Jarir At-Tabari
recorded Abu Hurayrah saying that the Messenger of
Allah said about Al-Fatihah,
«ﻫِﻲَ ﺃُﻡُّ ﺍﻟْﻘُﺮْﺁﻥِ ﻭَﻫِﻲَ ﻓَﺎﺗِﺤَﺔُ ﺍﻟْﻜِﺘَﺎﺏِ ﻭَﻫِﻲَ ﺍﻟﺴَّﺒْﻊُ ﺍﻟْﻤَﺜَﺎﻧِﻲ » (It is Umm Al-Qur'an, Al-Fatihah of the Book (the
Opener of the Qur'an) and the seven repeated
(verses).) Virtues of Al-Fatihah Imam Ahmad bin Hanbal recorded in the Musnad that
Abu Sa`id bin Al-Mu`alla said, "I was praying when the
Prophet called me, so I did not answer him until I
finished the prayer. I then went to him and he said,
(What prevented you from coming) I said, 'O
Messenger of Allah ! I was praying.' He said, (`Didn't Allah say),
﴿ﻳﺄَﻳُّﻬَﺎ ﺍﻟَّﺬِﻳﻦَ ﺀَﺍﻣَﻨُﻮﺍْ ﺍﺳْﺘَﺠِﻴﺒُﻮﺍْ ﻟِﻠَّﻪِ ﻭَﻟِﻠﺮَّﺳُﻮﻝِ ﺇِﺫَﺍ ﺩَﻋَﺎﻛُﻢْ ﻟِﻤَﺎ ﻳُﺤْﻴِﻴﻜُﻢْ﴾ (O you who believe! Answer Allah (by obeying Him)
and (His) Messenger when he () calls you to that
which gives you life) He then said,
«ﻟَﺄُﻋَﻠِّﻤَﻦَّﻙَ ﺃَﻋْﻈَﻢَ ﺳُﻮﺭَﺓٍ ﻓِﻲ ﺍﻟْﻘُﺮْﺁﻥِ ﻗَﺒْﻞَ ﺃَﻥْ ﺗَﺨْﺮُﺝَ ﻣِﻦَ ﺍﻟْﻤَﺴْﺠِﺪِ» (I will teach you the greatest Surah in the Qur'an
before you leave the Masjid.) He held my hand and
when he was about to leave the Masjid, I said, `O
Messenger of Allah! You said: I will teach you the
greatest Surah in the Qur'an.' He said, (Yes.)
﴿ﺍﻟْﺤَﻤْﺪُ ﻟﻠَّﻪِ ﺭَﺏِّ ﺍﻟْﻌَـﻠَﻤِﻴﻦَ ﴾ (Al-Hamdu lillahi Rabbil-`Alamin)''
«ﻧَﻌَﻢْ ﻫِﻲَ ﺍﻟﺴَّﺒْﻊُ ﺍﻟْﻤَﺜَﺎﻧِﻲ ﻭَﺍﻟْﻘُﺮْﺁﻥُ ﺍﻟْﻌَﻈِﻴﻢُ ﺍﻟَّﺬِﻱ ﺃُﻭﺗِﻴﺘُﻪُ» (It is the seven repeated (verses) and the Glorious
Qur'an that I was given.)''
Al-Bukhari, Abu Dawud, An-Nasa'i and Ibn Majah also
recorded this Hadith.
Also, Imam Ahmad recorded that Abu Hurayrah said,
"The Messenger of Allah went out while Ubayy bin Ka`b was praying and said, (O Ubayy!) Ubayy did not
answer him. The Prophet said, (O Ubayy!) Ubayy
prayed faster then went to the Messenger of Allah
saying, `Peace be unto you, O Messenger of Allah!'
He said, (Peace be unto you. O Ubayy, what
prevented you from answering me when I called you) He said, `O Messenger of Allah! I was praying.' He
said, (Did you not read among what Allah has sent
down to me,)
﴿ﺍﺳْﺘَﺠِﻴﺒُﻮﺍْ ﻟِﻠَّﻪِ ﻭَﻟِﻠﺮَّﺳُﻮﻝِ ﺇِﺫَﺍ ﺩَﻋَﺎﻛُﻢْ ﻟِﻤَﺎ ﻳُﺤْﻴِﻴﻜُﻢْ﴾ (Answer Allah (by obeying Him) and (His) Messenger
when he () calls you to that which gives you life) He
said, `Yes, O Messenger of Allah! I will not do it
again.' the Prophet said,
«ﺃَﺗُﺤِﺐُّ ﺃَﻥْ ﺃُﻋَﻠِّﻤَﻚَ ﺳُﻮﺭَﺓً ﻟَﻢْ ﺗَﻨْﺰِﻝْ ﻟَﺎ ﻓِﻲ ﺍﻟﺘَّﻮﺭَﺍﺓِ ﻭَﻟَﺎ ﻓِﻲ ﺍﻟْﺈِﻧْﺠِﻴﻞِ ﻭَﻟَﺎ ﻓِﻲ ﺍﻟﺰَّﺑُﻮﺭِ ﻭَﻟَﺎ ﻓِﻲ ﺍﻟْﻔُﺮْﻗَﺎﻥِ ﻣِﺜْﻠَﻬَﺎ؟ » (Would you like me to teach you a Surah the likes of
which nothing has been revealed in the Tawrah, the
Injil, the Zabur (Psalms) or the Furqan (the Qur'an))
He said, `Yes, O Messenger of Allah!' The Messenger
of Allah said, (I hope that I will not leave through this
door until you have learned it.) He (Ka`b) said, `The Messenger of Allah held my hand while speaking to
me. Meanwhile I was slowing down fearing that he
might reach the door before he finished his
conversation. When we came close to the door, I
said: O Messenger of Allah ! What is the Surah that
you have promised to teach me' He said, (What do you read in the prayer.) Ubayy said, `So I recited
Umm Al-Qur'an to him.' He said,
«ﻭَﺍﻟَّﺬِﻱ ﻧَﻔْﺴِﻲ ﺑِﻴَﺪِﻩِ ﻣَﺎ ﺃَﻧْﺰَﻝَ ﺍﻟﻠﻪُ ﻓِﻲ ﺍﻟﺘَّﻮﺭَﺍﺓِ ﻭَﻟَﺎ ﻓِﻲ ﺍﻟْﺈِﻧْﺠِﻴﻞِ ﻭَﻟَﺎ ﻓِﻲ ﺍﻟﺰَّﺑُﻮﺭِ ﻭَﻟَﺎ ﻓِﻲ ﺍﻟْﻔُﺮْﻗَﺎﻥِ ﻣِﺜْﻠَﻬَﺎ ﺇِﻧَّﻬَﺎ ﺍﻟﺴَّﺒْﻊُ ﺍﻟْﻤَﺜَﺎﻧِﻲ » (By Him in Whose Hand is my soul! Allah has never
revealed in the Tawrah, the Injil, the Zabur or the
Furqan a Surah like it. It is the seven repeated verses
that I was given.)''
Also, At-Tirmidhi recorded this Hadith and in his
narration, the Prophet said, «ﺇِﻧَّﻬَﺎ ﻣِﻦَ ﺍﻟﺴَّﺒْﻊِ ﺍﻟْﻤَﺜَﺎﻧِﻲ ﻭَﺍﻟْﻘُﺮْﺁﻥِ ﺍﻟْﻌَﻈِﻴﻢِ ﺍﻟَّﺬِﻱ ﺃُﻋْﻄِﻴﺘُﻪُ» (It is the seven repeated verses and the Glorious
Qur'an that I was given.) At-Tirmidhi then commented
that this Hadith is Hasan Sahih.
There is a similar Hadith on this subject narrated from
Anas bin Malik Further, `Abdullah, the son of Imam
Ahmad, recorded this Hadith from Abu Hurayrah from Ubayy bin Ka`b, and he mentioned a longer but similar
wording for the above Hadith. In addition, At-Tirmidhi
and An-Nasa'i recorded this Hadith from Abu Hurayrah
from Ubayy bin Ka`b who said that the Messenger of
Allah said,
«ﻣَﺎ ﺃَﻧْﺰَﻝ ﺍﻟﻠﻪُ ﻓِﻲ ﺍﻟﺘَّﻮﺭَﺍﺓِ ﻭَﻟَﺎ ﻓِﻲ ﺍﻟْﺈِﻧْﺠِﻴﻞِ ﻣِﺜْﻞَ ﺃُﻡِّ ﺍﻟْﻘُﺮْﺁﻥِ ﻭَﻫِﻲَ ﺍﻟﺴَّﺒْﻊُ ﺍﻟْﻤَﺜَﺎﻧِﻲ ﻭَﻫِﻲَ ﻣَﻘْﺴُﻮﻣَﺔٌ ﺑَﻴْﻨِﻲ ﻭَﺑَﻴْﻦَ ﻋَﺒْﺪِﻱ ﻧِﺼْﻔَﻴْﻦِ» (Allah has never revealed in the Tawrah or the Injil
anything similar to Umm Al-Qur'an.
It is the seven repeated verses and it is divided into
two halves between Allah and His servant.)
This is the wording reported by An-Nasa'i. At-Tirmidhi
said that this Hadith is Hasan Gharib. Also, Imam Ahmad recorded that Ibn Jabir said, "I
went to the Messenger of Allah after he had poured
water (for purification) and said, `Peace be unto you,
O Messenger of Allah!' He did not answer me. So I
said again, `Peace be unto you, O Messenger of
Allah!' Again, he did not answer me, so I said again, `Peace be unto you, O Messenger of Allah!' Still he
did not answer me. The Messenger of Allah went
while I was following him, until he arrived at his
residence. I went to the Masjid and sat there sad and
depressed. The Messenger of Allah came out after he
performed his purification and said, (Peace and Allah's mercy be unto you, peace and Allah's mercy
be unto you, peace and Allah's mercy be unto you.)
He then said, (O `Abdullah bin Jabir! Should I inform
you of the best Surah in the Qur'an) I said, `Yes, O
Messenger of Allah!' He said, (Read, `All praise be to
Allah, the Lord of the existence,' until you finish it.)'' This Hadith has a good chain of narrators.
Some scholars relied on this Hadith as evidence that
some Ayat and Surahs have more virtues than others.
Furthermore, in the chapter about the virtues of the
Qur'an, Al-Bukhari recorded that Abu Sa`id Al-Khudri
said, "Once, we were on a journey when a female servant came and said, `The leader of this area has
been poisoned and our people are away. Is there a
healer among you' Then a man whose healing
expertise did not interest us stood for her, he read a
Ruqyah for him, and he was healed. The chief gave
him thirty sheep as a gift and some milk. When he came back to us we said to him, `You know of a
(new) Ruqyah, or did you do this before' He said, `I
only used Umm Al-Kitab as Ruqyah.' We said, `Do not
do anything further until we ask the Messenger of
Allah.' When we went back to Al-Madinah we
mentioned what had happened to the Prophet . The Prophet said,
«ﻭَﻣَﺎ ﻛَﺎﻥَ ﻳُﺪْﺭِﻳﻪِ ﺃَﻧَّﻬَﺎ ﺭُﻗْﻴَﺔٌ ﺍﻗْﺴِﻤُﻮﺍ ﻭَﺍﺿْﺮِﺑُﻮﺍ ﻟِﻲ ﺑِﺴَﻬْﻢٍ » (Who told him that it is a Ruqyah Divide (the sheep)
and reserve a share for me.)''
Also, Muslim recorded in his Sahih, and An-Nasa'i in
his Sunan that Ibn `Abbas said, "While Jibril (Gabriel)
was with the Messenger of Allah , he heard a noise
from above. Jibril lifted his sight to the sky and said, `This is a door in heaven being open, and it has never
been opened before now.' An angel descended from
that door and came to the Prophet and said, `Receive
the glad tidings of two lights that you have been
given, which no other Prophet before you was given:
the Opening of the Book and the last (three) Ayat of Surat Al-Baqarah. You will not read a letter of them,
but will gain its benefit.''' This is the wording collected
by An-Nasa'i (Al-Kubra 5:12) and Muslim recorded
similar wording (1:554). Al-Fatihah and the Prayer Muslim recorded that Abu Hurayrah said that the
Prophet said,
«ﻣَﻦْ ﺻَﻠَﻰ ﺻَﻠَﺎﺓً ﻟَﻢْ ﻳَﻘْﺮَﺃْ ﻓِﻴﻬَﺎ ﺃُﻡَّ ﺍﻟْﻘُﺮْﺁﻥِ ﻓَﻬِﻲَ ﺧِﺪَﺍﺝٌ ﺛَﻠَﺎﺛًﺎ ﻏَﻴْﺮُ ﺗَﻤَﺎﻡٍ » (Whoever performs any prayer in which he did not
read Umm Al-Qur'an, then his prayer is incomplete.)
He said it thrice.
Abu Hurayrah was asked, "﴾When﴿ we stand behind the Imam'' He said, "Read it to yourself, for I heard
the Messenger of Allah say,
« ﻗَﺎﻝَ ﺍﻟﻠَّﻪُ ﻋَﺰَّ ﻭَﺟَﻞَّ : ﻗَﺴَﻤْﺖُ ﺍﻟﺼّﻠَﺎﺓَ ﺑَﻴْﻨِﻲ ﻭَﺑَﻴْﻦَ ﻋَﺒْﺪِﻱ ﻧِﺼْﻔَﻴْﻦِ ﻭَﻟِﻌَﺒْﺪِﻱ ﻣَﺎ ﺳَﺄَﻝَ ﻓَﺈِﺫَﺍ ﻗَﺎﻝَ : ﴿ﺍﻟْﺤَﻤْﺪُ ﻟﻠَّﻪِ ﺭَﺏِّ ﺍﻟْﻌَـﻠَﻤِﻴﻦَ ﴾، ﻗَﺎﻝَ ﺍﻟﻠﻪُ : ﺣَﻤِﺪَﻧِﻲ ﻋَﺒْﺪِﻱ ﻭَﺇِﺫَﺍ ﻗَﺎﻝَ : ﴿ﺍﻟﺮَّﺣْﻤَـﻦِ ﺍﻟﺮَّﺣِﻴﻢِ ﴾، ﻗَﺎﻝَ ﺍﻟﻠﻪُ : ﺃَﺛْﻨﻰ ﻋَﻠَﻲَّ ﻋَﺒْﺪِﻱ، ﻓَﺈﺫَﺍ ﻗَﺎﻝَ : ﴿ﻣَـﻠِﻚِ ﻳَﻮْﻡِ ﺍﻟﺪِّﻳﻦِ ﴾، ﻗَﺎﻝَ ﺍﻟﻠﻪُ : ﻣَﺠَّﺪَﻧِﻲ ﻋَﺒْﺪِﻱ ﻭَﻗَﺎﻝَ ﻣَﺮَّﺓً : ﻓَﻮَّﺽَ ﺇِﻟَﻲَّ ﻋَﺒْﺪِﻱ ﻓَﺈِﺫَﺍ ﻗَﺎﻝَ : ﴿ﺇِﻳَّﺎﻙَ ﻧَﻌْﺒُﺪُ ﻭَﺇِﻳَّﺎﻙَ ﻧَﺴْﺘَﻌِﻴﻦُ ﴾، ﻗَﺎﻝَ : ﻫﺬَﺍ ﺑَﻴْﻨِﻲ ﻭَﺑَﻴْﻦَ ﻋَﺒْﺪِﻱ ﻭَﻟِﻌَﺒْﺪِﻱ ﻣَﺎ ﺳَﺄَﻝَ، ﻓَﺈِﺫَﺍ ﻗَﺎﻝَ : ﴿ﺍﻫْﺪِﻧَﺎ ﺍﻟﺼِّﺮَﺍﻁَ ﺍﻟْﻤُﺴْﺘَﻘِﻴﻢَ - ﺻِﺮَﺍﻁَ ﺍﻟَّﺬِﻳﻦَ ﺃَﻧْﻌَﻤْﺖَ ﻋَﻠَﻴْﻬِﻢْ ﻏَﻴْﺮِ ﺍﻟْﻤَﻐْﻀُﻮﺏِ ﻋَﻠَﻴْﻬِﻢْ ﻭَﻻَ ﺍﻟﻀَّﺂﻟِّﻴﻦَ ﴾، ﻗَﺎﻝَ ﺍﻟﻠﻪُ : ﻫﺬَﺍ ﻟِﻌَﺒْﺪِﻱ ﻭَﻟِﻌَﺒْﺪِﻱ ﻣَﺎ ﺳَﺄَﻝَ » (Allah, the Exalted, said, `I have divided the prayer
(Al-Fatihah) into two halves between Myself and My
servant, and My servant shall have what he asks for.'
If he says,
ﺑِﺴْﻢِ ﺍﻟﻠَّﻪِ ﺍﻟﺮَّﺣْﻤَـﻦِ ﺍﻟﺮَّﺣِﻴﻢِ ) 1 In the Name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful.)
﴿ﺍﻟْﺤَﻤْﺪُ ﻟﻠَّﻪِ ﺭَﺏِّ ﺍﻟْﻌَـﻠَﻤِﻴﻦَ﴾ ) 2 All praise and thanks be to Allah, the Lord of existence.)
Allah says, `My servant has praised Me.' When the
servant says,
﴿ﺍﻟﺮَّﺣْﻤَـﻦِ ﺍﻟﺮَّﺣِﻴﻢِ ﴾ ) 3 The Most Gracious, the Most Merciful.) Allah says, `My servant has glorified Me.' When he
says,
﴿ﻣَـﻠِﻚِ ﻳَﻮْﻡِ ﺍﻟﺪِّﻳﻦِ ﴾ ) 4 The Owner of the Day of Recompense.) Allah says, `My servant has glorified Me,' or `My servant has
related all matters to Me.' When he says,
﴿ﺇِﻳَّﺎﻙَ ﻧَﻌْﺒُﺪُ ﻭَﺇِﻳَّﺎﻙَ ﻧَﺴْﺘَﻌِﻴﻦُ ﴾ ) 5 You (alone) we worship, and You (alone) we ask for help.) Allah says, `This is between Me and My
servant, and My servant shall acquire what he
sought.' When he says,
﴿ ﺍﻫْﺪِﻧَﺎ ﺍﻟﺼِّﺮَﺍﻁَ ﺍﻟْﻤُﺴْﺘَﻘِﻴﻢَ - ﺻِﺮَﺍﻁَ ﺍﻟَّﺬِﻳﻦَ ﺃَﻧْﻌَﻤْﺖَ ﻋَﻠَﻴْﻬِﻢْ ﻏَﻴْﺮِ ﺍﻟْﻤَﻐْﻀُﻮﺏِ ﻋَﻠَﻴْﻬِﻢْ ﻭَﻻَ ﺍﻟﻀَّﺂﻟِّﻴﻦَ ﴾ ) 6 Guide us to the straight path.) (7 The way of those on whom You have granted Your grace, not (the way)
of those who earned Your anger, nor of those who
went astray), Allah says, `This is for My servant, and
My servant shall acquire what he asked for.').'' These are the words of An-Nasa'i, while both Muslim
and An-Nasa'i collected the following wording, "A half
of it is for Me and a half for My servant, and My
servant shall acquire what he asked for.''
Explaining this Hadith The last Hadith used the word ﴿Salah﴾ `prayer' in reference to reciting the Qur'an, (Al-Fatihah in this
case) just as Allah said in another Ayah,
﴿ﻭَﻻَ ﺗَﺠْﻬَﺮْ ﺑِﺼَﻼﺗِﻚَ ﻭَﻻَ ﺗُﺨَﺎﻓِﺖْ ﺑِﻬَﺎ ﻭَﺍﺑْﺘَﻎِ ﺑَﻴْﻦَ ﺫَﻟِﻚَ ﺳَﺒِﻴﻼً ﴾ (And offer your Salah (prayer) neither aloud nor in a
low voice, but follow a way between.) meaning, with
your recitation of the Qur'an, as the Sahih related from
Ibn `Abbas. Also, in the last Hadith, Allah said, "I
have divided the prayer between Myself and My
servant into two halves, a half for Me and a half for My servant. My servant shall have what he asked
for.'' Allah next explained the division that involves
reciting Al-Fatihah, demonstrating the importance of
reciting the Qur'an during the prayer, which is one of
the prayer's greatest pillars. Hence, the word `prayer'
was used here although only a part of it was actually being referred to, that is, reciting the Qur'an. Similarly,
the word `recite' was used where prayer is meant, as
demonstrated by Allah's statement,
﴿ﻭَﻗُﺮْﺀَﺍﻥَ ﺍﻟْﻔَﺠْﺮِ ﺇِﻥَّ ﻗُﺮْﺀَﺍﻥَ ﺍﻟْﻔَﺠْﺮِ ﻛَﺎﻥَ ﻣَﺸْﻬُﻮﺩًﺍ ﴾ (And recite the Qur'an in the early dawn.Verily, the
recitation of the Qur'an in the early dawn is ever
witnessed.) in reference to the Fajr prayer. The Two
Sahihs recorded that the angels of the night and the
day attend this prayer. Reciting Al-Fatihah is required in Every Rak`ah of the
Prayer All of these facts testify to the requirement that
reciting the Qur'an (Al-Fatihah) in the prayer is
required, and there is a consensus between the
scholars on this ruling. The Hadith that we mentioned
also testifies to this fact, for the Prophet said,
«ﻣَﻦْ ﺻَﻠَّﻰ ﺻَﻠَﺎﺓً ﻟَﻢْ ﻳَﻘْﺮَﺃْ ﻓِﻴﻬَﺎ ﺑِﺄُﻡِّ ﺍﻟْﻘُﺮْﺁﻥِ ﻓَﻬِﻲَ ﺧِﺪَﺍﺝٌ » (Whoever performs any prayer in which he did not
recite Umm Al-Qur'an, his prayer is incomplete.)
Also, the Two Sahihs recorded that `Ubadah bin As-
Samit said that the Messenger of Allah said,
«ﻟَﺎ ﺻَﻠَﺎﺓَ ﻟِﻤَﻦْ ﻟَﻢْ ﻳَﻘْﺮَﺃْ ﺑِﻔَﺎﺗِﺤَﺔِ ﺍﻟْﻜِﺘَﺎﺏِ » (There is no prayer for whoever does not recite the
Opening of the Book.)
Also, the Sahihs of Ibn Khuzaymah and Ibn Hibban
recorded that Abu Hurayrah said that the Messenger
of Allah said,
«ﻟَﺎ ﺗُﺠْﺰِﺉُ ﺻَﻠَﺎﺓٌ ﻟَﺎ ﻳُﻘْﺮَﺃُ ﻓِﻴﻬَﺎ ﺑِﺄُﻡِّ ﺍﻟْﻘُﺮﺁﻥِ » (The prayer during which Umm Al-Qur'an is not recited
is invalid.)
There are many other Hadiths on this subject.
Therefore, reciting the Opening of the Book, during
the prayer by the Imam and those praying behind him,
is required in every prayer, and in every Rak`ah. The Tafsir of Isti`adhah (seeking Refuge) Allah said,
﴿ ﺧُﺬِ ﺍﻟْﻌَﻔْﻮَ ﻭَﺃْﻣُﺮْ ﺑِﺎﻟْﻌُﺮْﻑِ ﻭَﺃَﻋْﺮِﺽ ﻋَﻦِ ﺍﻟْﺠَـﻬِﻠِﻴﻦَ - ﻭَﺇِﻣَّﺎ ﻳَﻨَﺰَﻏَﻨَّﻚَ ﻣِﻦَ ﺍﻟﺸَّﻴْﻄَـﻦِ ﻧَﺰْﻍٌ ﻓَﺎﺳْﺘَﻌِﺬْ ﺑِﺎﻟﻠَّﻪِ ﺇِﻧَّﻪُ ﺳَﻤِﻴﻊٌ ﻋَﻠِﻴﻢٌ ﴾ (Show forgiveness, enjoin what is good, and stay
away from the foolish (i.e. don't punish them). And if
an evil whisper comes to you from Shaytan (Satan),
then seek refuge with Allah. Verily, He is Hearing,
Knowing) (7:199-200),
﴿ ﺍﺩْﻓَﻊْ ﺑِﺎﻟَّﺘِﻰ ﻫِﻰَ ﺃَﺣْﺴَﻦُ ﺍﻟﺴَّﻴِّﺌَﺔَ ﻧَﺤْﻦُ ﺃَﻋْﻠَﻢُ ﺑِﻤَﺎ ﻳَﺼِﻔُﻮﻥَ - ﻭَﻗُﻞْ ﺭَّﺏِّ ﺃَﻋُﻮﺫُ ﺑِﻚَ ﻣِﻦْ ﻫَﻤَﺰَﺍﺕِ ﺍﻟﺸَّﻴـﻄِﻴﻦِ - ﻭَﺃَﻋُﻮﺫُ ﺑِﻚَ ﺭَﺏِّ ﺃَﻥ ﻳَﺤْﻀُﺮُﻭﻥِ ﴾ (Repel evil with that which is better. We are Best-
Acquainted with things they utter. And say: "My Lord!
I seek refuge with You from the whisperings
(suggestions) of the Shayatin (devils). And I seek
refuge with You, My Lord! lest they should come near
me.'') (23:96-98) and, ﴿ﻭَﻻَ ﺗَﺴْﺘَﻮِﻯ ﺍﻟْﺤَﺴَﻨَﺔُ ﻭَﻻَ ﺍﻟﺴَّﻴِّﺌَﺔُ ﺍﺩْﻓَﻊْ ﺑِﺎﻟَّﺘِﻰ ﻫِﻰَ ﺃَﺣْﺴَﻦُ ﻓَﺈِﺫَﺍ ﺍﻟَّﺬِﻯ ﺑَﻴْﻨَﻚَ ﻭَﺑَﻴْﻨَﻪُ ﻋَﺪَﺍﻭَﺓٌ ﻛَﺄَﻧَّﻪُ ﻭَﻟِﻰٌّ ﺣَﻤِﻴﻢٌ - ﻭَﻣَﺎ ﻳُﻠَﻘَّﺎﻫَﺎ ﺇِﻻَّ ﺍﻟَّﺬِﻳﻦَ ﺻَﺒَﺮُﻭﺍْ ﻭَﻣَﺎ ﻳُﻠَﻘَّﺎﻫَﺂ ﺇِﻻَّ ﺫُﻭ ﺣَﻆِّ ﻋَﻈِﻴﻢٍ - ﻭَﺇِﻣَّﺎ ﻳَﻨﺰَﻏَﻨَّﻚَ ﻣِﻦَ ﺍﻟﺸَّﻴْﻄَـﻦِ ﻧَﺰْﻍٌ ﻓَﺎﺳْﺘَﻌِﺬْ ﺑِﺎﻟﻠَّﻪِ ﺇِﻧَّﻪُ ﻫُﻮَ ﺍﻟﺴَّﻤِﻴﻊُ ﺍﻟْﻌَﻠِﻴﻢُ ﴾ (Repel (an evil) with one which is better, then verily he
with whom there was enmity between you, (will
become) as though he was a close friend. But none is
granted it except those who are patient ـ and none is granted it except the owner of the great portion (of
happiness in the Hereafter, i.e. Paradise and of a high
moral character) in this world. And if an evil whisper
from Shaytan tries to turn you away (O Muhammad )
(from doing good), then seek refuge in Allah. Verily,
He is the Hearing, the Knowing.) (41:34-36) These are the only three Ayat that carry this meaning. Allah
commanded that we be lenient human enemy, so that
his soft nature might make him an ally and a
supporter. He also commanded that we seek refuge
from the satanic enemy, because the devil does not
relent in his enmity if we treat him with kindness and leniency. The devil only seeks the destruction of the
Son of Adam due to the vicious enmity and hatred he
has always had towards man's father, Adam. Allah
said,
﴿ﻳَـﺒَﻨِﻰ ﺁﺩَﻡَ ﻻَ ﻳَﻔْﺘِﻨَﻨَّﻜُﻢُ ﺍﻟﺸَّﻴْﻄَـﻦُ ﻛَﻤَﺂ ﺃَﺧْﺮَﺝَ ﺃَﺑَﻮَﻳْﻜُﻢ ﻣِّﻦَ ﺍﻟْﺠَﻨَّﺔِ﴾ (O Children of Adam! Let not Shaytan deceive you, as
he got your parents ﴿Adam and Hawwa' (Eve)﴾ out of Paradise) (7:27),
﴿ﺇِﻥَّ ﺍﻟﺸَّﻴْﻄَـﻦَ ﻟَﻜُﻢْ ﻋَﺪُﻭٌّ ﻓَﺎﺗَّﺨِﺬُﻭﻩُ ﻋَﺪُﻭّﺍً ﺇِﻧَّﻤَﺎ ﻳَﺪْﻋُﻮ ﺣِﺰْﺑَﻪُ ﻟِﻴَﻜُﻮﻧُﻮﺍْ ﻣِﻦْ ﺃَﺻْﺤَـﺐِ ﺍﻟﺴَّﻌِﻴﺮِ ﴾
(Surely, Shaytan is an enemy to you, so take (treat)
him as an enemy. He only invites his Hizb (followers)
that they may become the dwellers of the blazing
Fire) (35:6) and,
﴿ﺃَﻓَﺘَﺘَّﺨِﺬُﻭﻧَﻪُ ﻭَﺫُﺭِّﻳَّﺘَﻪُ ﺃَﻭْﻟِﻴَﺂﺀَ ﻣِﻦ ﺩُﻭﻧِﻰ ﻭَﻫُﻢْ ﻟَﻜُﻢْ ﻋَﺪُﻭٌّ ﺑِﺌْﺲَ ﻟِﻠﻈَّـﻠِﻤِﻴﻦَ ﺑَﺪَﻻً﴾ (Will you then take him (Iblis) and his offspring as
protectors and helpers rather than Me while they are
enemies to you What an evil is the exchange for the
Zalimun (polytheists, and wrongdoers, etc)) (18:50).
The devil assured Adam that he wanted to advise
him, but he was lying. Hence, how would he treat us after he had vowed,
﴿ﻓَﺒِﻌِﺰَّﺗِﻚَ ﻷﻏْﻮِﻳَﻨَّﻬُﻢْ ﺃَﺟْﻤَﻌِﻴﻨَﺈِﻻَّ ﻋِﺒَﺎﺩَﻙَ ﻣِﻨْﻬُﻢُ ﺍﻟْﻤُﺨْﻠَﺼِﻴﻦَ﴾ ("By Your might, then I will surely, mislead them all.
Except Your chosen servants among them (i.e.
faithful, obedient, true believers of Islamic
Monotheism).'') (38:82-83)
Also, Allah said,
﴿ﻓَﺈِﺫَﺍ ﻗَﺮَﺃْﺕَ ﺍﻟْﻘُﺮْﺀَﺍﻥَ ﻓَﺎﺳْﺘَﻌِﺬْ ﺑِﺎﻟﻠَّﻪِ ﻣِﻦَ ﺍﻟﺸَّﻴْﻄَـﻦِ ﺍﻟﺮَّﺟِﻴﻢِ ﴾ ﴿ﺇِﻧَّﻪُ ﻟَﻴْﺲَ ﻟَﻪُ ﺳُﻠْﻄَﺎﻥٌ ﻋَﻠَﻰ ﺍﻟَّﺬِﻳﻦَ ﺀَﺍﻣَﻨُﻮﺍْ ﻭَﻋَﻠَﻰ ﺭَﺑِّﻬِﻢْ ﻳَﺘَﻮَﻛَّﻠُﻮﻥَ - ﺇِﻧَّﻤَﺎ ﺳُﻠْﻄَـﻨُﻪُ
ﻋَﻠَﻰ ﺍﻟَّﺬِﻳﻦَ ﻳَﺘَﻮَﻟَّﻮْﻧَﻪُ ﻭَﺍﻟَّﺬِﻳﻦَ ﻫُﻢ ﺑِﻪِ ﻣُﺸْﺮِﻛُﻮﻥَ ﴾ (So when you ﴿want to﴾ recite the Qur'an, seek refuge with Allah from Shaytan, the outcast (the cursed one).
Verily, he has no power over those who believe and
put their trust only in their Lord (Allah). His power is
only over those who obey and follow him (Satan), and
those who join partners with Him.) (16:98-100).