Contents
Introductions
The Prophet ﷺ was sitting with the archangel Jibril when it happened. A sound—clear and loud and yet inexplicable—roared down from above. The Prophet ﷺ looked around, but his angelic companion simply lifted his head and announced: “A gate has just opened in heaven. It has never been opened before.”
No sooner had Jibril uttered these words to the Prophet ﷺ than a figure appeared in their presence. Jibril said, regarding the visitor: “This is an angel who has just come down to earth. He has never come down before.” The angel, this first-time visitor newly descended through a newly-opened gate in the heavens, greeted the two blessed beings before him—one human, one angel.
“Rejoice with two lights given to you,” he said, addressing the Prophet ﷺ. “They were not given to any prophet before you: the opening (fātiḥa) of the Book [i.e., the Qur’an], and the closing [verses] of Surah al-Baqara. Never will you recite a word from them without being granted your supplications (du‘a’).” As with all matters of the unseen, this moment cannot be truly captured by language, transcending our physical and experiential understanding. Yet, what we are able to grasp is the momentous honor that was bestowed upon Allah’s Beloved ﷺ—and, in turn, his followers—by the exclusive and unprecedented opening of a gate to one of the seven heavens,
through which the elevated virtues (faḍāʾil) of the Qur’anic passages specified by the angel—the opening of the Book and the concluding verses of Surah al-Baqara—were declared. “The opening of the Book,” of course, refers to none other than Surah al-Fatiha—the one surah (chapter) whose verses we recite in every rakʿa of every prayer.
through which the elevated virtues (faḍāʾil) of the Qur’anic passages specified by the angel—the opening of the Book and the concluding verses of Surah al-Baqara—were declared. “The opening of the Book,” of course, refers to none other than Surah al-Fatiha—the one surah (chapter) whose verses we recite in every rakʿa of every prayer.
Surah al-Fatiha
The sailor oftentimes needs a simple but clear source of guidance, a piercing light that shines as far as necessary to reach the safe shores of salvation. While the rest of the Qur’an certainly helps the lost seeker of truth, the opening chapter, Surah al-Fatiha, suffices as the ultimate compass of salvation, helping its travelers attain the pleasure of Allah, moral guidance in this life, and a blissful eternal destination.
Surah al-Fatiha is the greatest surah in the Qur’an, the foundation of Islam, the summary of truth, a healing for illnesses, a comfort for worries, a protection, and a fortress. Al-Fatiha, an unrivaled divine revelation to the final nation, is recited at least seventeen times a day by Muslims praying their five obligatory prayers, a consistent conversation with the Creator and a prescription for the hearts of creation.
Names of Surah al-Fatiha
The sailor oftentimes needs a simple but clear source of guidance, a piercing light that shines as far as necessary to reach the safe shores of salvation. While the rest of the Qur’an certainly helps the lost seeker of truth, the opening chapter, Surah al-Fatiha, suffices as the ultimate compass of salvation, helping its travelers attain the pleasure of Allah, moral guidance in this life, and a blissful eternal destination.
Surah al-Fatiha is the greatest surah in the Qur’an, the foundation of Islam, the summary of truth, a healing for illnesses, a comfort for worries, a protection, and a fortress. Al-Fatiha, an unrivaled divine revelation to the final nation, is recited at least seventeen times a day by Muslims praying their five obligatory prayers, a consistent conversation with the Creator and a prescription for the hearts of creation.
Virtues of Surah al-Fatiha
Having become acquainted with some of the core meanings of Surah al-Fatiha above, this section will now present four main virtues of the surah, each established in authentic reports, alongside commentary and analysis to further elucidate their significance. First, Surah al-Fatiha is affirmed as the greatest surah of the Qur’an, surpassing all others in its spiritual depth and theological clarity. Second, its revelation was unprecedented, bestowed as a divine gift exclusively upon the ummah of the Prophet ﷺ, elevating its status far beyond what any previous community had received. Third, no ritual prayer (salah) is considered valid without its recitation,
making it an indispensable component of daily worship and the spiritual rhythm of the believer’s life. Finally, Surah al-Fatiha functions as a cure and treatment for illnesses, both physical and spiritual, embodying the Qur’an’s holistic nature and reinforcing the believer’s reliance on Allah’s mercy and guidance. Each of these four virtues will be explored in detail, drawing upon authentic texts and scholarly interpretations.
Surah al-Fatiha is the greatest surah in the Qur’an, the foundation of Islam, the summary of truth, a healing for illnesses, a comfort for worries, a protection, and a fortress. Al-Fatiha, an unrivaled divine revelation to the final nation, is recited at least seventeen times a day by Muslims praying their five obligatory prayers, a consistent conversation with the Creator and a prescription for the hearts of creation.
