Reflections on Surah Al-Fatiha

The Holy Quran should be studied with understanding and reflection as instructed in the Holy Quran
itself. Here, I share my reflections on the very first and the greatest surah of the Holy Quran, Al-Fatiha,
which in essence is also a summary of the entire Quran. I will try to highlight the inherent rationality
underlying the different ayats (verses) of the surah and how the latter ayats (verses) answer or address
the questions or curiosities that naturally arise in the former ones.

The surah begins with the highest praise and thanks for Allah (The One God) and informs us that He is
the Creator, Architect and Governor of all that exists, i.e., all the galaxies, solar systems, planets and all
they contain. The first verse makes perfect rational sense, since the highest praise should indeed be
reserved for the One who caused the Big Bang and then developed and nurtured the entire universe
from its initial stage to what it is now. The first verse implies that all the complex life forms on the planet
Earth were also developed, engineered and designed by Allah (The One God) and hence no doubt the
highest praise and admiration belongs to Him alone.

After the first verse, the mind is moved to know more about the Creator and Governor of all existence,
and the Quran satiates this curiosity in the next verse by stating that Allah (The One God) is infinitely
merciful and compassionate. Indeed, we can see signs of this mercy and compassion in the universe,
e.g., a new-born animal, human or plant needs extreme care and love if it is to survive into adulthood,
and the ultimate source of this extreme care and love is Allah (The One God). Another example of the
infinite compassion of our Creator is the sustenance (elements necessary for survival and development)
that is being continuously provided to all the animals, plants, humans and microbes.

Of course, a question that a rational mind might ask is: if the Creator is infinitely good and
compassionate then why is their evil and suffering in the world? Well, the question is answered in the
next verse, which tells us that Allah (The One God) is also the Master of the Day of Judgment - the day
when evil will be repaid with evil, good with good and whoever wronged another has to compensate the
one he or she wronged. On that day every creature will be resurrected and will be gathered before Allah
(The One God).

So far, in the first three ayats (verses) of Surah Al Fatiha we are informed that Allah (God) has created
everything, He governs everything and when everything is done-and-dusted He will recreate each and
every one of us and gather us before Him. It is impossible for the human mind to fathom such power
and greatness but it is easy to realize that the possessor of such power and greatness should alone be
worshiped (held in awe and reverence) and should alone be sought for help (in each and every matter);
exactly this is being said in the next ayat (verse) says, “You alone we worship, and you alone we ask for
help.”

In the fifth ayat (verse) we are taught the kind of help we should especially seek. We should constantly
ask Allah (The One God) to guide us to the straight path - the best and perfect way to live this life – the
life that will be most pleasing to our Creator. ‘The straight path’ can be derived from the Quran, from
the teachings of Prophet Muhammad (may peace be upon him) and his true followers, which is alluded
to in the second last verse of the surah. In the last part of the surah we are taught to be fearful of falling
into the ways of the people who have earned His wrath (the oppressors and unjust people) and from the
ways of the people who went astray (who misunderstood and misinterpreted the message of the Quran
or teachings of Prophet Muhmmad – may peace be upon him).

The last part of the surah guides our hopes and fears towards the most rational direction, i.e., the only
thing that should matter to us is that the All-Powerful Creator is happy and well-pleased with us and our
mode of living and that He is never angry, dissatisfied or indifferent towards us.