Qur'an 1:1–7 · Surah Al-Fatihah · Meccan
The Opening
Arabic text
بِسۡمِ ٱللَّهِ ٱلرَّحۡمَٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ1 ٱلۡحَمۡدُ لِلَّهِ رَبِّ ٱلۡعَٰلَمِينَ2 ٱلرَّحۡمَٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ3 مَٰلِكِ يَوۡمِ ٱلدِّينِ4 إِيَّاكَ نَعۡبُدُ وَإِيَّاكَ نَسۡتَعِينُ5 ٱهۡدِنَا ٱلصِّرَٰطَ ٱلۡمُسۡتَقِيمَ6 صِرَٰطَ ٱلَّذِينَ أَنۡعَمۡتَ عَلَيۡهِمۡ غَيۡرِ ٱلۡمَغۡضُوبِ عَلَيۡهِمۡ وَلَا ٱلضَّآلِّينَ7
Translation · Saheeh International
1In the name of Allah, the Entirely Merciful, the Especially Merciful
2[All] praise is [due] to Allah, Lord of the worlds
3The Entirely Merciful, the Especially Merciful
4Sovereign of the Day of Recompense
5It is You we worship and You we ask for help
6Guide us to the straight path
7The path of those upon whom You have bestowed favor, not of those who have evoked [Your] anger or of those who are astray
Explanation
Our educational summary. It is not part of the Qur'an and is not a tafsir.
The first surah of the Qur'an and the most recited: Muslims recite it in every unit of the formal prayer.
It moves from praise of God's mercy and authority to a personal commitment ('It is You we worship') and ends with the central request of the believer: guidance to the straight path.
Historical and literary context
The Prophet described Al-Fatihah as the greatest surah in the Qur'an.
Source: Sahih al-Bukhari 4474 (graded Sahih) · read on Sunnah.com (opens in a new tab)