Surah Al-Fatihah

Name

This Surah is named Al-Fatihah because of its subject-matter. Fatihah is that which opens a subject or a book or any other thing. In other words, Al-Fatihah is a sort of preface.

Period of Revelation

It is one of the very earliest Revelations to the Holy Prophet. As a matter of fact, we learn from authentic Traditions that it was the first complete Surah which was revealed to Muhammad (Allah's peace be upon him). Before this, only a few miscellaneous verses were revealed which form parts of `Alaq, Muzzammil, Muddaththir, etc.

Theme

This Surah is in fact a prayer which Allah has taught to all those who want to make a study of His book. It has been placed at the very beginning of the book to teach this lesson to the reader: if you sincerely want to benefit from the Quran, you should offer this prayer to the Lord of the Universe.

This preface is meant to create a strong desire in the heart of the reader to seek guidance from the Lord of the Universe, Who alone can grant it. Thus Al-Fatihah indirectly teaches that the best thing for a man is to pray for guidance to the straight path, to study the Quran with the mental attitude of a seeker- after-truth and to recognize the fact that the Lord of the Universe is the source of all knowledge. He should, therefore, begin the study of the Quran with a prayer to him for guidance.

From this theme, it becomes clear that the real relation between Al-Fatihah and the Quran is not that of an introduction to a book but that of a prayer and its answer. Al-Fatihah is the prayer from the servant and the Quran is the answer from the Master to his prayer. The servant prays to Allah to show him guidance and the Master places the whole of the Quran before him in answer to his prayer, as if to say, "This is the Guidance you begged from Me."

Source: Sayyid Abul Ala Maududi - Tafhim al-Qur'an - The Meaning of the Quran

Surah with Translation / Surah Al-Fatihah dan Terjemahan

SAHIH INTERNATIONAL

In the name of Allah , the Entirely Merciful, the Especially Merciful.

MALAY

Dengan nama Allah, Yang Maha Pemurah, lagi Maha Mengasihani.

SAHIH INTERNATIONAL

[All] praise is [due] to Allah , Lord of the worlds -

MALAY

Segala puji tertentu bagi Allah, Tuhan yang memelihara dan mentadbirkan sekalian alam.

SAHIH INTERNATIONAL

The Entirely Merciful, the Especially Merciful,

MALAY

Yang Maha Pemurah, lagi Maha Mengasihani.

SAHIH INTERNATIONAL

Sovereign of the Day of Recompense.

MALAY

Yang Menguasai pemerintahan hari Pembalasan (hari Akhirat).

SAHIH INTERNATIONAL

It is You we worship and You we ask for help.

MALAY

Engkaulah sahaja (Ya Allah) Yang Kami sembah, dan kepada Engkaulah sahaja kami memohon pertolongan.

SAHIH INTERNATIONAL

Guide us to the straight path -

MALAY

Tunjukilah kami jalan yang lurus.

SAHIH INTERNATIONAL

The path of those upon whom You have bestowed favor, not of those who have evoked [Your] anger or of those who are astray.

MALAY

Iaitu jalan orang-orang yang Engkau telah kurniakan nikmat kepada mereka, bukan (jalan) orang-orang yang Engkau telah murkai, dan bukan pula (jalan) orang-orang yang sesat.

credit to : quran.com