Sura Fatiha / The Opening Sura (¨The Book¨) – Warsh Recitation – English Quran Translation

1. THE OPENING SURA (THE BOOK)

In the name of Allah, the Merciful, the Compassionate*.

* This expression, known as “al-basmala”, heads all the suras of the Koran, with the exception of number nine, at-Tauba.

It should be understood: “I begin in or with the name of Allah”. Or an oath: “I swear by the name of Allah!

There is disagreement as to whether or not it is a verse of the Qur’an, except within the Sura of the Ants, verse 30, where it is self-evident. For Imam Malik it is not a verse either of the sura “al-Fatiḥa” or of any other of those it heads. Abdullah Ibn al-Mubarak, says it is a verse in every sura. And Imam ash-Shafi’ says it is a verse in Sura al-Fatiḥa, but not at the beginning of the others].

(1) Praise to Allah*, the Lord* of the worlds*.

* Praise belongs to Allah, it is from and for Allah. This implies that it comes from Him and He alone deserves it. It is significant to note that Allah begins His book by praising Himself. So is the fact that the name of His Messenger, Muḥammad (the highly praised), to whom Allah give His grace and peace, comes from the root of al-ḥamd, praise].

* In Arabic “Rabb” whose root contains the idea of nurturing, caring for something until it reaches maturity. “Rabb” implies that creation depends in all its phases and at all times on Him].

* Arabic “al-‘alamin”. It designates everything that exists except Allah. Its linguistic root is the same as the nouns “‘alam” or “‘alámah” which mean sign or signal, alluding to the fact that every thing in existence is itself a sign, a sign, pointing to its Creator and Originator.

There are commentators who explain that it refers to the people of every age, based on the meaning it seems to have elsewhere in the Qur’an. In this sense, Ibn ‘Abbas says that it is the jinn and men. And Abu Sa’id al-Khudri said that Allah has created forty thousand worlds, one of which is our world].

(2) The Merciful, the Compassionate*.

* [In Arabic “Raḥman” and “Raḥim”, which are two attributes of Allah, coming from the root “Raḥima”, whose noun “raḥmah” means will to do good and mercy. “Raḥman” implies that this will to good includes all creatures without distinction. In “Raḥim” it is more specific to believers and the afterlife. “Raḥman,” on the other hand, is a name exclusive to Allah, whereas “Raḥim” can be applied to a human being.

(3) The King of the Day of Retribution*.

* The day of accountability and remuneration for actions. In Arabic it is “din”, the same word that is used when we say “the din of Islam”, referring to the religion, and which in other verses has been translated as “practice of worship”. It is the day on which the whole “din” is made manifest, which is the worship due to Allah for which we have been created].

(4) You alone do we worship*, You alone do we look to for help.

* The root of what we translate as worship means in its origin humility, submission, and is synonymous with obedience; it implies on the part of the servant, the recognition of the Oneness of his Lord, without associating anything with Him, and acting according to that which pleases Him. This is the meaning it has throughout the Qur’an].

(5) Lead us in the straight path,

(6) the way of those you have favored,

(7) not that of those who are the cause of wrath, nor of those who go astray.

—

Recitation by Hafith Bashir Castiñeira Gamo.

Translation by Abdelgani Melara Navío.

Riwayat Warsh An Nafia.