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3 Meanings of Surah Al-Fatihah According to Its Name

Heri Mahbub

June 1, 2024

With seven verses, the meaning of Surah Al-Fatihah varies depending on its name. It is the opening chapter of the Quran and is obligatory for Muslims to recite during prayers.

Complete 7 Verses of Surah Al-Fatihah

There is a popular opinion that Al-Fatihah is a Meccan surah (revealed before the migration to Mecca), while others believe it was revealed in Medina. Regardless of the differing interpretations, its content encompasses the fundamentals of religion, praise, and a request for help on the straight path from Allah SWT.

READ ALSO: Exploring the Meaning of Makkiyah and Madaniyah Letters in the Al-Quran
READ ALSO: The History of the Revelation of the Quran in 2 Periods, Here's the Explanation

3 Meanings of Surah Al-Fatihah According to Its Name

Surah Al-Fatihah has many names, even hadith scholars say there are dozens of names to show its greatness in the Islamic religion. Below are 3 names of Surah Al-Fatihah and their meanings.

1.      Al-Fatihah or Fatihatul Buku

Al-Fatihah itself means the opening of the book. Meanwhile, the term Fatihatul Buku means the opening of the Koran. This term is taken from the words of the Prophet Muhammad SAW.

The meaning of the letter Al-Fatihah is in accordance with what is explained in the book Kasyifah as-Saja Syarah Safinah an-Naja by Sheikh Muhammad Nawawi al-Bantani al-Jawi, which reads:

وَتَجِبُ فِيْ كُلِّ رَكْعَةٍ سَوَاءٌ الصَّلاَةُ السِّرِّيَّةُ وَالْجَهْرِيَّةُ وَسَوَاءٌ اْلإِمَامُ وَالْمَأْمُوْمُ وَالْمُنْفَرِدُ لِخَبَرِ الصَّحِيْحَيْنِ

لاَ صَلاَةَ لِمَنْ لَمْ يَقْرَأْ بِفَاتِحَةِ الْكِتَابِ

This means "(Reading Al-Fatihah) is obligatory in every rak'ah, whether praying slowly (Dhuhr and Asr), or loudly (Maghrib, Isha', Fajr and Friday), as an imam, in the congregation or alone, in accordance with the hadith narrated by Bukhari Muslim: "It is not valid to pray for someone who does not read al-Fatihah."

It's called the opening because it's based on the of the Quran written

The correct way for the congregation to recite Al-Fatihah is when the imam has finished reciting Al-Fatihah and then say "Amen." It is best for the congregation not to join the imam in reciting Al-Fatihah, but to wait for the imam to finish and then pause for a moment.

READ ALSO: Procedures for the Istikharah prayer: Intention, Procedure and Recitation

2.      As-Sab'ul Matsani (7 Verses That Are Repeated)

Al-Fatihah juga disebut dengan nama As-Sab’ul Matsani. Makna surat Al-Fatihah tersebut artinya 7 ayat yang berulang-ulang. Disebut 7x diulang karena Al-Fatihah dibaca berulang kali setiap rakaat salat.

As taken from the word of Allah Surah Al-Hijr: 87 which reads as follows:

وَلَقَدْ اٰتَيْنٰكَ سَبْعًا مِّنَ الْمَثَانِيْ وَالْقُرْاٰنَ الْعَظِيْمَ

Meaning: "Indeed, we have given you seven verses to recite repeatedly and the great Koran."

Namun Al-Hafizh Ibnu hajar rahimahullah juga menjelaskan bahwa ulama sendiri berbeda pendapat mengenai makna surat Al-Fatihah As-Sab’ul Matsani, namun semuanya sama-sama diambil dari kata Matsani:

· Seven verses are repeated in each rakaat of prayer.

· Surah containing praise to Allah Ta'ala.

· Surahs that were revealed specifically for Muslims and were not revealed to previous communities.

3.      Ummul Quran (Induk Al-Quran)

Ummul Kitab means the mother of the book because it contains all the teachings in the Quran, both about divinity, worship, nature, the afterlife, and history.

When viewed from a linguistic perspective, the word "umm" means "parent." So it is called ummul quran because it is the origin or source, like the mother who comes before the child and is the source of its birth.

The meaning of the letter Al-Fatihah as the mother of the Koran was also explained by the Prophet Muhammad SAW in a hadith narrated by Abu Hurairah RA which reads as follows:

God bless you فَهِيَ خِدَاجٌ– ثَلاَثًا – غَيْرُ تَمَامٍ

Meaning: "Whoever prays and does not read Ummul Qur'an, then his prayer is incomplete - he repeats it three times - it is incomplete" (Saheeh Muslim, Hadith no. 598).

Apart from that, the Prophet Muhammad SAW also said through a hadith narrated by Ubadah bin Shamit, namely:

لَا صَلَاةَ لِمَنْ لَمْ يَقْرَأْ بِفَاتِحَةِ الْكِتَابِ

Meaning: "The prayer of a person who does not read the Al-Fatihah letter is not valid" (Shahih Bukhari, Hadith number 714).

READ ALSO: Procedures for Praying While Traveling and the Evidence for It

Dari makna surat Al-Fatihah tersebut dapat diketahui bahwa Al Fatihah adalah syarat wajib salat yang sah. Dapat dilihat dari kata “lâ shalâta” yang artinya nafyus sihhah atau tidak sah.

Meanwhile, the word "khidâj" means an-naqshu wal fasâd, or lacking and defective. Therefore, reciting Al-Fatihah is obligatory for every Muslim when performing prayers.

Al-Quran surah Al-Fatihah is not just an opening prayer in the prayer service. There is the meaning of life, a symbol of devotion, a request for guidance, guidance on the straight path, and a reminder of error in the meaning of Surah Al-Fatihah.

 

And God knows best

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