Al-Fâtiḥah (Surah 1)

Introduction

This Meccan sûrah, which is recited a total of seventeen times in the five daily prayers, serves as the cornerstone of the Quran. It sums up the relationship between the Creator and His creation, Allah’s undisputed authority in this world and the Hereafter, and humanity’s constant dependence on Him for guidance and assistance. The underlying theme is to acknowledge that He is the only god worthy of worship—a simple truth which the disbelievers fail to grasp. All fundamental principles encapsulated in this sûrah are spelled out in the rest of the Quran