We recite Surah Al Fatihah over 17 times a day, but how often do we stop and ponder over the greatness of this Chapter. Here is a short list of seven amazing virtues of this short yet incredibly powerful chapter of Quran.
- It is the greatest chapter in the Quran
When the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ said to a companion that he would teach him the greatest chapter in the Quran, he recited Surah Al Fatihah.
Narrated Abu Sa`id Al-Mu’alla
While I was praying, the Prophet called me but I did not respond to his call. Later I said,
“Oh Allah’s Apostle! I was praying.” He said, “Didn’t Allah say:
‘O you who believe! Give your response to Allah (by obeying Him) and to His Apostle when he calls you’?”
Quran (8.24)
He then said,
“Shall I not teach you the most superior Surah in the Qur’an?” He said, ‘(It is), ‘Praise be to Allah, the Lord of the worlds. ‘ (i.e., Surat Al-Fatiha) which consists of seven repeatedly recited Verses and the Magnificent Qur’an which was given to me.”
Sahih Al Bukhari
- It is a pillar of the prayer
The Prophet Muhammad ﷺ said that
“Whoever does not recite Surah Al Fatihah in his prayer, his prayer is invalid.”
Sahih Al Bukhari
- It is the Mother of the Quran
The Prophet ﷺ said that Al Fatihah is
“the Mother of the Quran, the Mother of the Book, the Seven Oft-Repeated Verses and the Great recitation.”
Tirmidhi
- It is a cure for disease
A companion once recited Al-Fatihah over a scorpion bite, to which the Prophet commanded him saying
“How did you know it was a Ruqyah (cure)?”.
Sahih Al Bukhari
- It was sent from Heaven as a light
An Angel addressed the Prophet ﷺ saying,
“Rejoice in two lights brought to you which have not been brought to any prophet before you, Al-Fatihah and the last verses of Al- Baqarah”.
Ibn ‘Abbas narrated:
“While Jibril was with the Messenger of Allah, he heard a noise from above. Jibril lifted his sight to the sky and said: “This is a door in the Heavens being opened, and it has never been opened before now.” An Angel descended from that door and came to the Prophet and said: “Receive the glad tidings of two lights that you have been given, which no other Prophet before you was given: the Opening of the Book (Al Fatiha), and the last verses of ‘al-Baqarah.’ You will not read a letter of them except that you will gain its benefit.”Sahih Muslim
- It is the seven oft-repeated verses
Surah Al Fatihah is the seven oft-repeated verses as mentioned in Surah Al Hijr, Verse 87. This is because it is repeated in every unit of prayer.
- It is a cure for the heart
This Chapter contains a supplication for protection from misguidance and from the anger of Allah. This thus protects the heart from corrupt knowledge and evil intentions.
The hidden cure to both these illnesses is also found in the verse
“You (Oh Allah) we worship and from You do we seek help”.