30 Apr 2008
Salam Alaikum everyone. May you all be in the best state of health and faith.
This article I am about to post is written by a very respected and dear brother named truthseeker on the website www.samiyusuf.com .
may ALLAH reward him for his work and kindness. After his permission I am posting his article here. It might seem long but once you start reading it, you will feel more than just blessed.
Surah fateha in Honour of Prophet Muhammad peace be upon him
Posting this article on the auspicious occasion of the birth of our prophet Mohammad S.A.W.W. in the hope that if few people read this I might get Thawab along with them. I know the script is long but still it is not enough to highlight the true stature of our prophet Mohammad S.A.W.W
With eyes as bright as the shining sun, a reality on the lips more brilliant than the light of the sun, a heart more fresh than the flowers of the gardens of Yathrib and Taif, habits and morals more decent than the moon- lit nights of the Hijaz, a mind more brisk than the strong winds, a bewitching tongue, a heart with heavenly light, firm determination like a trenchant sword and heavenly words on the tongue - such was Muhammad son of Abdullah, the prophet of Arabia, the prophet who destroyed the idols which had separated brothers from brothers. The only thing which the cowardly Quraysh desired was money should be transferred from the hands of the nomadic Arabs to their own pockets. Suddenly they heard a voice which shook their nerves. Their hopes were shattered.
(Excerpt from AIM)
Sura Al-Fatihah (The Opening)
In The Name of Allah, The Beneficent, The Merciful
Contents of the Sura
The Holy phrase 'In The Name of Allah,The Beneficent,The Merciful' / bism-il-lah-ir-rahman-ir-rahim / is, in fact, mentioned both at the onset of the Qur'an and at the beginning of every Sura, except Sura 9, (Sura Taubah - Repentance) . And, since the purpose of Allah's Word, i.e. the whole Qur'an, is to guide people; as Sura Al-Ma'idah, No. 5, verses 15-16 say : "...Indeed, there has come to you a light and a clear Book from Allah ", " With it Allah guideth him who follows His pleasure to the ways of peace and safety ..."; therefore, this guidance, being a grant and a fundamental principle, begins with Allah's Holy Name.
This Sura, among all Suras of the Qur'an, has an extraordinary radiance which originates from the following merits :
1. The Tone of the Sura :
This Sura, The Opening, in comparison with other Suras of the Qur'an regarding its tone and melody, has a particular style which is clearly different and extraordinary. The other Suras contain instructions from Allah, Who gives commands and admonishments to His servants, but, in this Sura, His words are uttered on behalf of the servants. In other words, in this Sura, Allah has taught His servants how to supplicate and speak to Him, simply and without a mediator.
2. Al-Fatihah, the Basis of the Qur'an :
It is narrated that the holy Prophet (p.b.u.h.) has said :
" By the One, in Whose hand is my soul, Allah has not sent down a similar Sura to this Sura (Al-Fatihah) , neither in the Turah, nor in the Gospel, nor in the Psalms, nor even in the Qur'an, and it is Umm-ul-Kitab ";(1) which means that it is the basis and origin of all excellence.
In fact, besides referring to the Resurrection, this Sura presents facts concerning the Unity of the Divine Essence, Unity of Attributes, Unity of Divine Acts, and Unity of Worship. It is the essence of the whole meaning of the Qur'an.
It is narrated from Hazrat Ali (a.s.) that :
" All secrets of Allah are in Divine Books; and the contents of all those Divine Books are comprised in the Qur'an;and what is found in the Qur'an is condensed in Sura Al-Fatihah, and what is in Al-Fatihah is gathered in /bismillah /, and what is in / bismillah / is concentrated in /b/, (the first letter of ' Bism-il-lah ') ..." (2)
Based on the entirety of great commentators' statements, it is understood that this tradition indicates clearly the importance of both the Holy Qur'an and /bismillah-ir-rahman-ir-rahim/ in which science and knowledge, from the beginning to the end, is comprised. The interpreter and elucidator of these sciences is the holy Prophet (p.b.u.h.) , and after him there are his true vicegerents including Amir-ul-Mu'mineen Ali (a.s.) . (3)
3. Al-Fatihah, Magnificent Honour of the Prophet (p.b.u.h.) :
Sura Al-Fatihah, more so than the other Suras in the Holy Qur'an, was revealed to the holy Prophet (p.b.u.h.) as a great bounty. It stands on a par with the whole Qur'an. The seven verses in the Sura sum up the whole Qur'an : "And We have bestowed upon thee the Seven Oft-repeated (verses) and the Grand Qur'an " , (Sura Al-Hijr, No. 15, verse 87) . This meaning is also referred to in a narration from Amir-ul-Mu'mineen Ali (a.s.) quoting the Prophet's (p.b.u.h.) tradition who said : " Verily, Allah, the Exalted, has bestowed (His) favours on me particularly for ' The Opening ' (Al-Fatihah) and has positioned it on a par with the whole Grand Qur'an, and surely Fatihat-ul-Kitab (the Opening of the Qur'an) is the dearest (item) in the treasures of the 'Arsh, (Throne of Heaven) .(1)
(1) Majm'-ul-Bayan, vol. 1, p. 17
(2) Makhzan-ul-'Irfan, Commentary, vol. 1, p. 28 & Masabih-ul-Anwar vol. 1,p.435
(3) Manhajus-Sadiqin, vol. 1, p. 90
4. The Importance of its Recitation :
The recitation of this Sura, because of its extreme importance, is frequently emphasized in Islamic traditions and narrations. As for its virtue, it is narrated from the holy Prophet(p.b.u.h.) that: " The reward of any Muslim who recites the Sura ' Opening ', is like that of a person who has recited two thirds of the Qur'an, and so much reward would he receive as if he has given every believing Muslim, man or woman, a free will offering ". (2)
5. The Titles of the Sura :
There are ten titles given to this Sura, as taken from Islamic narrations and commentary books, thus: Fatihat-ul-Kitab, Umm-ul-Kitab, Umm-ul-Qur'an, Sab'-ul-Mathani, Al-Wafiyah, Al-Kafiyah, Ash-Shafiyah, Al-Asas, As-Salat, and Al-Hamd. (3)
* * * *
(1) Al-Burhan Fi Tafsir-il-Qur'an, vol. one,p. 21; & Atyab-ul-Bayan, vol. 1, p.83
(2) Majma'-ul-Bayan, vol. one, p. 17 .
(3) Rauh-ul-Janan, Abul-Futuh Razi, Commentary, vol. one, p. 16
may ALLAH blesss this Muslim Ummah.
Fi aman ALLAH
This article I am about to post is written by a very respected and dear brother named truthseeker on the website www.samiyusuf.com .
may ALLAH reward him for his work and kindness. After his permission I am posting his article here. It might seem long but once you start reading it, you will feel more than just blessed.
Surah fateha in Honour of Prophet Muhammad peace be upon him
Posting this article on the auspicious occasion of the birth of our prophet Mohammad S.A.W.W. in the hope that if few people read this I might get Thawab along with them. I know the script is long but still it is not enough to highlight the true stature of our prophet Mohammad S.A.W.W
With eyes as bright as the shining sun, a reality on the lips more brilliant than the light of the sun, a heart more fresh than the flowers of the gardens of Yathrib and Taif, habits and morals more decent than the moon- lit nights of the Hijaz, a mind more brisk than the strong winds, a bewitching tongue, a heart with heavenly light, firm determination like a trenchant sword and heavenly words on the tongue - such was Muhammad son of Abdullah, the prophet of Arabia, the prophet who destroyed the idols which had separated brothers from brothers. The only thing which the cowardly Quraysh desired was money should be transferred from the hands of the nomadic Arabs to their own pockets. Suddenly they heard a voice which shook their nerves. Their hopes were shattered.
(Excerpt from AIM)
Sura Al-Fatihah (The Opening)
In The Name of Allah, The Beneficent, The Merciful
Contents of the Sura
The Holy phrase 'In The Name of Allah,The Beneficent,The Merciful' / bism-il-lah-ir-rahman-ir-rahim / is, in fact, mentioned both at the onset of the Qur'an and at the beginning of every Sura, except Sura 9, (Sura Taubah - Repentance) . And, since the purpose of Allah's Word, i.e. the whole Qur'an, is to guide people; as Sura Al-Ma'idah, No. 5, verses 15-16 say : "...Indeed, there has come to you a light and a clear Book from Allah ", " With it Allah guideth him who follows His pleasure to the ways of peace and safety ..."; therefore, this guidance, being a grant and a fundamental principle, begins with Allah's Holy Name.
This Sura, among all Suras of the Qur'an, has an extraordinary radiance which originates from the following merits :
1. The Tone of the Sura :
This Sura, The Opening, in comparison with other Suras of the Qur'an regarding its tone and melody, has a particular style which is clearly different and extraordinary. The other Suras contain instructions from Allah, Who gives commands and admonishments to His servants, but, in this Sura, His words are uttered on behalf of the servants. In other words, in this Sura, Allah has taught His servants how to supplicate and speak to Him, simply and without a mediator.
2. Al-Fatihah, the Basis of the Qur'an :
It is narrated that the holy Prophet (p.b.u.h.) has said :
" By the One, in Whose hand is my soul, Allah has not sent down a similar Sura to this Sura (Al-Fatihah) , neither in the Turah, nor in the Gospel, nor in the Psalms, nor even in the Qur'an, and it is Umm-ul-Kitab ";(1) which means that it is the basis and origin of all excellence.
In fact, besides referring to the Resurrection, this Sura presents facts concerning the Unity of the Divine Essence, Unity of Attributes, Unity of Divine Acts, and Unity of Worship. It is the essence of the whole meaning of the Qur'an.
It is narrated from Hazrat Ali (a.s.) that :
" All secrets of Allah are in Divine Books; and the contents of all those Divine Books are comprised in the Qur'an;and what is found in the Qur'an is condensed in Sura Al-Fatihah, and what is in Al-Fatihah is gathered in /bismillah /, and what is in / bismillah / is concentrated in /b/, (the first letter of ' Bism-il-lah ') ..." (2)
Based on the entirety of great commentators' statements, it is understood that this tradition indicates clearly the importance of both the Holy Qur'an and /bismillah-ir-rahman-ir-rahim/ in which science and knowledge, from the beginning to the end, is comprised. The interpreter and elucidator of these sciences is the holy Prophet (p.b.u.h.) , and after him there are his true vicegerents including Amir-ul-Mu'mineen Ali (a.s.) . (3)
3. Al-Fatihah, Magnificent Honour of the Prophet (p.b.u.h.) :
Sura Al-Fatihah, more so than the other Suras in the Holy Qur'an, was revealed to the holy Prophet (p.b.u.h.) as a great bounty. It stands on a par with the whole Qur'an. The seven verses in the Sura sum up the whole Qur'an : "And We have bestowed upon thee the Seven Oft-repeated (verses) and the Grand Qur'an " , (Sura Al-Hijr, No. 15, verse 87) . This meaning is also referred to in a narration from Amir-ul-Mu'mineen Ali (a.s.) quoting the Prophet's (p.b.u.h.) tradition who said : " Verily, Allah, the Exalted, has bestowed (His) favours on me particularly for ' The Opening ' (Al-Fatihah) and has positioned it on a par with the whole Grand Qur'an, and surely Fatihat-ul-Kitab (the Opening of the Qur'an) is the dearest (item) in the treasures of the 'Arsh, (Throne of Heaven) .(1)
(1) Majm'-ul-Bayan, vol. 1, p. 17
(2) Makhzan-ul-'Irfan, Commentary, vol. 1, p. 28 & Masabih-ul-Anwar vol. 1,p.435
(3) Manhajus-Sadiqin, vol. 1, p. 90
4. The Importance of its Recitation :
The recitation of this Sura, because of its extreme importance, is frequently emphasized in Islamic traditions and narrations. As for its virtue, it is narrated from the holy Prophet(p.b.u.h.) that: " The reward of any Muslim who recites the Sura ' Opening ', is like that of a person who has recited two thirds of the Qur'an, and so much reward would he receive as if he has given every believing Muslim, man or woman, a free will offering ". (2)
5. The Titles of the Sura :
There are ten titles given to this Sura, as taken from Islamic narrations and commentary books, thus: Fatihat-ul-Kitab, Umm-ul-Kitab, Umm-ul-Qur'an, Sab'-ul-Mathani, Al-Wafiyah, Al-Kafiyah, Ash-Shafiyah, Al-Asas, As-Salat, and Al-Hamd. (3)
* * * *
(1) Al-Burhan Fi Tafsir-il-Qur'an, vol. one,p. 21; & Atyab-ul-Bayan, vol. 1, p.83
(2) Majma'-ul-Bayan, vol. one, p. 17 .
(3) Rauh-ul-Janan, Abul-Futuh Razi, Commentary, vol. one, p. 16
may ALLAH blesss this Muslim Ummah.
Fi aman ALLAH
Syndication
2008-03-29 @ 03:01:04 am
by ghostridermujahid
Hmmmm nice post Maryam.. Thanks 4 sharing Abeer
2008-02-28 @ 05:19:10 pm
by abeer
salam sister Great work keep it ...
2008-02-13 @ 04:36:06 pm
by sundus
As-Salaamualikum Sis ! Blessed are those, ...
2008-02-10 @ 06:50:53 am
by Qaiz
Jazak Allah khair and thanks alot ...
2008-02-08 @ 04:18:58 pm
by Admin Maryam