Why Does Sura Fatiha Have Other Names, and What Do They Mean?
Answered by Shaykh Anas Al-Musa
Question
Why does Sura Fatiha have other names, and what do they mean?
Answer
In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful.
Sura Fatiha does have many names. A chapter (Sura) might have one name or more. Suyuti mentioned that he found 21 names for Sura Fatiha. The abundance of names for this Sura indicates the honor and significance of what is named.
This multiplicity in names refers to one essence, but each name carries a characteristic others do not hold. This is the reason for multiple designations for a single entity. [see: Al-Zarkashi, Al-Burhan fi Ulum al-Quran, 1.269; Al-Suyuti, Al-Itqan fi Ulum al-Quran, 1.187; Al-Tayyar, Al-Muharrir fi Ulum al-Quran, .171]
Among the names of Sura Fatiha are:
“Fatiha of the Book”
It is known as this due to the saying of the Messenger of Allah (blessings and peace be upon him): “It is the opener of the book, and it is the seven oft-repeated verses and the great Quran.”
[Abu Ubaid, Fada’il al-Quran, p.221; Ahmad]
Suyuti said it was named this because it is the opening in the written copy of the Quran (mushaf), in teaching, and in recitation during prayer. It is also said that it is the first chapter revealed. Some say it is the first chapter written in the Preserved Tablet. [Suyuti, Al-Itqan fi ‘Ulum al-Quran, 1.188]
“The Great Quran and the Seven Oft-repeated Verses”
Narrated by Abu Huraira, from the Messenger of Allah (blessings and peace be upon him): “It is the mother of the Quran, and it is the seven oft-repeated verses, and it is the great Quran.” [Ahmad]
It was named the ‘Great Quran’ due to the meanings it contains that are found throughout the Quran, and it was called ‘The Seven Oft-repeated’ – ‘The Seven’ because it has seven verses, and ‘Oft-repeated’ may be derived from ‘praise’ due to the praise of Allah within it. It could also be from ‘exclusivity’ because Allah granted it specifically to this Umma (Islamic nation). It may be from ‘duplication’ as it is recited in every unit of prayer (Rak’a). [Al-Zarkashi, Al-Burhan fi Ulum al-Quran, 1.270; Suyuti, Al-Itqan fi Ulum al-Quran, 1.189, 1.190]
Narrated by Abi Sa‘id bin Al-Mu’alla: “I was praying in the mosque when the Messenger of Allah, blessings and peace be upon him, called me, but I did not respond to him. I said: ‘O Messenger of Allah, I was praying.’ He said: ‘Did Allah not say: Respond to Allah and the Messenger when he calls you to what gives you life?’ He then said to me: ‘I will teach you the greatest Sura in the Quran before you leave the mosque.’ He then took my hand. When he intended to leave, I said to him: ‘Did you not say I will teach you the greatest Sura in the Quran?’ He replied: ‘Alhamdu Lillahi Rabbil’ Alamin (All Praise is to Allah, Lord of all worlds). It is the seven oft-repeated verses and the great Quran which I have been given.’” [Bukhari]
“Al-Wafiya (The Comprehensive)”
Sufyan ibn ‘Uyayna (Allah be pleased with him) used to call it this because it comprehensively encompasses the meanings present in the Quran. Another interpretation is that it can’t be split and doesn’t allow for abbreviation. Don’t you see that every chapter from the chapters of the Quran can be recited half in one Rak‘a (unit of prayer) and the other half in another, and it’s permissible? However, if you split “Fatiha of the Book” and recite it in two Rak‘as, it’s not permissible. [Al-Tha’labi, Tafsir Al-Tha’labi, 2.493; Suyuti, Al-Itqan, 1.190; Suyuti, Mu’tarak al-Aqran fi I’jaz al-Qur’an, 3.196; Al-Razi, Tafsir Mafatih al-Ghayb, 1.158]
“Al-Kafiya (The Sufficient)”
This is because it is sufficient in the prayer without any other Sura, and no other Sura is sufficient without it.
“Umm al-Kitab (Mother of the Book)”
The evidence for this name is the narration by Abu Dawud from Abu Said Al-Khudri in a lengthy Hadith: “He came to him and recited Umm al-Kitab on him and blew on him until he got healed as if he was freed from ties. [Abu Dawud]
“Umm al-Quran (Mother of the Quran)”
The Messenger of Allah, blessings and peace be upon him, stated three times: “Whoever performs a prayer and doesn’t recite Umm al-Quran in it, it is incomplete.” [Muslim]
“Al-Salat (The Prayer)”
The Messenger of Allah, blessings and peace be upon him, said that Allah Almighty said: “I have divided the prayer between Me and My servant into two halves. Half of it is for Me and half for My servant.” “Salat” here refers to the Sura itself. [Muslim]
“Sura al-Du‘a (Chapter of Supplication)”
This is because it contains a supplication in His saying, “Guide us to the straight path.” [see: Suyuti, Al-Itqan, 1.190; Suyuti, Mu’tarak al-Aqran fi I’jaz al-Quran, 3.196]
It is also named Sura Al-Hamd (Chapter of Praise), Sura Al-Shukr (Chapter of Gratitude), Sura Al-Hamd Al-Ula (The First Chapter of Praise), Sura Al-Hamd Al-Quswa (The Supreme Chapter of Praise), Al-Waqi‘ah (The Preventer), Al-Shafi‘a (The Curing), and Al-Shifa (The Cure)…
May Allah Most High’s blessings and peace be upon our master and Prophet Muhammad, upon his family and companions.
[Shaykh] Anas al-Musa
Shaykh Anas al-Musa, born in Hama, Syria, in 1974, is an erudite scholar of notable repute. He graduated from the Engineering Institute in Damascus, where he specialized in General Construction, and Al-Azhar University, Faculty of Usul al-Din, where he specialized in Hadith.
He studied under prominent scholars in Damascus, including Shaykh Abdul Rahman al-Shaghouri and Shaykh Adib al-Kallas, among others. Shaykh Anas has memorized the Quran and is proficient in the ten Mutawatir recitations, having studied under Shaykh Bakri al-Tarabishi and Shaykh Mowfaq ‘Ayun. He also graduated from the Iraqi Hadith School.
He has taught numerous Islamic subjects at Shari‘a institutes in Syria and Turkey. Shaykh Anas has served as an Imam and preacher for over 15 years and is a teacher of the Quran in its various readings and narrations.
Currently, he works as a teacher at SeekersGuidance and is responsible for academic guidance there. He has completed his Master’s degree in Hadith and is now pursuing his Ph.D. in the same field. Shaykh Anas al-Musa is married and resides in Istanbul.
