What are the virtues of Surah al-Fatihah?
Summary
Al-Fatihah is the greatest chapter of the Quran, containing praise, worship, reliance, and the central prayer for guidance.
Detailed Answer
The Prophet ﷺ said there is no prayer for one who does not recite the Opening of the Book . It gathers foundations of faith and supplication and is also established as lawful ruqyah.
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Sources (5)
Quran & Tafseer
بِسْمِ ٱللَّهِ ٱلرَّحْمَـٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ
“In the name of Allah, the Entirely Merciful, the Especially Merciful.”
Prophetic Hadith
لَا صَلَاةَ لِمَنْ لَمْ يَقْرَأْ بِفَاتِحَةِ الْكِتَابِ
“Sahih al-Bukhari 756”
حَدَّثَنِي إِسْحَاقُ، أَخْبَرَنَا رَوْحٌ، حَدَّثَنَا شُعْبَةُ، عَنْ خُبَيْبِ بْنِ عَبْدِ الرَّحْمَنِ، سَمِعْتُ حَفْصَ بْنَ عَاصِمٍ، يُحَدِّثُ عَنْ أَبِي سَعِيدِ بْنِ الْمُعَلَّى ـ رضى الله عنه ـ قَالَ كُنْتُ أُصَلِّي فَمَرَّ بِي رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم فَدَعَانِي فَلَمْ آتِهِ حَتَّى صَلَّيْتُ، ثُمَّ أَتَيْتُهُ فَقَالَ " مَا مَنَعَكَ أَنْ تَأْتِيَ أَلَمْ يَقُلِ اللَّهُ {يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا اسْتَجِيبُوا لِلَّهِ وَلِلرَّسُولِ إِذَا دَعَاكُمْ} ثُمَّ قَالَ لأُعَلِّمَنَّكَ أَعْظَمَ سُورَةٍ فِي الْقُرْآنِ قَبْلَ أَنْ أَخْرُجَ ". فَذَهَبَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم لِيَخْرُجَ فَذَكَرْتُ لَهُ. وَقَالَ مُعَاذٌ حَدَّثَنَا شُعْبَةُ، عَنْ خُبَيْبٍ، سَمِعَ حَفْصًا، سَمِعَ أَبَا سَعِيدٍ، رَجُلاً مِنْ أَصْحَابِ النَّبِيِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم بِهَذَا، وَقَالَ هِيَ {الْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ رَبِّ الْعَالَمِينَ} السَّبْعُ الْمَثَانِي.
“Narrated Abu Sa`id bin Al-Mu'alla: While I was praying, Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) passed me and called me, but I did not go to him until I had finished the prayer. Then I went to him, and he said, "What prevented you from coming to me? Didn't Allah say:-- "O you who believe! Answer the call of Allah (by obeying Him) and His Apostle when He calls you?" He then said, "I will inform you of the greatest Sura in the Qur'an before I leave (the mosque)." When Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) got ready to leave (the mosque), I reminded him. He said, "It is: 'Praise be to Allah, the Lord of the worlds.' (i.e. Surat-al-Fatiha) As-sab'a Al-Mathani (the seven repeatedly recited Verses).”
حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو بَكْرِ بْنُ أَبِي شَيْبَةَ، وَعَمْرٌو النَّاقِدُ، وَإِسْحَاقُ بْنُ إِبْرَاهِيمَ، جَمِيعًا عَنْ سُفْيَانَ، - قَالَ أَبُو بَكْرٍ حَدَّثَنَا سُفْيَانُ بْنُ عُيَيْنَةَ، - عَنِ الزُّهْرِيِّ، عَنْ مَحْمُودِ بْنِ الرَّبِيعِ، عَنْ عُبَادَةَ بْنِ الصَّامِتِ، يَبْلُغُ بِهِ النَّبِيَّ صلى الله عليه وسلم " لاَ صَلاَةَ لِمَنْ لَمْ يَقْرَأْ بِفَاتِحَةِ الْكِتَابِ "
“'Ubada b. as-Samit reported from the Messenger of Allah (may peace be upon him ): He who does not recite Fatihat al-Kitab is not credited with having observed the prayer.”
أَخْبَرَنَا سُوَيْدُ بْنُ نَصْرٍ، قَالَ أَنْبَأَنَا عَبْدُ اللَّهِ، عَنْ مَعْمَرٍ، عَنِ الزُّهْرِيِّ، عَنْ مَحْمُودِ بْنِ الرَّبِيعِ، عَنْ عُبَادَةَ بْنِ الصَّامِتِ، قَالَ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم " لاَ صَلاَةَ لِمَنْ لَمْ يَقْرَأْ بِفَاتِحَةِ الْكِتَابِ فَصَاعِدًا "
“It was narrated that Ubadah bin As-Samit said: "The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said: "There is no Salah for one who does not recite Fatihatil-Kitab or more.'"”
This is general educational information, not a personal fatwa. Ask a trusted scholar about your specific circumstances.