Insights From The Holy Quran : Surah Fatihah

  The Quran is an exceptional message. It speaks for itself. 

 It defines itself for those who believe in it and for those who don’t. Every chapter of this message carries gems of wisdom for those who believe in it and for those who would study it with an open mind. The Quran needs no defenders and it speaks only to those who are ready to hear its message. To those who approach it seeking to discredit its teachings, it becomes a mass of frustrating language and concepts.

  It encourages its readers to think about the issues it brings before their eyes and minds. It exhorts its readers to become “people of understanding”.  Therefore, every sincere, inquisitive, thoughtful reader of the Quran will derive personal realizations based on their individual level of mental and spiritual development. It is, therefore, not unusual for your concepts to evolve and change as you perform ongoing Quranic research.

 There is no priesthood, nor clergy, in the Islamic lifestyle. Quranic research produces “scholars”, men of learning who dedicate their entire lives to understanding the concepts of Life and living presented within the pages of the Quran and the recorded teachings (called Hadith) of Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him). While these scholars are treated with high regard and respect by Muslims, every individual Muslim has the right to draw differing conclusions from that of any scholar. The only sources with which a Muslim will not argue are the Quran itself and the certified teachings of Prophet Muhammad (pbuh). It is within this context that I share my insights into the chapters of the Quran. May Allah be our Guide.

  Surah Fatihah, the opening chapter of the Quran, consists of only 7 verses. It sets the attitude for approaching the message of the Quran. It is a direct conversation between the person seeking guidance for his/her life and a well-defined Deity, Allah. The entire chapter is a request for correct guidance from a seeker to Allah, the Cherisher and Sustainer of all Life forms. The seeker identifies whom he/she is seeking with this plea: “Master of the Day of Judgment”.  The seeker identifies him/herself as dedicating all worship and obedience to the Master of the Day of Judgment. “You alone do we worship and You alone do we ask for help”.  The plea is extremely specific. “Show us the straight way; the way of those on whom You have bestowed your Grace; those whose portion is not wrath and who go not astray”. This is a cry for specific guidance! This is a cry for a light to live by, from the only God this person will acknowledge, Allah. This is a plea for Allah to take this person under His Own tutoring, answer all Life questions and show him/her how to live successfully.

The person who sincerely makes this plea demonstrates a desire to stop stumbling around in life like most people do. This person wants a clearly defined lifestyle with a clear understanding of life’s purpose; positive relationships with others in the universal environment; not just humans but the other types of creatures which all contribute to the world we know. This person wants a purposeful, productive, successful life; one that he/she can be proud of when it comes to an end, as it is destined to eventually do. This person wants to walk the path that pleases his/her Creator and is mindful of the meeting with the Creator on the Day of Judgment. This is a plea from the soul and it is a plea that must be heard and answered by a Just and Merciful Creator. The answer comes in the subsequent chapters of the Quran.

If we bear in mind that the Quran was revealed by Allah Himself, through the Angel Gabriel, to Muhammad (peace be upon him), we immediately learn some of Allah’s characteristics, “Most Gracious, Most Merciful, Sustainer of all the worlds”. Note the term “worlds”, signifying that Allah has created other worlds and creatures other than just the Earth or the human species. The message immediately broadens one’s mind to take into account the other life species that exist within our environment and beyond. One can say that the Quran instantly creates a universal consciousness within its readers. This universal consciousness is heightened throughout the rest of the Quranic teachings by accounts from the history of earlier populations and explanations of how sinful actions affect society.

The plea to “Show us the straight way; the way of those on whom You have bestowed your Grace; those whose portion is not wrath and who go not astray” is a recognition that others have received and followed a guided path before us. It is also a recognition that not all lifestyles are right and that our misguided perceptions can lead us into harm’s way. Good intentions are no substitute for intelligent actions. This verse creates that awareness in us and signifies our willingness to enter into a contract with Allah to follow Guidance from Him when it reaches us.

While these are not the only conclusions that can be drawn from reading this chapter of the Holy Quran, these are some of the conclusions I have drawn from my studies of its first chapter. As I have previously mentioned, the Quran teaches its readers according to an individual’s personal level of preparedness. Therefore, I invite whoever has an interest in learning more about the Quran (and the Lifestyle, Islam, that it teaches) to acquire a copy of the Quran from the neighborhood mosque (it is usually given freely), and personally read it. Translations are available in every popular language. The only requirements are a sincere desire to learn and a willingness to listen to what the Quran has to say. If you wish to tell me about your personal experiences while studying the Quran, I would be absolutely delighted. Post your comments below.
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