Comments on Al-Fatiha

With Allah’s Name The Merciful Benefactor The Merciful Redeemer.

Al-Fatiha means “The Opener” or “The Opening.” Some reasons given for its name is that it opens the reading of the Qur’an, the first chapter of the Qur’an. It is also used as a prayer or invocation for opening important events and ceremonies. This chapter of the Qur’an is also referred to as the key that unlocks previous scriptures that were sealed.

We began with Allah’s name. Whenever we start with an act or intention we preface it by saying, “…With Allah’s Name…” Allah is the Merciful Benefactor in that He extends His gifts immeasurably to all of His creatures including human beings. He gives to his creature far beyond his personal needs and in many cases more that he can make use of. Categorically, the return on the cultivation, development, nurturing, fostering or encouragement of His benefits is many times over the initial contribution. For example, if we cultivate just one grain, the return would be seven ears and on each ear one hundred grain. Appreciatively with gratitude, we say that Allah is the Merciful Redeemer. In addition, He offers for His servant is a special portion of His mercy.

“The Praise, Thanks belongs to Allah the Guardian Lord of the worlds -- systems of knowledge.”

The highest praise or thanks given to Allah is “Al-Hamdu lillah,” (Praise be to Allah). This expression of gratitude must be spoken with the tongue, soul, mind and intellect – with every aspect of the total being. This act of praise and thanks may even supersede prayer, fasting, charity, sacrificing of an animal, circumambulation of the Ka’bah as a display of graciousness and appreciation.

The Lord is one who cherishes, nourishes, evolves, and sustains everything and everyone from its inception to its maturity. After we reach maturity we still depend on Allah, our Lord. In this case He is the Lord of all worlds, all systems of knowledge. A world of knowledge is formed from symbols that are collected and combined as interrelated independent elements and then categorized as an entity that produces volumes which define a system. We have the world of biology, chemistry, mathematics, zoology, etc., -- many worlds. In each world there are paths. In the world of anatomy the study of the eye offers volumes and volumes of a systemized curriculum. And so it is for the nervous system, repertory system, etc. It is Allah as Lord that has evolved the sciences or paths out of His mercy.

Every sane person is commissioned to travel one of the many paths. It is the true religious life that keeps us on these paths that we give a reformed thinking to the expression “Fee Sabeel lillah” (go in the path of Allah). We will find the gifts and rewards so beneficial, numerous and profitable that it becomes a sin to obtain knowledge that is not useful. Therefore, it is imperative without reservation that we declare Allah is the Merciful Benefactor, Merciful Redeemer, Lord of all systems of knowledge.

To be continued.

Thank you for taking the time to read this article.

Salim MuMin, Director
M.A.L.I. (Muslim American Logic Institute)
muslimamericanlogic.com
muslimamericanlogic.blogspot.com