
These (lights) are: Fatihat Al-Kitab (Al-Fatihah), and the concluding verses of Surat Al-Baqarah. Such lights were not given to any Prophet before you. He never came down before.” He sent greetings and said: “Rejoice with two lights given to you. It was never opened before.” Then an angel descended through it, he said: “This is an angel who has come down to earth. He lifted his head, and said: “This is a gate which has been opened in heaven today. Ibn ‘Abbas (may Allah be pleased with them) reported, While Jibreel (Gabriel) was sitting with the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him), he heard a sound above him. When I went to him, he said, “What prevented you from coming?” I said, “I was praying.” He said, “Didn’t Allah say” “O you who believe give your response to Allah (by obeying Him) and to His Apostle.” (Al-Anfal 8:24) Then he added, “Shall I tell you the most superior Surah in the Qur’an before I go out of the mosque?” When the Prophet (peace be upon him) intended to go out (of the Mosque), I reminded him and he said, “That is: “ Al-hamdu-lillahi Rabbil-`alamin (Al-Fatihah)’ which is the seven oft repeated verses ( Al-Mathani) and the Grand Qur’an which has been given to me.” (Al-Bukhari) Virtues and Characteristics of the SurahĪl-Fatihah has numerous virtues and great characteristics that were mentioned in the Sunnah of the Prophet (peace be upon him) such as:ġ- It is a light and no one of the Prophets was given it before Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him): (Al-Bukhari)Ĥ- Abu Sa`id ibn Al-Mu`lla (may Allah be pleased with him) narrated that, “While I was praying, the Prophet (peace be upon him) passed by and called me, but I did not go to him till I had finished my prayer.

(Al-Bukhari)ģ- Abu Hurairah (may Allah be pleased with him) narrated that Allah’s Messenger (peace be upon him) said, “The Umm (substance) of the Qur’an is the seven oft-repeated verses ( Al-Mathani) and is the Great Qur’an (Al-Fatihah). Introduction to Surat Al-Fatihah (The Opening) Names of the Surahġ- `Ubadah ibn As-Samit (may Allah be pleased with him) narrated that Allah’s Messenger (peace be upon him) said, “Whoever does not recite Fatihat Al-Kitab (The Opening) in his prayer, his prayer is invalid.” (Al-Bukhari)Ģ- `A’ishah (may Allah be pleased with her) narrated that the Prophet (peace be upon him) used to make the two rak`ahs before the Fajr (Dawn) prayer so light that I would wonder whether he recited Umm Al-Kitab (Al-Fatihah) or no).

Here is the recitation and translation of Surat Al-Fatihah by the Sheikh Mishari bin Rashid Al-`fasi followed by an Introduction to the Surah.
