Surah Al-Fatihah (The Opener)

About Surah Al-Fatihah

Al-Fatihah, “The Opener”, is the first surah of the Quran and the one Muslims recite most: it is read in every unit (rak’ah) of every prayer. In seven short ayahs it praises God, affirms that worship and help are sought from Him alone, and asks for guidance to the straight path.

Its names

The surah has more names than any other. Among the best known are Umm al-Kitab or Umm al-Quran (“the Mother of the Book”), as-Sab’ al-Mathani (“the seven oft-repeated verses”), al-Hamd (“the Praise”) and ash-Shifa’ (“the Cure”).

Structure

• Praise of God (1:1–4): His name, His mercy, His lordship of all the worlds and of the Day of Judgement.
• The turning point (1:5): the believer addresses God directly — You alone we worship, and You alone we ask for help.
• The request (1:6–7): guidance to the straight path, the path of those God has favoured.

A hadith qudsi in Sahih Muslim describes the prayer as divided between God and His servant, with God answering each part of Al-Fatihah as it is recited. In the Kufan count used here, the basmala is the first ayah of this surah.

Its place in prayer and virtue

According to hadith in Sahih al-Bukhari and Sahih Muslim, there is no valid prayer without reciting Al-Fatihah, and the Prophet described it as the greatest surah in the Quran. After it, those praying say “Amin”. Many Muslims also recite it as a supplication for healing, based on a well-known hadith about a companion who recited it over a sick man.

Frequently asked questions

How many verses are in Surah Al-Fatihah?

Seven, in the Kufan count used in most printed copies, where the basmala is counted as the first verse.

Why is Al-Fatihah recited in every prayer?

Authentic hadith state that a prayer is not valid without it, so it is recited in every unit of every prayer.

What does Al-Fatihah mean?

The Opener — it opens the Quran and opens every unit of the prayer.

How many ayahs are in Surah Al-Fatihah?

Surah Al-Fatihah has 7 ayahs. It is surah number 1 in the Quran and is Meccan.

Can I read Surah Al-Fatihah in English or save it as a PDF?

Yes. This page shows the Arabic text of every ayah with the Saheeh International English meaning under it. Use “Print / Save as PDF” for a clean printable copy that you can save as a PDF file from your browser.

Is Surah Al-Fatihah the same as Surah Fatiha?

Yes. Fatiha, Fatihah, Al Fatiha and Al-Fatihah are different English spellings of the same surah name, الفاتحة.

Summaries describe the surah’s content and commonly cited reports for general readers; they are not a tafsir or a religious ruling.