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SOME BENEFITS OF SÛRAT’UL FÂTIHAH | MUHAMMAD BIN ABD'IL WAHHÂB RAHIMAHULLÂH

Started by Subul’us Salâm, 17.02.2023, 02:15

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Subul’us Salâm


بَعْضُ فَوَائِدِ سُورَةِ الْفَاتِحَةِ

Some Benefits of Sûrat'ul Fâtihah1

Shaykh'ul Islâm Muhammad bin Abd'il Wahhâb Rahimahullâh

In the name of Allâh, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful.

"All praise is due to Allâh, Lord of the worlds. The Most Gracious, the Most Merciful. The Master of the Day of Judgement." (al-Fâtihah, 1/1-3)

Shaykh Muhammad bin Abd'il Wahhâb Rahimahullâhu Taâlâ said:

These three verses encompass three issues:

The first verse, {"All praise is due to Allâh, Lord of the worlds." (al-Fâtihah, 1/1)}, includes love. This is because Allâh is the Bestower of grace, and that the Bestower is loved to the extent of his bestowal of grace.

Love is divided into four types:

(The first type is:) Polytheistic love, these (those who suffer from polytheistic love) are those for whom Allâh Azza wa Jalla stated,

"And of mankind are some who take (for worship) others besides Allâh as Andâd (pl. Nidd; rivals, equals, partners to Allâh), they love them as they love Allâh."

Until His statement,

"And they will never get out of the Fire." (al-Baqarah, 2/165-167)2

The second type of love: Loving falsehood and its people, and hating the truth and its people. This is the characteristic of the hypocrites.

The third type of love: Inherent love, this is love of wealth and offspring. When such love does not divert from obeying Allâh nor assist in committing the prohibitions of Allâh, then it is permissible.

The fourth type of love: Loving the people of Tawhîd and hating the people of Shirk. This is the strongest handhold of Îmân and is the greatest thing through which the servant3 worships his Lord.

The second verse {"The Most Gracious, the Most Merciful." (al-Fâtihah, 1/2)} includes hope.

The third verse {"The Master of the Day of Judgement." (al-Fâtihah, 1/3)} includes fear.

"You (alone) we worship." (al-Fâtihah, 1/4)

Meaning, "I worship You O Lord with what has preceded of these three; with Your love, Your hope, and Your fear."

Hence, these three are the pillars of worship, directing them to other than Allâh is Shirk.

In addition, in these three pillars, there is the refutation to those who adhere to only one of the three, such as those who adhere only with love, adhere only with hope, or adhere only with fear. Whoever directs one of them to other than Allâh is a Mushrik.

Amongst the benefits of this Sûrah is the refutation to the three groups, which each of them adheres to only one of these three pillars (of Ibâdah). Such as the one who worships Allâhu Taâlâ only with love. Likewise, is the one who worships Allâh only with hope as in the case of the Murji'ah. Likewise, is the one who worships Allâh only with fear as in the case of the Khawârij.

"You (alone) we worship, and You (alone) we ask for help." (al-Fâtihah, 1/4) This verse includes Tawhîd of Ulûhiyyah (Oneness of the Divine nature) and Tawhîd of Rubûbiyyah (Oneness of the Divine Lordship).

"You (alone) we worship." (al-Fâtihah, 1/4) This includes Tawhîd of Ulûhiyyah.

"And You (alone) we ask for help." (al-Fâtihah, 1/4) This includes Tawhîd of Rubûbiyyah.

"Guide us to the Straight Path." (al-Fâtihah, 1/5) This verse includes a refutation to the innovators.

As for the last two verses {"The path of those on whom You have bestowed Your grace, not of those who have earned Your anger, nor of those who went astray." (al-Fâtihah, 1/6-7)}, among the benefits they contain is the mention of the condition of people.

Allâhu Taâlâ divided people into three groups:

1- Those whom grace is bestowed upon,

2- Those who have earned anger, and

3- Those who went astray.

"Those who have earned anger" are the people of knowledge who do not act upon their knowledge.

"Those who went astray" are the people of worship who do not have any knowledge.

Even though these verses were revealed concerning the Jews and the Christians, they apply to everyone who carries these attributes.

The third [group]4 are those who carry the attributes of knowledge and action, who are those upon whom grace is bestowed upon.

From amongst the benefits this verse contains is distancing oneself from power and might because he is one whom grace is bestowed upon.5

Likewise, complete recognition of Allâh and negating deficiencies from Allâh Tabâraka wa Taâlâ is amongst the benefits of this verse.

The person recognizing his Lord and himself is also amongst its benefits.

For verily,

If there is a Rabb (Lord), then inevitably, there is a Marbûb (a servant governed by the Rabb).

When there is one who is merciful, then inevitably, there is one whom mercy is shown to.

When there is a Master, then inevitably, there is a slave.

When there is a servant, then inevitably, there is one whom is worshipped.

When there is a guide, then inevitably, there is one whom is guided.

When there is one who bestows grace, then inevitably, there is one whom grace is bestowed upon.

When there is one whom earned anger, then inevitably, there is one who becomes angry.

When there is one who went astray, then inevitably, there is one who leads astray.

Thus, this Sûrah encompasses both Ulûhiyyah and Rubûbiyyah and the negation of all deficiencies from Allâh Azza wa Jalla. It also encompasses knowing Ibâdah (worship) and its pillars.

And Allâh knows best!"




1- Mu'allafât'ush Shaykh, 1/382-384; ad-Durar'us Saniyyah, 13/73-75.

2- The full text of the verses mentioned by the Shaykh is as follows,
 
"And of mankind are some who take (for worship) others besides Allah as Andâd (pl. Nidd; rivals, equals, partners to Allâh), they love them as they love Allâh. But those who believe, love Allâh more (than anything else). If only those who do wrong could see, when they will see the torment that all power belongs to Allâh and that Allâh is Severe in punishment. When those who were followed, disown (declare themselves innocent of) those who followed (them), and they see the torment, then all their relations will be cut off from them. And those who followed will say, "If only we had one more chance to return (to the worldly life), we would disown (declare ourselves as innocent from) them as they have disowned us!" Thus, Allâh will show them their deeds as regrets for them. And they will never get out of the Fire." (al-Baqarah, 2/165-167)

3- Instead of the expression "servant", "person" is used in ad-Durar'us Saniyyah.

4- The addition in brackets is found in ad-Durar'us Saniyyah.

5- The following addition is found in the copy of ad-Durar'us Saniyyah,  "Since He is the One who bestows grace upon you."
"If the ignorant persists, gets haughty, is determined upon his transgression and misguidance, chooses blindness over guidance, and if what he falls into and disputes with regards to is Shirk Akbar (major Shirk) that brings the person who commits it out of the fold of the faction of Muslims to the party of polytheists, then in this case, the just verdict is the sword!" (al-Fath'ur Rabbânî min Fatâwâ'l Imâm ash-Shawkânî, 1/185)

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