Surah Al Fatihah (Virtues and Themes)

اِیَّاکَ نَعۡبُدُ وَ اِیَّاکَ نَسۡتَعِیۡنُ ؕ(۴)

Translation from Kanz al-Īmān: You alone may we worship, and from You alone may we seek help.^{^[1]}

An individual seeks help from his Lord in every situation. When he is hungry, he needs food, hands, a mouth, as well as teeth. Who provides these bounties? It is Allah Almighty. When is a person not in need of the blessings of Allah Almighty? We need the help of Allah Almighty at all times. So, when we receive food, we must turn our attention to Allah Almighty. When we grasp something with our hands, we must divert our focus to Allah Almighty. When looking at the wonderful colours of the world, we must remember Allah Almighty. Always keeping in mind Allah Almighty and our dependence upon Him is known as murāqabah.

The Straight Path

When one has truly acquired recognition of Allah Almighty and of himself, he says:

اِہۡدِ نَا الصِّرَاطَ الۡمُسۡتَقِیۡمَ ۙ(۵) صِرَاطَ الَّذِیۡنَ اَنۡعَمۡتَ عَلَیۡہِمۡ ۙ۬غَیۡرِ الۡمَغۡضُوۡبِ عَلَیۡہِمۡ وَ لَا الضَّآلِّیۡنَ (۷)

Translation from Kanz al-Īmān: Enable us to walk the Straight Path. The path of those upon whom You have bestowed favour. Not of those who were subjected to (Your) wrath nor of the astray ones.^{^[2]}

Meaning, O Allah Almighty! Keep me steadfast upon the straight path, and allow me to spend my entire life upon it. Do not allow me to be drawn away from it because of the Devil and my evil desires, and may I always tread the path of those whom You have favoured.

[1] Al-Quran, 1:4

[2] Al-Quran, 1:5 - 7

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