📖 Quran Reading
Surah Al-Fatiha
سُورَةُ الْفَاتِحَة — The Opening
Chapter 1 · 7 verses · Recited in every rakat of every prayer
Recited at least 17 times every day — in every rakat of every prayer
The Prophet ﷺ said: "There is no prayer for the one who does not recite Al-Fatiha." (Sahih al-Bukhari 756). It is called Umm al-Quran (Mother of the Quran) and is a complete prayer and conversation with Allah.
Full Text — Arabic, Transliteration & English
بِسْمِ اللَّهِ الرَّحْمَٰنِ الرَّحِيمِ
الْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ رَبِّ الْعَالَمِينَ
الرَّحْمَٰنِ الرَّحِيمِ
مَالِكِ يَوْمِ الدِّينِ
إِيَّاكَ نَعْبُدُ وَإِيَّاكَ نَسْتَعِينُ
اهْدِنَا الصِّرَاطَ الْمُسْتَقِيمَ
صِرَاطَ الَّذِينَ أَنْعَمْتَ عَلَيْهِمْ غَيْرِ الْمَغْضُوبِ عَلَيْهِمْ وَلَا الضَّالِّينَ
بِسْمِ اللَّهِ الرَّحْمَٰنِ الرَّحِيمِ
Bismillahi ar-rahmani ar-raheem
In the name of Allah, the Entirely Merciful, the Especially Merciful.
الْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ رَبِّ الْعَالَمِينَ
Al-hamdu lillahi rabbi al-aalameen
[All] praise is [due] to Allah, Lord of the worlds —
الرَّحْمَٰنِ الرَّحِيمِ
Ar-rahmani ar-raheem
The Entirely Merciful, the Especially Merciful,
مَالِكِ يَوْمِ الدِّينِ
Maliki yawmi ad-deen
Sovereign of the Day of Recompense.
إِيَّاكَ نَعْبُدُ وَإِيَّاكَ نَسْتَعِينُ
Iyyaka na'budu wa iyyaka nasta'een
It is You we worship and You we ask for help.
اهْدِنَا الصِّرَاطَ الْمُسْتَقِيمَ
Ihdina as-sirata al-mustaqeem
Guide us to the straight path —
صِرَاطَ الَّذِينَ أَنْعَمْتَ عَلَيْهِمْ غَيْرِ الْمَغْضُوبِ عَلَيْهِمْ وَلَا الضَّالِّينَ
Sirata allatheena an'amta alayhim ghayri al-maghdoobi alayhim wa la ad-daalleen
The path of those upon whom You have bestowed favour, not of those who have evoked [Your] anger or of those who are astray.
Al-Fatiha as a Conversation with Allah
In a profound hadith Qudsi, Allah reveals what He says in response to each verse of Al-Fatiha as you recite it in prayer — making Salah a direct dialogue between the worshipper and their Lord:
Servant recites:
"Alhamdulillahi Rabbil Alameen"
Allah says:
"My servant has praised Me."
Servant recites:
"Ar-Rahmanir Raheem"
Allah says:
"My servant has extolled Me."
Servant recites:
"Maliki Yawmiddeen"
Allah says:
"My servant has glorified Me."
Servant recites:
"Iyyaka na'budu wa iyyaka nasta'een"
Allah says:
"This is between Me and My servant, and My servant shall have what he asks."
Servant recites:
"Ihdinas siratal mustaqeem…"
Allah says:
"This is for My servant, and My servant shall have what he has asked for."
Source: Sahih Muslim 395 — Hadith of Abu Hurayrah ؓ
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Surah Al-Fatiha?
Surah Al-Fatiha (The Opening) is the first chapter of the Quran, consisting of 7 verses. It is the most frequently recited surah in Islam — mandatory in every rakat of every prayer. The Prophet ﷺ called it 'Umm al-Quran' (the Mother of the Quran) and 'Umm al-Kitab' (the Mother of the Book). It is a complete prayer in itself — praising Allah, affirming His attributes, and asking for guidance on the straight path.
How many times is Surah Al-Fatiha recited per day?
A Muslim who prays all 5 daily prayers recites Surah Al-Fatiha a minimum of 17 times per day — once in each of the 17 obligatory (Fard) rakats. Including Sunnah and voluntary prayers, the total is typically 34+ times per day. It is the most recited text in the world.
What does Al-Fatiha mean?
Al-Fatiha means 'The Opening' — it opens the Quran, opens every prayer, and represents the opening of communication between the servant and Allah. It is also known by other names: Umm al-Quran (Mother of the Quran), As-Sab' al-Mathani (the Seven Oft-Repeated verses, Quran 15:87), Al-Hamd (The Praise), Ash-Shifa (The Cure), and Al-Asas (The Foundation).
Is a prayer valid without Surah Al-Fatiha?
According to the majority of scholars (Shafi'i, Maliki, Hanbali): reciting Al-Fatiha in every rakat is a pillar (rukn) of Salah — the prayer is invalid without it. The Prophet ﷺ said: 'There is no prayer for the one who does not recite Al-Fatiha.' (Sahih al-Bukhari 756). In the Hanafi school: it is Wajib (obligatory) in the first two rakats of a 4-rakat prayer, and in all rakats of 2- and 3-rakat prayers.
What does the hadith Qudsi about Al-Fatiha say?
Allah said in a hadith Qudsi: 'I have divided the prayer between Myself and My servant into two halves, and My servant shall have what he has asked for. When the servant says Alhamdulillahi Rabbil Alameen, Allah says: My servant has praised Me. When he says Ar-Rahmanir Raheem, Allah says: My servant has extolled Me. When he says Maliki Yawmiddeen, Allah says: My servant has glorified Me. When he says Iyyaka na'budu wa iyyaka nasta'een, Allah says: This is between Me and My servant. When he says Ihdinas siratal mustaqeem..., Allah says: This is for My servant, and My servant shall have what he has asked for.' (Sahih Muslim 395)
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