The path of those upon whom You have bestowed favor, not of those who have earned [Your] anger or of those who are astray.
Surah Al-Fatihah (The Opener) — Full Text
Ayah 1
بِسْمِ ٱللَّهِ ٱلرَّحْمَـٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ
In the name of Allāh,1 the Entirely Merciful, the Especially Merciful.2
This is how the Quran begins — with the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful. It's like setting the tone for everything that follows: start with God. Before Islam, people used to invoke idols before doing anything important, so this was a powerful reset — begin every action, every prayer, every chapter in the name of the One who is the source of all mercy and blessings. It's a reminder that we depend on Him for everything, and saying His name is both an acknowledgment of that and a prayer for His help.
Ayah 2
ٱلْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ رَبِّ ٱلْعَـٰلَمِينَ
[All] praise is [due] to Allāh, Lord1 of the worlds -
All praise and gratitude belong to Allah — the Lord and Sustainer of everything that exists. When you admire anything beautiful or feel thankful for anything good in your life, that appreciation ultimately traces back to Him because He's the one behind it all. He created you, gave you your abilities, and keeps providing for you without anyone forcing Him to. This verse is basically saying: every good thing starts and ends with God.
Ayah 3
ٱلرَّحْمَـٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ
The Entirely Merciful, the Especially Merciful,
Allah follows up being "Lord of everything" with a reminder that He's endlessly compassionate and merciful. He doesn't sustain the universe because He has to — He does it purely out of mercy. The two words used here (Rahman and Rahim) both emphasize mercy in an intense way, like saying His mercy is massive in scope and also deeply personal. It's a balance: He's powerful enough to be Lord of all worlds, but also gentle and caring toward you specifically.
Ayah 4
مَـٰلِكِ يَوْمِ ٱلدِّينِ
Sovereign of the Day of Recompense.1
On the Day of Judgment, no one else has any power or authority — it all belongs to Allah alone. Right now people might have wealth, status, or influence, but on that Day none of that matters. This verse is a reality check: this life is where you put in the work, and the next life is where you see the results. Knowing that a Day of accountability is coming should motivate you to live with purpose and take your choices seriously.
Ayah 5
إِيَّاكَ نَعْبُدُ وَإِيَّاكَ نَسْتَعِينُ
It is You we worship and You we ask for help.
This is the heart of the entire surah — You alone we worship, and You alone we turn to for help. The first part is a declaration that nothing and no one deserves your ultimate devotion except Allah. The second part is a humble admission that you genuinely can't do it on your own and need His help. It flows naturally from the verses before it: once you realize Allah is the source of everything and the Master of your fate, the only logical response is to devote yourself to Him and rely on Him completely.
Ayah 6
ٱهْدِنَا ٱلصِّرَٰطَ ٱلْمُسْتَقِيمَ
Guide us to the straight path -
Now comes the prayer: guide us to the straight path. The "straight path" means the clear, balanced way of living — no extremes, no detours, just the path that leads to God's pleasure. And here's the thing: even people who are already on the right track need to keep asking for guidance, because staying on the path requires constant effort. Life throws curveballs, and without God's help, it's easy to drift. This is why Muslims repeat this prayer in every single unit of prayer — guidance isn't a one-time thing, it's an ongoing need.
The path of those upon whom You have bestowed favor, not of those who have earned [Your] anger or of those who are astray.
This final verse spells out what the straight path actually looks like — it's the path of the prophets, the truthful, the martyrs, and the righteous. Basically, the people who walked the walk. And it specifically asks to avoid two dangerous paths: the path of those who knew the truth but chose to ignore it (earning God's anger), and the path of those who lost their way out of ignorance or carelessness. It's a powerful ending because it gives you both a positive role model to follow and a warning of what to avoid.