Al-Fatihah

AL Fatihah is the opening surah of the Quran and it is probably the most recited surah in the life of a Muslim. AL Fatihah is read several times in each prayer as an opening remark before going into a prayer.

Muslims pray five times a day,

In other words a muslim talks to god five times a day. One before the break of dawn, one in the afternoon, evening, the interchange between dawn and night and one before you sleep. And in each of this prayer Al Fatihah is recited. Some of you non muslims may have seen that muslims pray in masses which is lead by a person we call Imam. In Islam though doing the prayer in Jamaah (in gorups or together) are very much celebrated the prayer itself is quite personal.

You see,
When a muslim prays he recites the verses himself, In other words he is the one who talks or convey his message to his or her creator. It is a very personal thing, though a prayer in Jamaah is being lead by an Imam in the end there is no medium between you (a muslim) and god. There is no third party when it comes to prayer because in Islam you pray to Allah (god) and only to Allah you may seek forgiveness, assistance and submission. Because at the end of the day, Allah will judge you and all of the things that you do while you were alive. In the end no family members, spouse, Imam, friend or anyone else are to answer for your deed, you are to be responsible for what you did.

Now if you look at Al Fatihah

1:1 بِسْمِ اللّهِ الرَّحْمـَنِ الرَّحِيم
Bismillāhi r-raḥmāni r-raḥīm
In the name of Allah, the Beneficent, the Merciful.

1:2 الْحَمْدُ للّهِ رَبِّ الْعَالَمِين
Al ḥamdu lillāhi rabbi l-'ālamīn
All praise is due to Allah, the Lord of the Worlds.

1:3 الرَّحْمـنِ الرَّحِيم
Ar raḥmāni r-raḥīm
The Beneficent, the Merciful.

1:4 مَـالِكِ يَوْمِ الدِّين
Māliki yawmi d-dīn
Master of the Day of Judgment.

1:5 إِيَّاك نَعْبُدُ وإِيَّاكَ نَسْتَعِين
Iyyāka na'budu wa iyyāka nasta'īn
Thee do we serve and Thee do we beseech for help.

1:6 اهدِنَــــا الصِّرَاطَ المُستَقِيمَ
Ihdinā ṣ-ṣirāṭ al mustaqīm
Keep us on the right path.

1:7 صِرَاطَ الَّذِينَ أَنعَمتَ عَلَيهِمْ غَيرِ المَغضُوبِ عَلَيهِمْ وَلاَ الضَّالِّين
Ṣirāṭ al-laḏīna an'amta 'alayhim ġayril maġḍūbi 'alayhim walāḍ ḍāllīn

The path of those upon whom Thou hast bestowed favors. Not (the path) of those upon whom Thy wrath is brought down, nor of those who go astray.

At the first few verses of the Al Fatihah it seems as if it is written as a tribute, praise or the definition of god. But as the verses goes on it seems that it is actually more of a prayer. It started with an address to Allah or god who is the master of the worlds, in other words the ulmiate being, the one god. Who is also gracious and merciful and will be the one that judges our deeds at the day of reckoning. Interestingly this prayer begins with the definition of god and because of that very definition is why a muslim seek help, pray and ask for assistance to Allah god and not to anyone else. And that in this prayer a muslim do not ask for any specific assistance (health, wealth or love) rather that it's like a simple request of asking god to help us in making the right decision and doing the right thing... Because as life goes on we are not really sure what may come by thus the best thing we can hope and ask for is that no matter what challenges may lay ahead, we will take the right action and do the right thing.

1:6 اهدِنَــــا الصِّرَاطَ المُستَقِيمَ
Ihdinā ṣ-ṣirāṭ al mustaqīm
Keep us on the right path.

1:7 صِرَاطَ الَّذِينَ أَنعَمتَ عَلَيهِمْ غَيرِ المَغضُوبِ عَلَيهِمْ وَلاَ الضَّالِّين
Ṣirāṭ al-laḏīna an'amta 'alayhim ġayril maġḍūbi 'alayhim walāḍ ḍāllīn

The path of those upon whom Thou hast bestowed favors. Not (the path) of those upon whom Thy wrath is brought down, nor of those who go astray.