Al-Fatehah, the Key, is presented as the complete set of words God provides for opening the contact prayer, just as He gave Adam specific words for his redemption. The lead article argues against deleting the Basmallah, adding seeking refuge, other praise or Aameen, and reciting other Quran passages after Al-Fatehah during Salat. It closes with the number 19 evidence in Al-Fatehah.
Why do we recite it only while standing in our Contact Prayers (Salat)?
Al-Fatehah means “The
Opening” or “The Key”. It forms the essence of the “prayer”
portion of our Contact Prayers (Salat). The word Salat itself is derived
from the root word “wasl” which means to contact or connect.
Let us evaluate this connection from the time of Adam.
How was Adam created?
God tells us in the Quran
32:7 He is the One who perfected everything He created,
and started the creation of the human from clay.
32:8 Then He continued his reproduction through a certain
lowly liquid.
32:9 He shaped him and blew into him from His spirit….
The other instance when God directly blew from His spirit is
the example of the creation of Jesus
21:91 As for the one who maintained her virginity, we
blew into her from our spirit, and thus, we made her and her son
a portent for the whole world.
66:12 Also Mary, the Amramite. She maintained her chastity,
then we blew into her from our spirit….
3:59 The example of Jesus, as far as GOD is concerned,
is the same as that of Adam; He created him from dust, then said to him,
"Be," and he was.
The "equality" of the creation of Jesus and Adam is confirmed
mathematically; Jesus and Adam are mentioned in the Quran the same number
of times, 25 times each.
Who are we all?
We are all children of Adam
7:26 O children of Adam, we have provided you with garments
to cover your bodies, as well as for luxury. But the best garment is the
garment of righteousness….
7:27 O children of Adam, do not let the devil dupe you
as he did when he caused the eviction of your parents from Paradise, and
the removal of their garments to expose their bodies. He and his tribe
see you, while you do not see them….
7:35 O children of Adam, when messengers come to you
from among you, and recite My revelations to you, those who take heed
and lead a righteous life, will have nothing to fear, nor will they grieve.
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The Key (Al-Fatehah)
36:60 Did I not covenant with you, O Children of
Adam, that you shall not worship the devil? That he is your most
ardent enemy?
Note in 36:60 God is reminding us that our souls have already
made a covenant with Him not to worship the devil. This life is
our only chance to honor our covenant with Him.
Since the human race is in continuity from Adam, our soul possesses
part of the breath of the creator. That is why God says
50:16 We created the human, and we know what he
whispers to himself. We are closer to him than his jugular vein.
Reason for Contact Prayers
We have learned that part of the breath of God exists in us. This
part requires making continued contact with the creator. There-fore,
one of the most important means to nourish our souls on a regular
basis is to make continued contact with Him. This is done at least
five times a day. During other times, we keep in mind the timing
for the next Salat and the rhythm goes on.
God provided Adam specific words to say to redeem him.
2:37 Then, Adam received from his Lord words, whereby
He redeemed him. He is the Redeemer, Most Merciful.
The system of God
Why did God have to do those extra steps to redeem Adam? First
to give him specific words then ask him to say those words and then
accept his words. He could have redeemed Adam directly.
Because that is the system of God and His system never
changes
2:138 Such is GOD's system, and whose system is
better
than GOD's? "Him
alone we worship."
17:77 This has been consistently the case with
all the messengers that we sent before you, and you will find that
our system never changes.
33:62 This is GOD's eternal system, and you will
find that GOD's system is unchangeable.
48:23 Such is GOD's system throughout history,
and you will find that GOD's system is unchangeable. (See also 35:43)
God is our Provider too
If God is the provider of Adam, He is our Provider too. His unchangeable
system is applicable to every human soul destined to come to the
earth. He is the Gracious, the Merciful who provided us the means
to achieve redemp-tion.
Let us now review the translation of Al-Fatehah (The Key).
1:1 In the name of GOD, Most Gracious, Most Merciful.
1:7 the path of those whom You blessed; not of those who have
deserved wrath, nor of the strayers.
Can these words be applied on behalf of Adam? Could Adam have
said with Eve, Guide us to the right, straight or correct path (to
heaven)?
Did Adam and Eve stray? The answer is
YES.
Since the system of God is unchangeable, Adam was not redeemed
without providing specific words and asking him to say those words.
Therefore using the same “unchanged” system, God has
provided specific words to the children of Adam to get back on the
straight, correct or right track to heaven.
If Adam had manipulated the words provided by the Provider, would
he have been redeemed? The answer is NO. The same applies to the
children of Adam.
It is suggested that Adam could have been given the similar words
to redeem himself. However, the principles, system and mechanism
remain the same.
Did God provide us the key to contact Him?
Yes, Al-Fatehah is the key required to make and open our contact
with Him. God cites many simple but unique examples to understand
the Quran. The Key is one of them. If we manipulate the combination
or the structure of the key to our house or car, it does not work.
Similarly if we manipulate the Key provided by God, it will not
work.
What is in and what is not in the Key?
We also know that God does not provide us incomplete information.
Therefore, the Key (Al-Fatehah) He provided is complete.
Al-Fatehah always includes the Basmallah (the first verse of the
Quran). This is evidenced from the fact that it is the only “numbered”
Basmallah in the Quran.
Similarly seeking refuge from Satan the rejected is not part of
the Key.
The addition of any other praise to God before reciting the Key
is not
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The Key (Al-Fatehah)
required. God starts the Key with Basmallah then all praise to
Him is mentioned within the Key.
The Key does not need the addition of the word “Aameen”.
We should trust in God that He has provided us the complete Key.
Adding or deleting to the Key will not make it work better, but
will simply make it useless. Just like the keys to our house, car
etc.
If the Key words provided by God worked for Adam (without manipulation),
surely they will also work for us. That is His system.
Some people delete the Basmallah in their Salat prayers. Some
recite additional verses before the Basmallah and some add the word
“Aameen” at the end. Do they know better than God or
do the people who added those words (even with good intentions)
know better than God? It is our responsibility to use our eyes,
ears and brain in light of the absolute truth (the Quran).
We know that Prophet Muhammad only followed the Quran. He was
not authorized by God to change anything in the message. We are
sure he delivered us a perfect message. The Al-Fatehah he uttered
in his salat has to be exactly how he delivered it to us in the
Quran. No additions or deletions.
Why is it not appropriate to recite parts of the Quran after
Al-Fatehah?
When we recite the Key, we seek His Guidance to the right path.
We note that God tells us in 2:2 that this Book (Quran) is “Guidance”.
Therefore from 2:2 onwards it is all “Guidance.” It
is all the Guidance we need to redeem ourselves straight back to
heaven.
We have established that during Salat we are in contact or communication
with God. In fact after
completing the recitation of Al-Fatehah we have opened our contact.
At this point, should we start giving “Guidance” to
God?
If we are submitters, the “guidance” comes from our
Lord to us and not in the reverse direction. He does not need guidance
from us. That can also imply that we are “acting god”
to God.
In addition, other names may also be mentioned in the Salat if
we recite parts of the Quran. This violates the Quranic principle
to devote the salat to Him alone
6:162 Say, "My Contact Prayers (Salat), my
worship practices, my life and my death, are all devoted absolutely
to GOD alone, the Lord of the universe.
Altering the combinations of Al-Fatehah in Salat also makes religious
practices difficult. This contradicts the Quranic principle that
God has made religion easy for us.
There is a clear distinction between reciting the Quran and performing
Salat.
29:45 You shall recite what is revealed to you
of the scripture, and observe the Contact Prayers (Salat), for the
Contact Prayers prohibit evil and vice. But the remembrance of GOD
(through Salat) is the most important objective. GOD knows everything
you do. (See also 35:29)
17:78 You shall observe the Contact Prayer (Salat)
when the sun declines from its highest point at noon, as it moves
towards sunset. You shall also observe (the recitation of) the
Quran at dawn. (Reciting)
the Quran at dawn is witnessed.
We also note that calling God or proclaiming that he has never
begotten a son is distinct from the contact prayers. We are to magnify
Him “constantly” and not as a part of the Salat.
17:110 Say, "Call Him GOD, or call Him the
Most Gracious; whichever name you use, to Him belongs the best names."
You shall not utter your Contact Prayers (Salat) too loudly, nor
secretly; use a moderate tone.
17:111 And proclaim: "Praise be to GOD, who
has never begotten a son, nor does He have a partner in His kingship,
nor does He need any ally out of weakness," and magnify Him
constantly.
Mathematical evidence
Despite the above logical evidence, we now have physical, intangible,
mathematical evidence that the Quran is a numerically structured
book based on the number 19. The evidence for the 19-related findings
in Al-Fatehah can be studied elsewhere. In brief, the Basmallah
consists of 19 Arabic letters; every word of the Basmallah occurs
in the Quran in multiples of 19; our lips come in contact 19 times
when we recite Al-Fatehah and so on.
The Key is that God has provided us the Key (Al-Fatehah) to establish
contact with Him. The specific words that God gave Adam to redeem
himself worked for him and the Key will work for us.
We thank God for His mercy to provide us with specific words to
redeem us.
Mahmood A., MD
About this work
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Author
International Community of Submitters
Publisher
International Community of Submitters / Masjid Tucson