In every verse of Surah Al-Fatihah there is an under-current of indirect allusions to our beloved Prophet (Blessings of Allah and peace be to him) in whose obedience lies our salvation, observes PROF. U. MUHAMMAD IQBAL
This divinely prescribed form of dua is conveyed to us through the divinely chosen Prophet. Prophet Muhammad (May Allah bless and greet him) was chosen by Allah to convey the whole of the Qur’ān. There are direct references to our beloved Prophet in the Qur’ān. Allah praises him and promises to bless him with utmost satisfaction, as a surpassing reward for his earnest endeavours and sublime sacrifices in His cause. In Surah Fatihah too, there are indirect but frequent references to our beloved Prophet and his exegesis of the Surah reflects his miraculous understanding of the Qur’ān.
The Prophet’s name – Muhammad – is etymologically related to Hamd which is the first word in Surah Fatihah. Allah is presented as Rabbul Aalameen. Imam Jaafar Sadiq (May Allah shower His mercy on him) is of the opinion that Allah’s rububiyat is implicit in the risalat of Prophet Muhammad (May Allah bless and greet him), Allah is Ar-Rahman and Ar-Raheem; Prophet Muhammad is Rahmatul-lil-Aalameen (21:107). “He is distressed by the losses you sustain, who is ardently desirous of your welfare and is tender and merciful to those that believe.” (9:128) This quality of concern is common to both Allah and His Messenger. Allah is more concerned with their well-being than you are. (4:135) Whose well being? The well-being of yourselves, your parents, your kinsmen, the rich and the poor. (see 4:135)
Prophet Muhammad (Allah’s blessings and peace be to him) will carry aloft the standard of Allah’s hamd (liva-ul-hamd) on the Day of Judgement. This act will be his singular privilege and set him above all other Prophets. This privilege will be similar to the privilege of securing Maqam-e-Mahmood. Mahmood is another word etymologically related to Hamd.
Allah is Maliki Yowmiddeen. He has set apart a Day, exclusively for rendering full justice to one and all. All will be resurrected to receive justice of the highest order. Allah exhorts Muslims: Believers! Be upholders of justice, and bearers of witness to Truth for the sake of Allah. (4:135) Prophet Muhammad is made to say, I have been commanded to establish justice among you (42:15). Allah and Prophet Muhammad (May Allah bless and greet him) are both committed to justice. However, Allah will honour His last Prophet by conferring on him the privilege of intercession and, as a result, he will save countless sinners. The reference to Maliki Yowmiddeen carries a parallel reference with it to Shafee-ul-Muthnibeen. Our beloved Prophet (May Allah bless and greet him) will keep his holy face on the ground and intercede on behalf of the sinners and Allah will ask him to raise his head and grant him the fulfilment of his wish.
When Muslims say, Iyyaka Nabudu, you alone do we worship and will continue to worship, they promise that they will worship Allah in the same way as Prophet Muhammad (May Allah bless and greet him) worshipped. Deviation from his way will disqualify the act of worship. All forms of worship – prayers, fasting, zakath, Hajj have been determined by our beloved Prophet and it is ordained that we conform to them scrupulously and sincerely. The companions (May Allah be pleased with them) saw how he prayed and followed the same procedure, which has been passed on from generation to generation, through unwritten as well as written records.
When Muslims say, Iyyaka Nastaeen, you alone do we turn to for help and will continue to do so, they have the Prophet’s example before them, and request Allah to shower His blessings upon him every time we utter his name. A Muslim prays, O Allah, I beg of thee all good things which were asked for by Thy virtuous servants and I pray to be saved from such evil against which they had sought thy protection. (Al-Hizbul Azam, Translator S. Aqeel Mohammad, Day one Dua No. 21) Another prayer is quite relevant here. Allahumma inna nasaluka min Khairi ma sa alaka minhu Nabiyyika Muhammad wa nauthibika min sharri mastaa thaka minhu Nabiyyika Muhammad. O Allah we seek from You that Khair which Your Messenger, Muhammad (May Allah bless and greet him) sought from You. And, we seek refuge in You from that evil from which Your Messenger, Muhammad sought refuge. While asking for help from God, Muslims should ensure that their food and clothes have not been secured by illegal means. The Prophet has advised us to implement the project of promoting goodness and rejecting evil for the fulfilment of our prayers.
When Muslims say Ihdina, they know that Allah has sent our beloved Prophet with huda and Deenul Haq to be Allah’s instrument for guiding mankind. Turning away from him is fraught with grave consequences.
When Muslims say, As Siratal Mustaqeem, they know our beloved Prophet is the Way to Allah. The religion of Islam that he practised as his way of life is the religion of Truth from our Lord. Allah and His Last Messenger are associated with Siratal Mustaqeem. (11:56, 43:43)
When Muslims seek the way of those whom Allah has favoured, they know that Prophets are among those whom He has favoured. In the capacity of the Last Prophet for all mankind, Prophet Muhammad stands out from others and enjoys certain unique advantages. For example, the Qur’ān is well-preserved and genuine Truth from God. The record of his concise and eloquent statements and inspiring deeds is well-scrutinised and vetted and well-preserved and available in the form of Hadith. By connecting with them, Muslims follow the edifying example of Prophet Muhammad (May Allah bless and greet him) with a sparkle of joy in their eyes and with robust confidence in their hearts. Allah’s promise in the following verses buoys them up; (O Messenger) tell people: If you indeed love Allah, follow me, and Allah will love you and will forgive you your sins. Allah is All-Forgiving, All-Compassionate.” (3:31)
The people who earned Allah’s ire and went astray waxed proud and said, “Shall we forsake our deities for the sake of a distracted poet?” (37:36) The rejection of Allah’s Messenger is tantamount to the rejection of Allah Himself. As a result, they would taste grievous chastisement. They went astray because they paid no heed to the warning Messengers – the only source of guidance and clung tenaciously to the erroneous beliefs and rituals and ancestral traditions sanctified by time and magnified by legend, “Before them a multitude of people of olden times had erred”. (37:71)
When Muslims pray, (Direct us on to the way of those) who did not incur Your wrath and who were not astray, they know that they have put their trust in Prophet Muhammad (May Allah bless and greet him) because “he has brought the Truth and confirmed the veracity of the Messengers.” (37:37) When we follow him, we will get Allah’s love and not His wrath; when we follow his way, which is in reality the way of all Messengers who preceded him, deviation from the Standard Way is completely ruled out.
Thus, in every verse of Surah Al-Fatihah there is an under-current of indirect allusions to our beloved Prophet (Blessings of Allah and peace be to him) in whose obedience lies our salvation. In that state of salvation, we will wonder ecstatically, “So, are we not going to die, except for our first death? And shall we suffer no chastisement?” (37: 58, 59)