AL-FATEHA & ITS SIGNIFICANCE
by Shamim A Siddiqi
The Forum for Islamic Work, 265 Flatbush Avenue, Brooklyn, NY – 11355 U.S.A.
2009
Pages: 106
Price: $6
Reviewed by KHAN YASIR
It happens that an event occurs and people take it casually; but a noble soul carries an insurmountable impact of it as he feels propelled to do something in that direction. So happened with Shamim A. Siddiqi once when he along with his nephew went to the house of Baqar Khan. At Maghrib time, Baqar Khan led the prayers at home. No sooner had he started reciting Surah Al-Fateha, he started sobbing. It left a profound impact on the author. In his own words, “It was a very astounding situation for me. I started thinking what made him cry so profoundly. I went on thinking and came to realisation that it was the depth of the meanings and eloquent message of Al-Fateha, demanding devotion and commitment to Allah (swt), and overwhelming sense of responsibility that its contents invite one to shoulder that moved his heart and he could not control tears rolling down his cheeks.” This event, which took place in 1976, resulted in Al-Fateha & Its Significance in 2009.
Surah Al-Fateha is the key to the understanding of the Qur’ān; it is the preface of the Qur’ān, in other words the Qur’ān is epitomised in seven verses or what the author refers to as ‘Qur’ān in miniature’. It is ummul kitab (mother of scriptures) and saba minal mathani (seven oft repeated verses). The most important thing regarding Surah Al-Fateha is that the Master, the Creator and the Sustainer is Himself teaching us how to beg and seek His help and guidance just as He taught Adam the words of repentance when the latter ate the forbidden fruit. Surah Al-Fateha thus creates a direct link between God and His servants.
The author repeatedly argues that all Muslims compulsorily read Surah Al-Fateha at least 17 times a day in their obligatory prayers: if only they understand what they are reading, what they are vowing, what they are asking for and how their prayer is answered – their prayers will certainly become a source of inspiration for them and they will become the living embodiments of Surah Al-Fateha in their thoughts and action on earth. For example, the author emphatically argues that when we say iyyaka nabudu we must realise that, “it is a big declaration and a lifelong binding statement on the part of a Muslim and Muslimah to live by that.”
We all recite Surah Al-Fateha so many times a day. Still our lives are as it is or are exacerbated over the years. Why? The author takes up the question and deals with it in detail. He says that Muslims “are grossly violating their commitment to Allah and then expect that Allah will come to their help when they call upon Him.” In other words we contradict our assertions through our actions, behaviour and performances and in consequence the sufferings of the Ummah are multiplying manifold day by day. Thus our whole life stands as a jumble of contradictions and inconsistencies and so it seems that Allah has no interest in answering our prayers.
The author has successfully discussed the purpose of life, the cause of the dilapidation of Ummah and the remedy. What is most interesting is the fact that the author argues that all the remedies are concealed in these seven oft repeated verses that all the Muslims memorised. He rightly asserts that the Muslim Ummah now stands in the witness box of history to call the humanity to the fold of its Creator and Sustainer exactly as the Holy Messenger (may Allah bless and greet him) did. Though the author makes it very clear that Dawah efforts are not a bed of roses but of stiff thorns, he adds that it is the price worth paying for the eternal bliss.
Mr. Siddiqi is a da’ee and Dawah-concern is dripping from each and every line of his book in which he tries to impress upon the Ummah to uphold the task of enjoining good and forbidding evil – the very logic of their existence as per the Qur’ān. Or else if they continue to indulge in macabre trivialities of this worldly life; as per the Sunnah of Allah they will be treated like those that are condemned and rejected (maghdub and dhaalleen). God forbid! It is the eleventh hour for us to awake and realise that there is only one way to success and salvation and that is siaratal mustaqeem, the straight path that has been shown by the scriptures and the prophets, and finally by the Qur’ān revealed to Muhammad (may Allah bless and greet him). There are no shortcuts.
If we read it with utmost sincerity, the book can kindle the fire of activism in the heart. This spark if once kindled can change the priorities rather the destiny of a person. Dawah organisations can use this book as a means both to undertake the Dawah work and to train da’ees.
Foreword by Professor Khurshid Ahmad and special introductory notes by Dr. Kaukab Siddique and Dr. Omar Afzal have enhanced the utility of the book. Attractive cover page and glossary at the end have made it perfectly comprehensible even for non-Muslims. The book is marked by felicity of expression, beautiful and appealing, and not crafty. But one thing: instead of using ‘Muslim/Muslimah’, ‘he/she’ and ‘his/her’ all through the book, the author might have opted for only Muslim or he or his and the reader would have surely understood that it also means the other; it mars smooth reading. Hope the author will take care of it in future editions.
Overall the book is both worth reading and more than that worth implementing in our daily lives, worth gifting to our family and friends that they too may understand the significance of those verses that they recite so often but hardly ponder upon what they are conversing to their Lord and how they are contradicting their own pledges every now and then. From the deepest of his heart the author appeals to us all, “Once Muslims learn how to use this key to attain falah, this world will be theirs.”
Just a point to add as it seems it has been left in the book: that pondering, understanding and implementing Al-Fateha in our daily lives is the first step and not the last. Al-Fateha is the prayer of the servant to Allah and the rest of the Qur’ān is the answer and guidance that he has asked for. Thus exploration of this Surah must pave the way for further research and engrossment into the Word of God. Hope that this endeavour of the author will prove an asset for him in the life hereafter and readers of the book too will be benefited immensely from the book, and may go further and read and ponder over the whole Qur’ān. Amen.