Interpretation of Surat Al-Fatihah by Sheikh Al-Shaarawi<\/a><\/p>\nScholar Biography
\nMohammad Metwali Al Sharawi was born in 1911 to a farming family in
\na small village in Egypt. He was well learned, and throughout his
\nchildhood and adult education he excelled in poetry and literature. His
\ntalents did not pass unnoticed by his father who wanted to send him to
\ncomplete his higher education in Al Azhar, one of the most prestigious
\nIslamic institutes at the time. Mohammad, however, had different plans
\nin mind. He wanted to stay and help his family farm the land. Sensing his
\nchild\u2019s potential, the father kept the pressure on. In an attempt to change
\nhis father\u2019s mind, Mohammad asked him to buy all the major references
\nin literature, culture, Arabic language, and Islamic studies. These were
\nvaluable books, and not cheap by any means. Despite the financial
\nburden, his father came through, and bought him all the books he asked
\nfor knowing well that they were not part of Al Azhar’s curriculum.
\nMohamed excelled in his studies, and read far beyond what was asked of
\nhim. He enjoyed the Arabic language, poetry, and was well known for his
\nability to express his ideas in a clear and simple manner.
\nHe graduated in 1943 and held several teaching jobs until he moved to
\nSaudi Arabia in 1950 to work as a professor of religious studies in the
\nuniversity of Mecca. In 1963 he moved back to Egypt and held a high
\nposition at the Al Azhar. And in November of 1976 he was appointed by
\nthe Egyptian prime minister to head the ministry of religious affairs. One
\nof his first achievements as a government minister was to establish the
\nfirst Islamic bank in Egypt.
\nThroughout his life Al-Sherawi was recognized with several awards
\nincluding the presidential medal and two honorary Ph.D.s from top
\nuniversities.
\nPerhaps his greatest work and most recognizable achievement was a
\ntelevised Series called “Reflections upon the Quran” . The television
\nshow started to air in 1980 with the first few episodes covering his vision
\nand method in explaining the Quran. This was followed by his reflections
\nupon each verse of the Quran starting from the very first chapter. His TV
\n2
\nappearance spanned over 10 years and covered more than two thirds of
\nthe Quran. His death however, prevented him from completing the entire
\ntext.
\nAl-Sherawi’s method in explaining and reflecting upon the Quran
\ndepended on several sources. First, he relied on his thorough knowledge
\nof the Arabic language and its intricacies. Second, He drew on his
\ncomprehensive knowledge of the entire text of the Quran, and third he
\nfocused on the social applications and everyday life lessons of the holy
\ntext. He also took special care to answer those who attacked or attempted
\nto discredit verses of the Quran.
\nHis ability to use clear and simple examples and to illustrate deep
\nphilosophical issues in an easy to understand manner helped him reach
\nvast audiences of different social and educational backgrounds. His TV
\nseries reruns on many television channels to this day. It is this ability to
\nreach the masses over decades is what we will try to tap into.
\nAl-Sherawi passed away in the summer of 1998. His funeral was
\nbroadcast live and attended by tens of thousands of admirers.
\nThis work is a direct adaptation of his TV series. For our purposes, many
\nEnglish translations of the meaning of the Quran were considered. While
\nno single translation can capture the true essence and beauty of the
\nQuran, we found that more can be gained, and less will be lost, by
\nlooking at multiple translations simultaneously.
\n3<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Chapter 1 The Opening (Al Fatiha)
\nVerse One
\n“In the name of God, the Most
\nMerciful, the Most Benevolent”.
\nThe Quran, from the moment it was revealed and through its first words,
\nwas attached to the name of God. The first words of revelation to Prophet
\nMuhammad were “Read in the name of your Lord who created”
\n(Chapter 96: Verse 01.) Just as the Quran began its universal mission ‘in
\nthe name of God’, we should also begin the recital of the Quran in the
\nsame way.
\nThe Prophet Muhammad peace be upon him was in the cave of Heraa
\nwhen Gabriel, the angel who was responsible for delivering the Quran,
\ncame to him for their first meeting.
\nThe first word of God: ( Read! ).
\nThe command ‘read’ requires the person to have either memorized
\nsomething, or to have something written in front of him. But the Prophet
\nat the time had neither; and Even if he had a book before him, it would
\nhave been pointless, since he could not read or write.
\nWhen Gabriel delivered God\u2019s command: ‘read’, the Prophet -being
\naware of his capabilities- replied : “I cannot read”. Gabriel repeated to
\nthe messenger: ‘read’, but the Prophet replied every time “I cannot read”.
\nThe opponents of Islam picked out this point to question: how is it
\n4
\npossible when God -the all capable- commands His unlearned messenger
\nto ‘read’ and then the prophet replies with “I cannot read”? Isn’t God’s
\ncommand and wish always enforced through His powers that say to an
\nobject be and it becomes?
\nWe reply that God communicated, through His powers that say to an
\nobject be and it becomes, while the Prophet communicated back through
\nhis human nature which said that he is unable to read even one word.
\nHowever, it is the God\u2019s power, through this heavenly message, that
\nwould transform this illiterate man into teacher for entire mankind until
\nthe Day of Resurrection. And while every person learns from another
\nhuman being, Muhammad (peace be upon him) was taught by God. He
\nbecame a teacher for the greatest scholars of mankind who took
\nknowledge and wisdom from him. So when the prophet said “I cannot
\nread”, the answer came from God in very next verse:
\nRead: In the Name of your Lord who created, created Man of a
\nblood-clot (96:1,2)
\nMeaning that God who created from nothing will make you, Muhammad,
\nread and deliver to people a message, the likes of which the civilizations
\nof the world will fail to produce until the Day of Judgment. God
\nAlmighty continued:
\nRead, for your Lord is most generous, Who taught by the pen
\n(96:3,4)<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
\nNote that God in this verse used the formula of emphasis “Most
\nGenerous”. When you are taught by a person, then it is through the mere
\ngenerosity of God because He made it possible for you to learn from your
\nequal. But if God himself is the one who is teaching you, then He is ‘the
\nMost Generous’ because He has elevated you Muhammad to the highest
\nlevel.
\nGod wants us to know that the prophet (peace be upon him) does not
\nrecite the Quran because he had learned reading, rather he recites it in the
\nname of God. And as long as he recites in the name of God, then it does
\nnot matter whether he was educated by a man or not, as God has taught
\nhim above the standards of entire mankind.
\nLikewise, we should begin reading the Quran with the name of God,
\nbecause He is the one who made it easy for us in revelation, and recital.
\nHe says:
\nSay, \u2018If God had so willed, I would not have recited it to you, nor
\n5
\nwould He have made it known to you. I lived a whole lifetime among
\nyou before it came to me. How can you not use your reason?\u2019 (10:16)
\nHere you may wonder: Is the recital of the Quran the only task we are
\nrequired to begin with God\u2019s name? The fact is that we are asked to
\nbegin every act in the name of God. We must honor his favors and
\nbounties upon us in this universe. For example, when we farm the land,
\nwe should begin in the name of God because we did not create the land
\nthat we cultivate, or the seed that we sow, nor have we poured down rain
\nfor the plants to grow. In fact, the farmer who plows and plants can be
\ncompletely ignorant about the composition of the soil, the substances
\nwithin each seed, and the effect of water on their interaction. Our limited
\nrole in this scenario is to our intellect and capabilities -which are created
\nby God- to work the substances that are also created by God until the
\nplants grow. We have no power to coerce the earth to yield crops. It is
\nbeyond our capability to create a single seed or bring down rain. Hence,
\nwhen you begin your work with the name of God, you acknowledge that
\nHe is the one who has subjected the earth, seed and water for you. In
\nessence, you are declaring that these elements function in the name of
\ntheir creator.
\nGod has subjected the entire universe for our benefit. Sadly, we are often
\nunder the misconception that we have power or true autonomy in this
\nworld. Moreover, and due to the reliability and monotony by which
\neverything functions for us, we fall under the false impression that the
\nphysical laws of cause and effect, action and reaction are naturally
\ninherent, and independent of their Creator. However, the truth is that it is
\nthe will of God that allows these laws to function, and if He wills, He
\nstops them. For example, a domesticated camel or an enormous elephant
\ncan be led by a child. But even a strong man cannot domesticate a small
\nsnake. If taming an animal was done through our own powers -such as
\nour physical and intellectual advantages- then we should easily be able to
\ndomesticate a small snake or an insect. God wanted to present us these
\nanimals as proof so we realize that He has subjugated what He willed,
\nand He did not subjugate what He did not will as stated in this verse:
\nDo they not see the cattle among things We have fashioned by Our
\npower, which they own, Whom We made subservient to them so that
\nsome of them they ride and some they eat? (36:71,72)
\nNow, you can appreciate that the submissiveness of livestock is through
\ntheir subjugation by God, not through our abilities.
\nLet\u2019s look at another example. While scientists explain how clouds form
\n6
\nand rain falls through the laws of physics in the atmosphere, God
\nAlmighty wants to draw our attention towards a higher power. When
\nthere are droughts, we should realize that this is not only happening
\nthrough the procedures of the universe, but also through the will of the
\nCreator. If the universe functioned exclusively according to its
\nprocedures, then what makes them ineffective at times? Conditions may
\nbe perfect for rain, and the forecast may call for plenty, yet no rain
\ncomes. It is the will of God that is above the laws of the universe.
\nTherefore, everything in the world is in his name. He is the one who
\ngives and withholds even in the matters in which we have been given
\nsome freedom of choice as stated in the following verse:
\nTo God belongs the kingdom of the heavens and the earth. He
\ncreates whatsoever He wills, bestows daughters on whosoever He
\nwill, and gives sons to whom He choose.On some He bestows both
\nsons and daughters, and some He leaves barren. He is all-knowing
\nand all-powerful. (42:49,50)
\nThis last example comes from within ourselves. A perfectly healthy
\nmarried couple may not conceive children despite continually trying.
\nThis man and woman may have all the required health attributes to
\nconceive, and all the physical conditions have been met for pregnancy.
\nHowever, conditions do not create a human being, God does. If He wills
\nhe allows the laws to function and if He wills He stops their function.
\nThe lesson to take is, while we live our lives through causes and effects,
\nand the laws of the universe, we should always keep in mind that these
\nlaws do not govern God, rather it is Him who creates and governs them
\nat all time. Hence, everything and every action should begin with God\u2019s
\nname.
\nGod Almighty -the creator of the universe- can make the laws of the
\nuniverse function and cease to function. He is also able to go beyond the
\nlaws. Take, for example, the story of Prophet Zechariah (peace be upon
\nhim) who was responsible for providing for Virgin Mary. He used to
\nbring her all her daily needs as she secluded for worship. One day, when
\nhe walked into her room, he was surprised to find food he did not bring,
\nnor seen the likes of before.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
he Holy Quran Explained In Clear English Chapter 1 The Opening (Al Fatiha) By the scholar Mohammad Metwali Al Sharawi Translated by Quran Garden To download the book of interpretation of Surat Al-Fatihah...<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":3485,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[4],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-3483","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-about-islam"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/investigate-islam.com\/web\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3483","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/investigate-islam.com\/web\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/investigate-islam.com\/web\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/investigate-islam.com\/web\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/investigate-islam.com\/web\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=3483"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/investigate-islam.com\/web\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3483\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":3487,"href":"https:\/\/investigate-islam.com\/web\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3483\/revisions\/3487"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/investigate-islam.com\/web\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/3485"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/investigate-islam.com\/web\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=3483"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/investigate-islam.com\/web\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=3483"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/investigate-islam.com\/web\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=3483"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}