RODIAN: 2014

Surah Fatiha is the first chapter of the holy book of Quran. In this writing the gradual understanding of a common man in his own self and the outer world has been discussed. The revelation of the 7 verses in the heart makes him a true believer

Surah Fatiha is the first chapter of the holy book Al-Quran. Literally it means ‘the opening’. It is because it opens the door of The Quran, the most pious divine guidance. Most of the people of the world consider the holy book of Quran as the religious book of Muslims. But who read it from their heart with most possible realization, become bound to say it a book for the mankind. If one person takes the Quran in pure hand, heart and head and goes through the book in most comprehensive way, the person experiences a new joyful journey. Surah Fatiha is the inception of that very journey.

Starting of the Journey

Let’s think about a person who have opened all the doors of his mind.He is free from all the concepts of different religion, sects, casts, ideologies, dogmas etc. He also liberates his mind not to differentiate people on the basis of knowledge, skill and belief. Now he takes a glance on his outside. What does he see? He observes the beautiful nature, suitable environment and perfect interaction among all the components of nature. It is just a process of feeling and realizing. A man with normal common sense can’t deny creatorless creation. He can’t deny a superconscious mind behind the perfect running of these interactions. When he studies any discipline of any science, it becomes clearer to him. All types of microenvironment, macro environment and ecosystems bear the witness of a perfect control. When that open minded person experience these facts the concept of a Creator behind the creation incepts in his mind. Now after creating his immeasurable universe has the Creator left it to go in uncontrolled way? No, a careful observation again breaks this hypothesis. Rather it establishes the fact of careful and mindful running of the universe by the same who has created it. So there is someone who is the Lord of all the worlds. Some of these worlds has been identified by human beings an rest are not. This is just the first stage of realization which creates a sense of gratitude in the man towards the Lord. Now this gratitude comes out from his mouth in the form of praise. Then e utters, “Praise be to Allah, Lord of the worlds”. In Arabic Alhumdulillahe rabbul alameen. Allah is an Arabic word which from two words ‘Al’ and ‘Ilah’; ‘Al’ means ‘the’ (article) and ‘Ilah’ means ‘worshipful’. But worshipful is not complete expression of the word ‘Ilah’. Rather it means a) The One to be loved most, b) The One to be trusted most, c) The One to be demanded and requested most. So this the declaration of all praises with the gratitude after realization. This is the first verse of Surah Fatiha, the first chapter of Al-Qur'an.

The realization of this verse breaks some concepts prevailed in our surroundings-

In our studenthood we are taught that religion comes out of fear. According to the historians, when man felt himself distressed in front of the natural calamities, he conceptualized the gods and associated rituals. But this understanding of the first verse of the first chapter of the holy Qur'an tells us that religion is derived from the realization of the existing truth.
Some people say that we did not know and understand the invisible God and so we worshiped the idols. The knowledge of invisible God did not enter in our understanding. Now can it be justified? If the proof of invisible one God did not reach to you then what is the proof of your idols? Did their ideas incepted in your mind after realization?
The realization also breaks the concept of attributeless (Nirguna) God. If He is without and attribute the what is your logic in the creation and running of the universe?
Some people of some religion and doctrine( Hinduism, ancient tribal religions) tell that the creator and cherisher are different. Then how can this interaction be coordinated so intellectually.

Realizing of the Beneficent, the Merciful

After the first step of realization of the Lord’s existence, the man now more carefully looks around himself. He observes-

Everything is sufficient in this world as per the requirement of the human and other beings.
The bounties are not only sufficient but also more than enough. As, it would be enough for human being to survive in this world, if they would be provided only one type of food and all sorts of livelihood. Likewise we can find the varieties in all necessary items, beauty and matters of enjoyment.

So, having visualized this plenty in availability of livelihood and beauty of life, the human being calls the creator and cherisher as Rahman- the Beneficent. In this observation the man now identifies another attribute of the Creator. He just sees that the bounties are provided to all beings irrespective of species, class, caste, sect, religion and race. It is not true that the people who do good deed are only provided with livelihood and the people committing bad deeds are not. His mercy has covered all. So He is Raheem- the Merciful. The gift of the Surah Fatiha and entire Quran is also one of the most valuable bounties to mankind.

This verse again proves that the concept of fear is not the first and only concept to realize God. Instead, man with an open heart, first observes the Beneficent and Merciful attribute of the Lord.

Owner of the Day of Judgment

Now the person observes that the universe has been created and smoothly run by Allah. But there are two types of people-one shows gratitude and another does not. The second group of people not only deny to praise the Lord but they also cross the natural boundaries by hurting other people or disturbing the environment. Now there arises a question- Will the two groups of people should posses a same result? Another important is that there are communities and individuals in the society. Now an individual does a good deed, but his community crosses the natural law and the entire community is destroyed in a bad manner. History brings the evidence. On the other hand some people do bad deed bad deed but most of the people in the community continue to commit good deed. Therefore the entire community enjoys the benefit throughout longer period. Again a question raises here- Will the small number of population in the two types of community is truly justified with their deeds?

These vital questions get answered in one’s own heart. Whe something good happens the heart feels satisfied: When something bad occurs the internal peace of heart gets disturbed. Naturally the pure heart of that person states that good should have good result that is reward and evil deed should have bad result that is punishment. This proves that there should be a day when the all deeds will be justified equally. The great cherisher and the sustainer will be the one to decide who have done the right and who have done wrong with His creation.

But man iks always a hopeful being. He believes that the good will have its reward but the Creator may mercy the wrong doer if the convict apologizes and the Lord wills. He will mercy the one hHe will wish. He is the owner of the judgment, not merely a judge. This understanding also breakes the concept of different births in Hinduism.

Thee alone we worship, Thee alone we ask for help

Now having realized the former concepts, the man now start to think what is the duty of him. As his heart is full of gratitude, he promptly bow before Allah, the Khaliq(Creator), the Malik(Owner). Worship is the best way to show gratitude. He finds out the only Allah should be worshipped as He is the most High- the Creator, Sustainer, and the judge of the worlds. An intellectual mind never denies the concept that only the most High, the Supreme powerful should be shown most and all respect. So the man now utters, “Thee alone we worship”; In Arabic ‘Yaaka na abudu’*. The entire creation worships. Now after commitment to worship Allah, the man finds that he is not perfect in knowledge. By his own effort a man alone can not realize the thuth of the world and don all the necessary functions. Man even need help for worshipping as well as for dwelling in the world without causing any sort of disturbance of imbalance. So he finds that he need help. Now, he has found the most Gracious Allah as supreme powerful, he simply ask for help to Allah. Thus the grateful creation utter ‘Wa iyaka nastayeen’. So it is the fourth verse of the first chapter of Holy Quran.

Generally man commits mistake due to mainly two reasons- arrogance and jealousy. So when a man takes himself in a position to worship and to beg, his arrogance and jealousy get eradicated, all the power belongs to Allah, whom He wishes, he provides.

This verse opens a new window of realization. It shows us that ‘ration’ and ‘revelation’ both is necessary. Wisdom + divine guidance is the perfect strategy to go for the goal, the higher realization of the Supreme Being.

* ‘iyyaaka na'abudu’: In this sentence there is a special thing in grammatical aspect. In Arabic normally the subject + verb rule is used. So normally it would be used ‘na- abudu- Yaaka’ But verb has been used first only to put emphasis on the Highness of the Lord. Another interesting thing is the use of first person plural number. ‘We’ has been used here This implies that all the believers in the entire creaton worship the Lord after realization.