25 Life Lessons from Surah al-Fatihah

Why is contemplating about Surah al-Fatihah important?

• Allah tells us in the Qur’an many times to reflect on the Qur'an
• To help us concentrate in our salah
• To know why this Surah is important to us on a personal level
• To realise the power and relevance of this surah

25 Life Lessons from Surah al-Fatihah

1.Never forget that Allah reminds us, He announces to us, that He is Compassionate and Merciful.

2. This compassion and mercy of Allah is evident everywhere we look and every blessing He gives us and allows us to have and enjoy.

3. No-one deserves more praise than Allah.

4. The God you believe in is the Master, the Controller, the Sustainer and the Provider of the entire universe. Do not think for a moment that He does not know you or care about you. He is the Rabb of everything. The Lord of things we know and things we do not know and may never know. 

5. Mercy and compassion were so important to Allah that He mentioned it twice. Allah does things with deliberation. Nothing is said or done without purpose. 

6. Tread cautiously and purposefully on this earth as we all will be held accountable on the Day of Judgment.

7. Act, think and live in a way that shows that we believe that one day I will meet my Lord and will have to give an explanation for my actions.

8. Allah is our King. Treat Him in that manner.

9. Ask only Allah. Never think that Allah will not respond. 

10. Everyone needs help so help them.

11. When despair and hopelessness start to enter your mind and your heart - always remember to turn for help to Allah.

12. Beg only before Allah.

13. Worship only Allah. Everything we trust and have hope in will one day disappoint us and let us down. Rely only on Allah.

14. Do not become self-righteous and so sure of your righteousness or righteous cause or belief that you forget that we ask Allah to guide us on the Straight Path a minimum of 17 times a day.

15. Look for people who Allah has blessed with His Grace but know that no person, no people were perfect and that you will find weaknesses and mistakes in everyone of them. So take the good and leave the rest.

16. Stay away from people who earn Allah's anger through their speech and through their actions. Those who sin openly and do not worry about the consequences.

17. Stay away from those who have gone astray. This included s those who do not want to reform themselves after being advised many times. Especially if you think their speech and their actions might harm or affect you adversely.

18. This awesome surah is a gift from Allah to us. How grateful should we be that Allah gives us taufiq to recite it?  

19. Are we giving it due reverence and devotion in our salah?

20. Are we living by its lessons and meanings in our daily life?

21. We are asking Allah to guide us to the Straight Path, but it is not that Allah is guiding us but many of us are turning away from His guidance?

22. The least we can do to respect and revere this surah is to recite it correctly to please our Lord.

23. The surah is called the opening. The opening to Allah's compassion and mercy. The opening to knowing your Rabb. The opening to the vastness tawhid and the opening to a relationship and proximity to Allah.

24. Our relationship with Allah is summed up in this short surah.

25. The key words and phrases of this surah are: Compassion, Mercy, Praise Allah, Accountability, Worship Allah alone, Du'a, Straight Path, Guidance and Avoid Wrong-doers.