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Reflections on The Holy Quran

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North South University
North South University

The passage provides a reflection on Surah Al-Fatiha, the first chapter of the Quran. It summarizes that the surah establishes Allah as the creator and governor of the universe who is infinitely compassionate. It notes the surah addresses why evil exists by stating Allah will judge between good and evil. It also explains the surah teaches that only Allah should be worshipped and that believers should seek guidance from the Quran and teachings of Muhammad to stay on the "straight path" pleasing to Allah.

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Reflections on The Holy Quran The Holy Quran should be studied with understanding and reflection, as instructed in the Holy Quran itself. Here, I share my reflections on the very first and greatest surah of the Holy Quran, Al-Fatiha, which is also a summary of the entire Quran. I will try to highlight the inherent rationality in the different ayats (verses) of the surah and how the latter ayats (verses) answer or address the questions or curiosities that naturally arise in the former ones. The surah begins with the highest praise and thanks for Allah (The One God) and informs us that He is the Creator, Architect and Governor of all that exists, i.e., all the galaxies, solar systems, planets and all they contain. The first ayat (verse) makes perfect rational sense, since the highest praise should indeed be reserved for the One who caused the Big Bang and then developed and nurtured the entire universe from its initial stage to what it is now. The first verse also implies that all the complex life forms on the planet Earth were developed, engineered and designed by Allah (The One God) and hence there can be no doubt that the highest praise and admiration belongs to Him alone. After the first verse, the mind is moved to know more about the Creator and Governor of all existence, and the Quran satiates this curiosity in the next verse by stating that Allah (The One God) is infinitely good, compassionate and merciful. Indeed, we can see signs of this mercy and compassion on our planet, e.g., a newborn (animal, human or plant) needs extreme care and love if it is to survive into adulthood, and the second verse implies that the ultimate source of this extreme care and love is Allah (The One God). Another example of the infinite compassion of our Creator is the sustenance (elements necessary for survival and development of life) that is being continuously provided to all the animals, plants, humans and microbes. After reading the second ayat (verse), a rational mind might ask - if the Creator is infinitely good and compassionate then why is their evil and suffering in the world? The question is answered in the next (third) verse which tells us that Allah (The One God) is also the Master of the Day of Judgment, i.e., the day when evil will be repaid with evil, good with good and whoever wronged another has to compensate the one he or she wronged. On that day every creature will be resurrected and will be gathered before Allah (The One God). So far, in the first three ayats (verses) of Surah Al Fatiha we are informed that Allah (God) has created everything, He governs everything and when everything is done-and-dusted He will recreate each and every one of us and gather us before Him. It is impossible for the human mind to comprehend such power and greatness but it is easy to rationalize that the possessor of such power and greatness should alone be worshiped (be the object of of devotion) and should alone be sought for help (in each and every matter); exactly this is being said in the next (fourth) ayat (verse): You alone we worship, and you alone we ask for help.
In the fifth ayat (verse) we are taught the kind of help we should especially seek. We should constantly ask Allah (The One God) to guide us to the straight path - the best and perfect way to live this life - the life that will be most pleasing to our Creator. The straight path can be derived from the Quran, from the teachings of Prophet Muhammad (may peace be upon him) and his true followers and this idea is being alluded to in the second last (sixth) verse of the surah. In the last (seventh) ayat (verse) of the surah we are taught to be fearful of falling into the ways of the people who have earned His wrath by rejecting the message of the Quran and from the ways of the people who went astray (who misunderstood and misinterpreted the message of the Quran or the teachings of Prophet Muhmmad may peace be upon him). The last part of the surah guides our hopes and fears towards the most rational direction, i.e., the only thing that should matter to us is that the All-Powerful Creator is happy and well-pleased with us and our way of life, and that He is never angry, dissatisfied or indifferent towards us.

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Reflections on The Holy Quran

  • 1. Reflections on The Holy Quran The Holy Quran should be studied with understanding and reflection, as instructed in the Holy Quran itself. Here, I share my reflections on the very first and greatest surah of the Holy Quran, Al-Fatiha, which is also a summary of the entire Quran. I will try to highlight the inherent rationality in the different ayats (verses) of the surah and how the latter ayats (verses) answer or address the questions or curiosities that naturally arise in the former ones. The surah begins with the highest praise and thanks for Allah (The One God) and informs us that He is the Creator, Architect and Governor of all that exists, i.e., all the galaxies, solar systems, planets and all they contain. The first ayat (verse) makes perfect rational sense, since the highest praise should indeed be reserved for the One who caused the Big Bang and then developed and nurtured the entire universe from its initial stage to what it is now. The first verse also implies that all the complex life forms on the planet Earth were developed, engineered and designed by Allah (The One God) and hence there can be no doubt that the highest praise and admiration belongs to Him alone. After the first verse, the mind is moved to know more about the Creator and Governor of all existence, and the Quran satiates this curiosity in the next verse by stating that Allah (The One God) is infinitely good, compassionate and merciful. Indeed, we can see signs of this mercy and compassion on our planet, e.g., a newborn (animal, human or plant) needs extreme care and love if it is to survive into adulthood, and the second verse implies that the ultimate source of this extreme care and love is Allah (The One God). Another example of the infinite compassion of our Creator is the sustenance (elements necessary for survival and development of life) that is being continuously provided to all the animals, plants, humans and microbes. After reading the second ayat (verse), a rational mind might ask - if the Creator is infinitely good and compassionate then why is their evil and suffering in the world? The question is answered in the next (third) verse which tells us that Allah (The One God) is also the Master of the Day of Judgment, i.e., the day when evil will be repaid with evil, good with good and whoever wronged another has to compensate the one he or she wronged. On that day every creature will be resurrected and will be gathered before Allah (The One God). So far, in the first three ayats (verses) of Surah Al Fatiha we are informed that Allah (God) has created everything, He governs everything and when everything is done-and-dusted He will recreate each and every one of us and gather us before Him. It is impossible for the human mind to comprehend such power and greatness but it is easy to rationalize that the possessor of such power and greatness should alone be worshiped (be the object of of devotion) and should alone be sought for help (in each and every matter); exactly this is being said in the next (fourth) ayat (verse): You alone we worship, and you alone we ask for help.
  • 2. In the fifth ayat (verse) we are taught the kind of help we should especially seek. We should constantly ask Allah (The One God) to guide us to the straight path - the best and perfect way to live this life - the life that will be most pleasing to our Creator. The straight path can be derived from the Quran, from the teachings of Prophet Muhammad (may peace be upon him) and his true followers and this idea is being alluded to in the second last (sixth) verse of the surah. In the last (seventh) ayat (verse) of the surah we are taught to be fearful of falling into the ways of the people who have earned His wrath by rejecting the message of the Quran and from the ways of the people who went astray (who misunderstood and misinterpreted the message of the Quran or the teachings of Prophet Muhmmad may peace be upon him). The last part of the surah guides our hopes and fears towards the most rational direction, i.e., the only thing that should matter to us is that the All-Powerful Creator is happy and well-pleased with us and our way of life, and that He is never angry, dissatisfied or indifferent towards us.