English Tafsir (Al-Sa‘di):

All praise and thanks belong to Allah alone, the Lord and Sustainer of all worlds.
He is the One who nurtures and provides for all of His creation, guiding and maintaining them according to His wisdom.

All-encompassing praise for Allah’s perfection, mercy, and blessings.

Lord of all beings: humans, jinn, angels, and everything that exists.

English Tafsir (Al-Sa‘di):

The Most Gracious, the Most Merciful.

This verse highlights two of Allah’s most beautiful names: Al-Raḥmān and Al-Raḥīm. Both express His immense mercy, but with subtle distinction:

His mercy encompasses all creation in both this life and the next.

His mercy is specifically directed at the believers, especially in the Hereafter.

Mentioning these names again reinforces the idea that everything begins with, continues through, and ends with the mercy of Allah.

English Tafsir (Al-Sa‘di):

Master of the Day of Judgment.

Allah alone is the sovereign and judge on the Day of Judgment — the day when every soul will be held accountable for its deeds. On that day, no one will have authority, nor will intercession benefit except by His permission.

This reminder instills fear and responsibility, prompting sincere worship and humility in this world in preparation for that final reckoning.

English Tafsir (Al-Sa‘di):

You alone we worship, and You alone we ask for help.

This verse combines the essence of servitude and reliance upon Allah. It declares that all worship — prayer, supplication, obedience, love, and fear — belongs only to Him. At the same time, it affirms that we cannot succeed without His help.

It unites two core principles: sincerity in worship and total reliance on Allah, which are at the heart of Islam.

English Tafsir (Al-Sa‘di):

Guide us on the Straight Path,

After affirming worship and reliance, the servant asks Allah for the most important need: guidance. The “Straight Path” refers to the clear and correct way of life — one that leads to Allah’s pleasure and Paradise.

This path includes sound belief, righteous actions, sincerity, and adherence to the Prophet’s example. It is the path of moderation, justice, and truth.

English Tafsir (Al-Sa‘di):

The path of those You have blessed — not of those who earned Your anger or went astray.

This verse explains what the “Straight Path” is by contrasting it with two misguided paths. Allah’s blessed ones are the prophets, the truthful, the martyrs, and the righteous.

Those who earned His anger are those who had knowledge but rejected it . Those who went astray are those who acted without knowledge .

The believer asks to follow the path of truth and avoid both the arrogance of ignoring truth and the ignorance of misguidance.

Summary of the Meanings:

Begin every action with reliance on Allah, invoking His all-encompassing mercy (Ar-Raḥmān) and specific mercy (Ar-Raḥīm).

True praise belongs to Allah alone, for His perfect attributes and constant blessings.

Allah’s mercy is vast and ever-present, reaching all creation and especially believers.

Allah is the sole authority over the Hereafter, where every soul is repaid with perfect justice.

Pure monotheism: we depend entirely on Allah for worship and help in all affairs.

A heartfelt du‘ā’ asking Allah to guide us to the straight path: the path of the Prophets and righteous — not the path of those who earned anger or went astray.

Al-Fātiḥah is a comprehensive du‘ā’ and a foundation of the Qur’an, combining Tawḥīd, worship, praise, and guidance.