(in the Prescribed Ritual Devotions)
Salah, the five prescribed daily ritual devotions, is the second pillar of Islam. The Messenger Muhammad described it as the main and most important matter of Islam. There are different types of Salah, prescribed ritual devotions, some of which are obligatory, while others are recommended or specific to certain events or circumstances. Salah consists of actions such as standing, bowing and kneeling. It also consists of supplications, verbal devotions glorifying God and the recitation of Quranic passages.
One chapter of the Quran is an integral part of Salah, and that is the Opening Chapter (Surah al-Fatiha). The Messenger Muhammad informed us that Salah must include the recitation of the Opening Chapter in each unit of Salah. This chapter is the one part of the Quran which should be recited consistently in every unit of every Salah. Reciting other passages and chapters of the Quran during Salah is optional.
The Messenger Muhammad described the Opening Chapter as “the seven oft-repeated verses.” The repetition occurs multiple times a day in the prescribed ritual devotions. This would happen in the obligatory five daily prescribed ritual devotions as well as any optional or voluntary ones. Therefore, at a bare minimum, if we consider the obligatory daily Salah in the life of a Muslim, we find that this chapter is being recited seventeen times a day, every day. With the addition of voluntary Salah one performs, that number can double daily. This should indicate the importance of the Opening Chapter in Salah.
The Opening Chapter is the first chapter of the Quran that Muslims focus on during their Quran journey of learning and memorization. New Muslims are encouraged to begin learning the Quran with this chapter first. A new Muslim is a beginner in learning and can take some ideas from other beginners in the Muslim community. In Muslim households, young children will often memorize this chapter before they can competently read the Quran from a book form. They will often learn it orally through listening to it being read by their parents or teachers. Young children are encouraged to start learning and practicing Salah from the age of seven, and therefore the Opening Chapter is a big part of that learning process.
The prescribed ritual devotion, Salah, plays a major and central role in the life of a Muslim, and the Opening Chapter should as well. This chapter is a constant reminder about the essentials of Islam and its most important principles. It is a complete prayer that includes the request to be guided to the truth and to remain steadfast on true guidance without straying or opposing the truth. The combination of this important chapter being constantly recited in the most important act of worship in Islam is a cause of reflection and contemplation. Both Salah and Fatiha help a person to attain their objective of worshipping God and submitting to Him.
This is so insightful. Thank you for sharing.
Good teachings