Notis: Det följande är en reproduktion av artiklen "The Key (Al-Fatehah)" i Oktober-upplagan 2002 av Submitters Perspective, den månatliga bulletinen av United Submitters International.

Al-Fatehah means “The Opening” or “The Key”. It forms the essence of the “prayer” portion of our Contact Prayers (Salat). The word Salat itself is derived from the root word “wasl” which means to contact or connect. Let us evaluate this connection from the time of Adam.

How was Adam created?

God tells us in the Quran

[32:7] He is the One who perfected everything He created, and started the creation of the human from clay.

[32:8] Then He continued his reproduction through a certain lowly liquid.

[32:9] He shaped him and blew into him from His spirit….

The other instance when God directly blew from His spirit is the example of the creation of Jesus

[21:91] As for the one who maintained her virginity, we blew into her from our spirit, and thus, we made her and her son a portent for the whole world.

[66:12] Also Mary, the Amramite. She maintained her chastity, then we blew into her from our spirit….

[3:59] The example of Jesus, as far as GOD is concerned, is the same as that of Adam; He created him from dust, then said to him, "Be," and he was.

The "equality" of the creation of Jesus and Adam is confirmed mathematically; Jesus and Adam are mentioned in the Quran the same number of times, 25 times each.

Who are we all?

We are all children of Adam

[7:26] O children of Adam, we have provided you with garments to cover your bodies, as well as for luxury. But the best garment is the garment of righteousness….

[7:27] O children of Adam, do not let the devil dupe you as he did when he caused the eviction of your parents from Paradise, and the removal of their garments to expose their bodies. He and his tribe see you, while you do not see them….

[7:35] O children of Adam, when messengers come to you from among you, and recite My revelations to you, those who take heed and lead a righteous life, will have nothing to fear, nor will they grieve.

[36:60] Did I not covenant with you, O Children of Adam, that you shall not worship the devil? That he is your most ardent enemy?

Note in 36:60 God is reminding us that our souls have already made a covenant with Him not to worship the devil. This life is our only chance to honor our covenant with Him.

Since the human race is in continuity from Adam, our soul possesses part of the breath of the creator. That is why God says

[50:16] We created the human, and we know what he whispers to himself. We are closer to him than his jugular vein.

Reason for Contact Prayers

We have learned that part of the breath of God exists in us. This part requires making continued contact with the creator. There-fore, one of the most important means to nourish our souls on a regular basis is to make continued contact with Him. This is done at least five times a day. During other times, we keep in mind the timing for the next Salat and the rhythm goes on.

God provided Adam specific words to say to redeem him.

[2:37] Then, Adam received from his Lord words, whereby He redeemed him. He is the Redeemer, Most Merciful.

The system of God

Why did God have to do those extra steps to redeem Adam? First to give him specific words then ask him to say those words and then accept his words. He could have redeemed Adam directly.

Because that is the system of God and His system never changes

[2:138] Such is GOD's system, and whose system is better than GOD's? "Him alone we worship."

[17:77] This has been consistently the case with all the messengers that we sent before you, and you will find that our system never changes.

[33:62] This is GOD's eternal system, and you will find that GOD's system is unchangeable.

[48:23] Such is GOD's system throughout history, and you will find that GOD's system is unchangeable. (See also 35:43)

God is our Provider too

If God is the provider of Adam, He is our Provider too. His unchangeable system is applicable to every human soul destined to come to the earth. He is the Gracious, the Merciful who provided us the means to achieve redemption.

Let us now review the translation of Al-Fatehah (The Key).

[1:1] In the name of GOD, Most Gracious, Most Merciful.
[1:2] Praise be to GOD, Lord of the universe.
[1:3] Most Gracious, Most Merciful.
[1:4] Master of the Day of Judgment.
[1:5] You alone we worship; You alone we ask for help.
[1:6] Guide us in the right path;
[1:7] the path of those whom You blessed; not of those who have deserved wrath, nor of the strayers.

Can these words be applied on behalf of Adam? Could Adam have said with Eve, Guide us to the right, straight or correct path (to heaven)?

Did Adam and Eve stray? The answer is YES.

Since the system of God is unchangeable, Adam was not redeemed without providing specific words and asking him to say those words. Therefore using the same “unchanged” system, God has provided specific words to the children of Adam to get back on the straight, correct or right track to heaven.

If Adam had manipulated the words provided by the Provider, would he have been redeemed? The answer is NO. The same applies to the children of Adam.

It is suggested that Adam could have been given the similar words to redeem himself. However, the principles, system and mechanism remain the same.

Did God provide us the key to contact Him?

Yes, Al-Fatehah is the key required to make and open our contact with Him. God cites many simple but unique examples to understand the Quran. The Key is one of them. If we manipulate the combination or the structure of the key to our house or car, it does not work. Similarly if we manipulate the Key provided by God, it will not work.

What is in and what is not in the Key?

We also know that God does not provide us incomplete information. Therefore, the Key (Al-Fatehah) He provided is complete.

Al-Fatehah always includes the Basmallah (the first verse of the Quran). This is evidenced from the fact that it is the only “numbered” Basmallah in the Quran.

Similarly seeking refuge from Satan the rejected is not part of the Key.

The addition of any other praise to God before reciting the Key is not required. God starts the Key with Basmallah then all praise to Him is mentioned within the Key.

The Key does not need the addition of the word “Aameen”.

We should trust in God that He has provided us the complete Key.

Adding or deleting to the Key will not make it work better, but will simply make it useless. Just like the keys to our house, car etc.

If the Key words provided by God worked for Adam (without manipulation), surely they will also work for us. That is His system.

Some people delete the Basmallah in their Salat prayers. Some recite additional verses before the Basmallah and some add the word “Aameen” at the end. Do they know better than God or do the people who added those words (even with good intentions) know better than God? It is our responsibility to use our eyes, ears and brain in light of the absolute truth (the Quran).

We know that Prophet Muhammad only followed the Quran. He was not authorized by God to change anything in the message. We are sure he delivered us a perfect message. The Al-Fatehah he uttered in his salat has to be exactly how he delivered it to us in the Quran. No additions or deletions.

Why is it not appropriate to recite parts of the Quran after Al-Fatehah?

When we recite the Key, we seek His Guidance to the right path. We note that God tells us in 2:2 that this Book (Quran) is “Guidance”. Therefore from 2:2 onwards it is all “Guidance.” It is all the Guidance we need to redeem ourselves straight back to heaven.

We have established that during Salat we are in contact or communication with God. In fact after completing the recitation of Al-Fatehah we have opened our contact.

At this point, should we start giving “Guidance” to God?

For example should we start ordering God to

[112:1] “Proclaim”, He is the One and only GOD.

If we are submitters, the “guidance” comes from our Lord to us and not in the reverse direction. He does not need guidance from us. That can also imply that we are “acting god” to God.

In addition, other names may also be mentioned in the Salat if we recite parts of the Quran. This violates the Quranic principle to devote the salat to Him alone

[6:162] Say, "My Contact Prayers (Salat), my worship practices, my life and my death, are all devoted absolutely to GOD alone, the Lord of the universe.

Altering the combinations of Al-Fatehah in Salat also makes religious practices difficult. This contradicts the Quranic principle that God has made religion easy for us.

There is a clear distinction between reciting the Quran and performing Salat.

[29:45] You shall recite what is revealed to you of the scripture, and observe the Contact Prayers (Salat), for the Contact Prayers prohibit evil and vice. But the remembrance of GOD (through Salat) is the most important objective. GOD knows everything you do. (See also 35:29)

[17:78] You shall observe the Contact Prayer (Salat) when the sun declines from its highest point at noon, as it moves towards sunset. You shall also observe (the recitation of) the Quran at dawn. (Reciting) the Quran at dawn is witnessed.

We also note that calling God or proclaiming that he has never begotten a son is distinct from the contact prayers. We are to magnify Him “constantly” and not as a part of the Salat.

[17:110] Say, "Call Him GOD, or call Him the Most Gracious; whichever name you use, to Him belongs the best names." You shall not utter your Contact Prayers (Salat) too loudly, nor secretly; use a moderate tone.

[17:111] And proclaim: "Praise be to GOD, who has never begotten a son, nor does He have a partner in His kingship, nor does He need any ally out of weakness," and magnify Him constantly.

Mathematical evidence

Despite the above logical evidence, we now have physical, intangible, mathematical evidence that the Quran is a numerically structured book based on the number 19. The evidence for the 19-related findings in Al-Fatehah can be studied elsewhere. In brief, the Basmallah consists of 19 Arabic letters; every word of the Basmallah occurs in the Quran in multiples of 19; our lips come in contact 19 times when we recite Al-Fatehah and so on.

The Key is that God has provided us the Key (Al-Fatehah) to establish contact with Him. The specific words that God gave Adam to redeem himself worked for him and the Key will work for us.

We thank God for His mercy to provide us with specific words to redeem us.

Mahmood A., MD