Surah Al-Fatiha (The Opening Chapter)
The opening chapter of the Quran, recited in every single rak'ah.
Surah Al-Fatiha (Arabic: سورة الفاتحة) is the first and most central chapter of the Quran. It is called "The Opening" and is recited in every single rak'ah of the prayer. Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said: "There is no prayer for the one who does not recite Fatihat al-Kitab (The Opening of the Book)."
Al-Fatiha consists of seven verses and is a complete prayer in itself: it begins with praise of Allah as Lord of the Worlds, the Most Gracious and Most Merciful, Master of the Day of Judgment. Then the believer asks for guidance to the straight path — the path of those who have been blessed, not those who have gone astray.
Al-Fatiha is the most recited surah in the entire Quran, as it is included in all prayers. It is also called "Umm al-Quran" (Mother of the Quran), "As-Sab' al-Mathani" (The Seven Oft-Repeated) and "Ash-Shifa" (The Healing). It is sunnah to say "Ameen" after the recitation of Al-Fatiha.
Related terms
Shahadah (Declaration of Faith)
The first pillar of Islam: the testimony that there is no god except Allah and that Muhammad is His Messenger.
Du'a Tawassul (Supplication of Intercession)
A supplication where one asks Allah through the intercession of the Prophet and Ahl al-Bayt.
Takbir (Allahu Akbar)
The exclamation "Allahu Akbar" (Allah is the Greatest), marking transitions in the prayer.
Zakat (Alms)
The obligatory alms that the Quran mentions alongside prayer.
Waqt (Prayer Time)
The specific time interval within which a prayer must be performed.
Sunan al-Nasa'i (Nasa'i's Hadith Collection)
One of the six canonical hadith collections, known for its strict authenticity criteria.