Distribution of Al-Fatihah

Question:

How was the first chapter of Al-Fatihah divided?

Answer:

Ali Ibn Abi Talib (a.) reported that the Prophet Muhammad (s.) said: “God said: “I have divided the opening of the book (Fatihah) between Me and My servant. Half of it is for Me and half of it is for My servant and for My servant is what He asks Me to do. When the servant says: “In the name of the gracious and merciful God.” Then the sublime one replies: “My servant began in My name and is entitled with Me to put his affairs in order and to give him blessings in his circumstances.” When the servant says: “Praise be to God, the Lord of the worlds.” Then the Exalted One answers: “My servant praised Me and knew that the grace that was bestowed upon him came from Me and that he was spared from disaster through My power. I let you testify that I will increase his grace in this life and in the next and will save him from disaster in the hereafter just as I did in this world. When the servant says: “To the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful.” Then the sublime one replies: “My servant testified that I am the Most Gracious and Merciful. I let you bear witness that I will embrace him with My mercy and share in My gifts.” When the servant says: ” The Sovereign on the Day of Judgment.”Then the Exalted One answers: “I will let you be witnesses. Just as he acknowledged that I am the Ruler on the Day of Judgment, so I make his reckoning easier at the Last Judgment and he obtains forgiveness from his misdeeds.” When the servant says: “We serve you.” “My servant finds himself confirmed as serving Me. I let you witness that I will reward him in such a measure that everyone who was behind him will envy him for His worship of Me.” When the servant says: “And it is you we seek.” Then the sublime one replies: “My servant asks Me for help and turns to Me. I let you be witnesses that I will help him in his cause, support him in his difficulties and take him by the hand during his suffering.” When the servant says: “Guide us on the straight path, the path of those on whom Thou hast bestowed Grace, not (the path) of those who have incurred (Thy) wrath, and not (the path) of those who go astray.” Then the Exalted One replies: “This is due to My servant and what My servant has asked for, I listen in favour of My servant and grant him what he hoped for and protect him from the security he feared.” Someone said to Imam Ali (a.): “O Commander of the Faithful, tell us about the verse “In the name of the merciful and compassionate God.” Is he the one who opened the book (Fatihah)?” He said: “Yes, the messenger (s.) used to read it and count it as one verse of it. The opening of the book (Fatihah) consists of the seven repeated verses.” [Uyun-ul-Akhbar of As-Saduq, Volume 2 Page 269 – 270 Hadith 59]

حدثنا محمد بن القاسم المفسر الاسترآبادي رضي الله عنه قال: حدثنا يوسف بن محمد بن زياد وعلي بن محمد بن سيار عن أبويهما عن الحسن بن علي عن أبيه علي بن محمد عن أبيه محمد بن علي عن أبيه الرضا علي بن موسى عن أبيه موسى بن جعفر عن أبيه جعفر بن محمد عن أبيه محمد بن علي عن أبيه علي بن الحسين عن أبيه الحسين بن علي عن أبيه أمير المؤمنين علي بن أبي طالب عليهم السلام قال: قال رسول الله: قال الله عز وجل: قسمت فاتحة الكتاب بيني وبين عبدي فنصفها لي ونصفها لعبدي ولعبدي ما سال إذا قال العبد (بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم) قال الله جل جلاله: بدأ عبدي باسمي وحق على أن أتمم له أموره وأبارك له في أحواله فإذا قال: (الحمد لله رب العالمين) قال الله جل جلاله: حمدني عبدي وعلم أن النعم التي له من عندي وان البلايا التي دفعت عنه فبطولي أشهدكم انى أضيف له إلى نعم الدنيا نعم الآخرة وادفع عنه بلايا الآخرة كما دفعت عنه بلايا الدنيا فإذا قال: (الرحمن الرحيم) قال الله جل جلاله: شهد لي عبدي انى الرحمن الرحيم أشهدكم لأوفرن من رحمتي حظه ولأجزلن من عطائي نصيبه فإذا قال: (مالك يوم الدين) قال الله جل جلاله: أشهدكم كما اعترف انى انا مالك يوم الدين لأسهلن يوم الحساب حسابه ولا تجاوزن عن سيئاته فإذا قال: (إياك نعبد) قال الله عز وجل: صدق عبدي إياي يعبد أشهدكم لأثيبنه على عبادته ثوابا يغبطه كل من خالفه في عبادته لي فإذا قال: (وإياك نستعين) قال الله عز وجل: بي استعان عبدي والتجأ إلى أشهدكم لأعيننه على امره ولأغيثنه في شدائده ولآخذن بيده يوم نوائبه فإذا قال: (اهدنا الصراط المستقيم) إلى آخر السورة قال الله عز وجل: هذا لعبدي ولعبدي ما سال فقد استجبت لعبدي وأعطيته ما أمل وآمنته مما منه وجل قال: وقيل لأمير المؤمنين عليه السلام: يا أمير المؤمنين أخبرنا عن (بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم) أهي من فاتحه الكتاب؟ فقال: نعم: كان رسول الله صلى الله عليه وآله وسلم يقرأها ويعدها آية منها ويقول: فاتحه الكتاب هي السبع المثاني