In all divine religions, one of the fixed components of prayer, is reciting the verses of their holy books. The Quran demonstrates the close relationship between prayer and recitation of the book of God[1] by showing them as complementary. While praising the Jews and Christians who recite the verses of their Holy Book while prostrating and worshipping[2], the Quran asks its followers to get up at night for worship and uphold its recitation[3].
For all the obligatory and “mustahab” (recommended) prayers the first necessary action after “takbir al-ihram” (تکبیرة الاحرام) is reciting the most important chapter of the Quran, namely “Hamd” (حمد) or “Fatihat al-Kitab” (فاتحة الکتاب) [4]. This chapter contains a summary of the teachings of not only this, but also other holy books. Even its structure demonstrates to us it was arranged for the purpose of praising and supplicating to God in a situation like prayer.
Despite this chapter being short and concise, it is a brilliant piece of art providing an infinite sea of spiritual awareness and explains the three key issues of our: origin, destination, and way of life with the most beautiful and precise interpretations. The only request mentioned in this chapter[5] is about the philosophy of life and emphasizes the importance of living a righteous one.
Describing God as “Raḥmān” and “Raḥīm” at the beginning of the chapter and emphasising His compassion twice among His other names and attributes is a confirmation of what we discussed about the centrality of mercy in the system of existence[6]. The repetition of these two qualities in the third verse[7], leaves us with no doubt and shows that the goal of this invocation is to benefit more from that overflowing spring of kindness.
This approach turns our gratitude and praise for God[8] into a sincere appreciation that is expressed not out of force or egotism, but rather with satisfaction of being in a beautiful and wise system. This in effect will increase our motivation and capacity for surrendering to a plan which moves all of existence towards a calculated goal[9].
To succeed on this path, one must submit to the truth that encompasses all of existence[10] and seek help from His grace and kindness[11]. It is through God’s grace that has provided us with the blessing of finding the route to our destination of creation through chosen individuals[12]. And if followed correctly, in no circumstances would one be deprived from mercy or be misled from the correct way of life[13].
Although Muslims have differing opinions about the necessity and method of reciting other chapters of the Quran in prayer, all consider reciting verses in addition to chapter of “Hamd” as a very favourable tradition. Based on this, it is good to complete the recitation of the Quran in our prayers by reciting another chapter of this holy book. And of-course, we ought to recite the initial “bismillah” (بسم الله) of that chapter.
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Islamic Library: Introduction to Islam
[1] . Quran 29:45:
اتْلُ مَا أُوحِيَ إِلَيْكَ مِنَ الْكِتَابِ وَأَقِمِ الصَّلَاةَ
Recite that which has been revealed to you of the Book and establish the prayer.
[2] . Quran 3:113:
لَيْسُوا سَوَاءً مِّنْ أَهْلِ الْكِتَابِ أُمَّةٌ قَائِمَةٌ يَتْلُونَ آيَاتِ اللَّهِ آنَاءَ اللَّيْلِ وَهُمْ يَسْجُدُونَ
Yet they are not alike; of the people of the book is a special group who are upright and whilst prostrating, spend hours of the night reciting the signs of God.
[3] . Quran 73:20:
فَاقْرَءُوا مَا تَيَسَّرَ مِنَ الْقُرْآنِ عَلِمَ أَن سَيَكُونُ مِنكُم مَّرْضَىٰ وَآخَرُونَ يَضْرِبُونَ فِي الْأَرْضِ يَبْتَغُونَ مِن فَضْلِ اللَّهِ وَآخَرُونَ يُقَاتِلُونَ فِي سَبِيلِ اللَّهِ فَاقْرَءُوا مَا تَيَسَّرَ مِنْهُ وَأَقِيمُوا الصَّلَاةَ
Therefore, recite as much of the Quran as may be convenient to you. He knows that there will be some amongst you who fall sick, others travel to earn resources from Allah, yet others fight in Allah’s cause. Therefore, recite as much of the Quran as may be convenient to you and establish the prayers.
[4] . Quran 1:1-7:
بِسْمِ اللَّهِ الرَّحْمَٰنِ الرَّحِيمِ (۱) الْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ رَبِّ الْعَالَمِينَ (۲) الرَّحْمَٰنِ الرَّحِيمِ (۳) مَالِكِ يَوْمِ الدِّينِ (۴) إِيَّاكَ نَعْبُدُ وَإِيَّاكَ نَسْتَعِينُ (۵) اهْدِنَا الصِّرَاطَ الْمُسْتَقِيمَ (۶) صِرَاطَ الَّذِينَ أَنْعَمْتَ عَلَيْهِمْ غَيْرِ الْمَغْضُوبِ عَلَيْهِمْ وَلَا الضَّالِّينَ (۷)
In the name of Allah, the compassionate, the merciful. All praise and gratitude are Allah’s, the Lord of the Worlds. The compassionate, the merciful. Master of the Day of Judgement. You alone do we worship and from You alone do we seek help. Guide us to the straight and firm path. The path of those upon whom You have bestowed your bounties, not of those inflicted with Your wrath, nor those gone astray.
[5] . Quran 1:6:
اهْدِنَا الصِّرَاطَ الْمُسْتَقِيمَ
Guide us to the straight and firm path.
[6] . Prayer, from another angle (Chapter 3)
[7] . Quran 1:3:
الرَّحْمَٰنِ الرَّحِيمِ
The compassionate, the merciful.
[8] . Quran 1:2:
الْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ رَبِّ الْعَالَمِينَ
All praise and gratitude are Allah’s, the Lord of the Worlds.
[9] . Quran 1:4:
مَالِكِ يَوْمِ الدِّينِ
Master of the Day of Judgement.
[10] . Quran 1:5:
إِيَّاكَ نَعْبُدُ
You alone do we worship.
[11] . Quran 1:5:
وَإِيَّاكَ نَسْتَعِينُ
and from You alone do we seek help.
[12] . Quran 1:7:
صِرَاطَ الَّذِينَ أَنْعَمْتَ عَلَيْهِمْ
The path of those upon whom You have bestowed your bounties.
[13] . Quran 1:7:
غَيْرِ الْمَغْضُوبِ عَلَيْهِمْ وَلَا الضَّالِّينَ
Not of those inflicted with Your wrath, nor those gone astray.