
There is disagreement as to whether the Bismillah is the first verse of the surah, or even a verse in the first place. Surah Al-Fatiha is narrated in the Hadith to have been divided into two halves between Allah and His servant (the person reciting), the first three verses being His half and last three being the servant's. Some Muslims interpret it as a reference to an implied ability of the Surah to open a person to faith in God. The primary literal meaning of the expression "Al-Fatiha " is "The Opener/The Key," which could refer to this Surah being the first in the Quran, the first chapter recited in full in every rakat of salah, or to the manner in which it serves as an opening for many functions in everyday Islamic life. Quranic chapter titles are not considered by Muslims to be part of the divine revelation of the Quran. Al-Fatiha is recited in Muslim obligatory and voluntary prayers, known as salah. It consists of 7 ayah (verses) which are a prayer for guidance and mercy. 'The Opening' or 'The Opener'), is the first surah (chapter) of the Quran. This Qur'an, commissioned by sultan Al-Ashraf Sha'ban (1363 - 1377), is part of the National Library of Egypt's Collection of Mamluk Qur'an Manuscripts inscribed in the UNESCO Memory of the World RegisterĪl-Fatiha (alternatively transliterated Al-Fātiḥa or Al-Fātiḥah Arabic: ٱلْفَاتِحَة, IPA: lit.

Illuminated opening with chapter Al-Fatiha in muhaqqaq script.
