{"id":25106531,"date":"2005-08-09T07:49:00","date_gmt":"2005-08-09T05:49:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/labidikm.net\/?p=25106531"},"modified":"2025-04-24T20:40:15","modified_gmt":"2025-04-24T18:40:15","slug":"surah-al-fatiha","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/labidikm.net\/en\/surah-al-fatiha\/","title":{"rendered":"Surah Al-Fatiha"},"content":{"rendered":"<h2 data-start=\"0\" data-end=\"23\"><strong data-start=\"4\" data-end=\"23\">Surah Al-Fatiha<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p data-start=\"25\" data-end=\"128\">Today, I discuss the first surah in the Quran: <strong data-start=\"72\" data-end=\"85\">Al-Fatiha<\/strong>, also known as <strong data-start=\"101\" data-end=\"114\">&#8220;Al-Hamd&#8221;<\/strong> (The Praise).<\/p>\n<p data-start=\"130\" data-end=\"476\">Surah Al-Fatiha, also referred to as <strong data-start=\"167\" data-end=\"202\">&#8220;The Seven Oft-Repeated Verses&#8221;<\/strong> and <strong data-start=\"207\" data-end=\"235\">&#8220;The Mother of the Book&#8221;<\/strong>, is considered the greatest surah in the <a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Quran\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Quran<\/a>. It is the <strong data-start=\"294\" data-end=\"325\">most recited and well-known<\/strong> surah among Muslims worldwide. It is recited <strong data-start=\"371\" data-end=\"423\">in every unit (rak&#8217;ah) of the five daily prayers<\/strong>, meaning it is repeated at least <strong data-start=\"457\" data-end=\"475\">17 times a day<\/strong>.<\/p>\n<p data-start=\"478\" data-end=\"731\">This surah consists of <strong data-start=\"501\" data-end=\"515\">six verses<\/strong>, plus the introductory phrase <strong data-start=\"546\" data-end=\"581\">&#8220;Bismillah ir-Rahman ir-Raheem&#8221;<\/strong> (In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful), which is counted as a verse only in <strong data-start=\"680\" data-end=\"693\">Al-Fatiha<\/strong> and in verse <strong data-start=\"707\" data-end=\"730\">27 of Surah An-Naml<\/strong>.<\/p>\n<p data-start=\"733\" data-end=\"923\">Aside from these two exceptions, the <strong data-start=\"770\" data-end=\"781\">Basmala<\/strong> appears at the beginning of every surah <strong data-start=\"822\" data-end=\"858\">without being considered a verse<\/strong>, and it is notably <strong data-start=\"878\" data-end=\"923\">absent from Surah At-Tawbah (Repentance).<\/strong><\/p>\n<h3 data-start=\"930\" data-end=\"978\"><strong data-start=\"934\" data-end=\"976\">Who is the Speaker in Surah Al-Fatiha?<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p data-start=\"979\" data-end=\"1230\">Upon reading Al-Fatiha, it becomes evident that <strong data-start=\"1027\" data-end=\"1053\">the speaker is not God<\/strong>. The surah begins with the phrase <strong data-start=\"1088\" data-end=\"1107\">&#8220;Alhamdulillah&#8221;<\/strong> (Praise be to Allah).<br data-start=\"1129\" data-end=\"1132\" \/>If God were the one speaking, He would have said: <strong data-start=\"1182\" data-end=\"1228\">&#8220;Praise be to Me, the Lord of the Worlds.&#8221;<\/strong><\/p>\n<p data-start=\"1232\" data-end=\"1345\">This indicates that the speaker is <strong data-start=\"1267\" data-end=\"1302\">someone else reciting the surah<\/strong>, possibly <strong data-start=\"1313\" data-end=\"1344\">Muhammad himself or Gabriel<\/strong>.<\/p>\n<p data-start=\"1347\" data-end=\"1667\">Throughout the Quran, this <strong data-start=\"1374\" data-end=\"1403\">pattern frequently occurs<\/strong>, where the text shifts from <strong data-start=\"1432\" data-end=\"1448\">praising God<\/strong> to <strong data-start=\"1452\" data-end=\"1476\">speaking in His name<\/strong>, as if multiple individuals are taking turns in delivering the message. Sometimes, it is spoken in <strong data-start=\"1576\" data-end=\"1593\">singular form<\/strong>, and at other times, in <strong data-start=\"1618\" data-end=\"1633\">plural form<\/strong>, but <strong data-start=\"1639\" data-end=\"1666\">always in the masculine<\/strong>.<\/p>\n<h3 data-start=\"1674\" data-end=\"1731\"><strong data-start=\"1678\" data-end=\"1729\">Is This &#8220;Miraculous&#8221; or Just Multiple Speakers?<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p data-start=\"1732\" data-end=\"1992\">Muslim scholars claim that these linguistic shifts are part of the <strong data-start=\"1799\" data-end=\"1828\">Quran&#8217;s miraculous nature<\/strong>.<br data-start=\"1829\" data-end=\"1832\" \/>However, the <strong data-start=\"1845\" data-end=\"1868\">logical explanation<\/strong> is that the Quran did not have <strong data-start=\"1900\" data-end=\"1920\">a single speaker<\/strong>, which is why we see <strong data-start=\"1942\" data-end=\"1991\">shifts between pronouns and grammatical forms<\/strong>.<\/p>\n<p data-start=\"1994\" data-end=\"2051\">As a result, the Quran uses confusing structures such as:<\/p>\n<ul data-start=\"2052\" data-end=\"2216\">\n<li data-start=\"2052\" data-end=\"2216\"><strong data-start=\"2054\" data-end=\"2214\">&#8220;It is I, and I am He, and He is the Other, and We are He, and We are You, and You are Us, and You are Me, and I am Us, and We are Them, and They are Us&#8230;&#8221;<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p data-start=\"2218\" data-end=\"2348\">This reflects the <strong data-start=\"2236\" data-end=\"2264\">multiplicity of speakers<\/strong>, making it difficult to determine <strong data-start=\"2299\" data-end=\"2327\">who is actually speaking<\/strong> in certain passages.<\/p>\n<h3 data-start=\"2355\" data-end=\"2390\"><strong data-start=\"2359\" data-end=\"2388\">Is God a Human Invention?<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p data-start=\"2391\" data-end=\"2512\">At this point, we begin to see that <strong data-start=\"2427\" data-end=\"2474\">the concept of God may be a human invention<\/strong>, created <strong data-start=\"2484\" data-end=\"2509\">by humans, for humans<\/strong>.<\/p>\n<p data-start=\"2514\" data-end=\"2638\">If we replace the word <strong data-start=\"2537\" data-end=\"2548\">&#8220;Allah&#8221;<\/strong> in Surah Al-Fatiha with <strong data-start=\"2573\" data-end=\"2584\">&#8220;Human&#8221;<\/strong>, the meaning becomes <strong data-start=\"2606\" data-end=\"2637\">more realistic and rational<\/strong>.<\/p>\n<p data-start=\"2640\" data-end=\"2881\">I invite you to <strong data-start=\"2656\" data-end=\"2677\">re-read Al-Fatiha<\/strong> with this change and observe the difference in impact. In fact, this method can be applied <strong data-start=\"2769\" data-end=\"2792\">to the entire Quran<\/strong>, and you will notice that <strong data-start=\"2819\" data-end=\"2880\">everything attributed to God can easily be done by humans<\/strong>.<\/p>\n<h3 data-start=\"2888\" data-end=\"2931\"><strong data-start=\"2892\" data-end=\"2929\">Humanity\u2026 The True Sacred Entity?<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p data-start=\"2932\" data-end=\"3135\">God is merely a <strong data-start=\"2948\" data-end=\"2963\">human dream<\/strong>, which <strong data-start=\"2971\" data-end=\"3004\">will one day become a reality<\/strong>.<br data-start=\"3005\" data-end=\"3008\" \/>Applying this perspective allows us to <strong data-start=\"3047\" data-end=\"3071\">see &#8220;God&#8221; everywhere<\/strong>, because He is <strong data-start=\"3087\" data-end=\"3134\">nothing more than a reflection of ourselves<\/strong>.<\/p>\n<p data-start=\"3137\" data-end=\"3170\">Take a moment to consider this:<\/p>\n<ul data-start=\"3171\" data-end=\"3268\">\n<li data-start=\"3171\" data-end=\"3208\"><strong data-start=\"3173\" data-end=\"3206\">It is humans who help humans.<\/strong><\/li>\n<li data-start=\"3209\" data-end=\"3268\"><strong data-start=\"3211\" data-end=\"3266\">It is humans who deserve gratitude and recognition.<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p data-start=\"3270\" data-end=\"3333\">Shouldn&#8217;t <strong data-start=\"3280\" data-end=\"3292\">humanity<\/strong> be considered sacred <strong data-start=\"3314\" data-end=\"3332\">instead of God<\/strong>?<\/p>\n<h3 data-start=\"3340\" data-end=\"3389\"><strong data-start=\"3344\" data-end=\"3387\">Were Religions Meant to Glorify Humans?<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p data-start=\"3390\" data-end=\"3838\">Isn\u2019t this the true message that <strong data-start=\"3423\" data-end=\"3449\">religions and prophets<\/strong> were trying to convey?<br data-start=\"3472\" data-end=\"3475\" \/>Does a person need <strong data-start=\"3494\" data-end=\"3513\">blind obedience<\/strong> to a religion in order to be moral?<br data-start=\"3549\" data-end=\"3552\" \/>Isn\u2019t a human being capable of respecting <strong data-start=\"3594\" data-end=\"3610\">human values<\/strong> and striving for self-improvement <strong data-start=\"3645\" data-end=\"3673\">without relying on a God<\/strong>?<br data-start=\"3674\" data-end=\"3677\" \/>Isn\u2019t a human being <strong data-start=\"3697\" data-end=\"3719\">responsible enough<\/strong> to accept the <strong data-start=\"3734\" data-end=\"3767\">consequences of their actions<\/strong> without needing the <strong data-start=\"3788\" data-end=\"3811\">promise of paradise<\/strong> or the <strong data-start=\"3819\" data-end=\"3835\">fear of hell<\/strong>?<\/p>\n<p data-start=\"3840\" data-end=\"3886\">I leave you <strong data-start=\"3852\" data-end=\"3886\">to reflect on these questions.<\/strong><\/p>\n<h3 data-start=\"3893\" data-end=\"3955\"><strong data-start=\"3897\" data-end=\"3953\">Rewriting Al-Fatiha: Replacing &#8220;God&#8221; with &#8220;Humanity&#8221;<\/strong><\/h3>\n<h4 data-start=\"3957\" data-end=\"3994\"><strong data-start=\"3962\" data-end=\"3994\">Surah Al-Fatiha (The Praise)<\/strong><\/h4>\n<p data-start=\"3995\" data-end=\"4017\"><strong data-start=\"3995\" data-end=\"4017\">Surah 1 &#8211; 7 Verses<\/strong><\/p>\n<ol data-start=\"4019\" data-end=\"4564\" data-is-last-node=\"\" data-is-only-node=\"\">\n<li data-start=\"4019\" data-end=\"4095\"><strong data-start=\"4022\" data-end=\"4093\">In the name of Humanity, the Most Compassionate, the Most Merciful.<\/strong><\/li>\n<li data-start=\"4096\" data-end=\"4151\"><strong data-start=\"4099\" data-end=\"4149\">Praise be to Humanity, the Lord of the Worlds.<\/strong><\/li>\n<li data-start=\"4152\" data-end=\"4193\"><strong data-start=\"4155\" data-end=\"4191\">The Compassionate, the Merciful.<\/strong><\/li>\n<li data-start=\"4194\" data-end=\"4233\"><strong data-start=\"4197\" data-end=\"4231\">Master of the Day of Judgment.<\/strong><\/li>\n<li data-start=\"4234\" data-end=\"4297\"><strong data-start=\"4237\" data-end=\"4295\">You alone we worship, and You alone we seek help from.<\/strong><\/li>\n<li data-start=\"4298\" data-end=\"4337\"><strong data-start=\"4301\" data-end=\"4335\">Guide us to the straight path.<\/strong><\/li>\n<li data-start=\"4338\" data-end=\"4564\" data-is-last-node=\"\"><strong data-start=\"4341\" data-end=\"4562\">The path of those who have been blessed (the great men who served humanity), not the path of those who have incurred wrath (those who promote war and violence), nor those who have gone astray (those who were useless).<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Surah Al-Fatiha: Today, I discuss the first surah in the Quran: Al-Fatiha, also known as &#8220;Al-Hamd&#8221; (The Praise).<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":25106532,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_et_pb_use_builder":"off","_et_pb_old_content":"","_et_gb_content_width":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[1088],"tags":[1303],"class_list":["post-25106531","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-culture-and-literature","tag-al-fatiha"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/labidikm.net\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/25106531","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/labidikm.net\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/labidikm.net\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/labidikm.net\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/labidikm.net\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=25106531"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/labidikm.net\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/25106531\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/labidikm.net\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/25106532"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/labidikm.net\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=25106531"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/labidikm.net\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=25106531"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/labidikm.net\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=25106531"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}