Surah 1. Al-Fathiha, Ayah 1
| بِسْمِ اللَّهِ الرَّحْمَٰنِ الرَّحِيمِ |
| Transliteration | : | bi- ism 'allaah ar- rah.maan ar- rah.em |
| Pickthall | : | In the name of Allah, the Beneficent, the Merciful |
| Asad | : | IN THE NAME OF GOD, THE MOST GRACIOUS, THE DISPENSER OF GRACE:1 |
| Malik | : | In the name of Allah, the Compassionate, the Merciful. |
| Yusuf Ali | : | In the name of Allah Most Gracious Most Merciful. 19 |
Note - 1According to most of the authorities, this invocation
(which occurs at the beginning of every surah with the
exception of surah 9) constitutes an integral part of
"The Opening" and is, therefore, numbered as verse {1}.
In all other instances, the invocation "in the name of
God" precedes the surah as such, and is not counted among
its verses. - Both the divine epithets rahman and rahim
are derived from the noun rahmah, which signifies
"mercy", "compassion", "loving tenderness" and, more
comprehensively, "grace". From the very earliest times,
Islamic scholars have endeavoured to define the exact
shades of meaning which differentiate the two terms. The
best and simplest of these explanations is undoubtedly
the one advanced by Ibn al-Qayyim (as quoted in Manar
I,48): the term rahman circumscribes the quality of
abounding grace inherent in, and inseparable from, the
concept of God's Being, whereas rahim expresses the
manifestation of that grace in, and its effect upon, His
creation - in other words, an aspect of His activity.
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Note - 19The Arabic words "Rahman" and "Rahim" translated "Most
Gracious" and "Most Merciful" are both intensive forms
referring to different aspects of God's attribute of
Mercy. The Arabic intensive is more suited to express
God's attributes than the superlative degree in English.
The latter implies a comparison with other beings, or
with other times or places, while there is no being like
unto God, and He is independent of Time and Place. Mercy
may imply pity, long-suffering, patience, and
forgiveness, all of which the sinner needs and God Most
Merciful bestows in abundant measure. But there is a
Mercy that goes before even the need arises, the Grace
which is ever watchful, and flows from God Most Gracious
to all His creatures, protecting the, preserving them,
guiding them, and leading them to clearer light and
higher life. For this reason the attribute Rahman (Most
Gracious) is not applied to any but God, but the
attribute Rahim (Merciful), is a general term, and may
also be applied to Men. To make us contemplate these
boundless gifts of God, the formula: "In the name of God
Most Gracious, Most Merciful": is placed before every
Sura of the Qur-an (except the ninth), and repeated at
the beginning of every act by the Muslim who dedicates
his life to God, and whose hope is in His Mercy.
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According to most of the authorities, this invocation (which occurs at the beginning of every surah with the exception of surah 9) constitutes an integral part of "The Opening" and is, therefore, numbered as verse {1}. In all other instances, the invocation "in the name of God" precedes the surah as such, and is not counted among its verses. - Both the divine epithets rahman and rahim are derived from the noun rahmah, which signifies "mercy", "compassion", "loving tenderness" and, more comprehensively, "grace". From the very earliest times, Islamic scholars have endeavoured to define the exact shades of meaning which differentiate the two terms. The best and simplest of these explanations is undoubtedly the one advanced by Ibn al-Qayyim (as quoted in Manar I,48): the term rahman circumscribes the quality of abounding grace inherent in, and inseparable from, the concept of God's Being, whereas rahim expresses the manifestation of that grace in, and its effect upon, His creation - in other words, an aspect of His activity. |
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The Arabic words "Rahman" and "Rahim" translated "Most Gracious" and "Most Merciful" are both intensive forms referring to different aspects of God's attribute of Mercy. The Arabic intensive is more suited to express God's attributes than the superlative degree in English. The latter implies a comparison with other beings, or with other times or places, while there is no being like unto God, and He is independent of Time and Place. Mercy may imply pity, long-suffering, patience, and forgiveness, all of which the sinner needs and God Most Merciful bestows in abundant measure. But there is a Mercy that goes before even the need arises, the Grace which is ever watchful, and flows from God Most Gracious to all His creatures, protecting the, preserving them, guiding them, and leading them to clearer light and higher life. For this reason the attribute Rahman (Most Gracious) is not applied to any but God, but the attribute Rahim (Merciful), is a general term, and may also be applied to Men. To make us contemplate these boundless gifts of God, the formula: "In the name of God Most Gracious, Most Merciful": is placed before every Sura of the Qur-an (except the ninth), and repeated at the beginning of every act by the Muslim who dedicates his life to God, and whose hope is in His Mercy. |
