What is Al-Fatiha in transliteration and English?
Al-Fatiha, "The Opening", is the first chapter of the Quran (1:1-7). It has seven verses and is recited in every rakat of every prayer. Below is each verse in Arabic, in transliteration and in English.
By Benjamin · Last updated
Al-Fatiha, verse by verse
Verse 1
بِسْمِ اللَّهِ الرَّحْمَٰنِ الرَّحِيمِ
Bismillahir Rahmanir Raheem
In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful
Verse 2
الْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ رَبِّ الْعَالَمِينَ
Alhamdu lillahi Rabbil 'aalameen
All praise is due to Allah, Lord of all the worlds
Verse 3
الرَّحْمَٰنِ الرَّحِيمِ
Ar-Rahmanir Raheem
The Most Gracious, the Most Merciful
Verse 4
مَالِكِ يَوْمِ الدِّينِ
Maliki yawmid-deen
Master of the Day of Judgment
Verse 5
إِيَّاكَ نَعْبُدُ وَإِيَّاكَ نَسْتَعِينُ
Iyyaka na'budu wa iyyaka nasta'een
You alone we worship, and You alone we ask for help
Verse 6
اهْدِنَا الصِّرَاطَ الْمُسْتَقِيمَ
Ihdinas-siratal mustaqeem
Guide us to the straight path
Verse 7
صِرَاطَ الَّذِينَ أَنْعَمْتَ عَلَيْهِمْ غَيْرِ الْمَغْضُوبِ عَلَيْهِمْ وَلَا الضَّالِّينَ
Siratal ladhina an'amta 'alayhim, ghayril maghdubi 'alayhim wa lad-dalleen
The path of those upon whom You have bestowed favor, not of those who have earned Your anger or of those who are astray
After Al-Fatiha
Say "Ameen", meaning "O Allah, answer our prayer". It is a dua, not part of the Quran.
Still memorizing?
Memorizing takes days or weeks, and you do not have to wait to start praying. Recite the lines you know, and for the rest say SubhanAllah, Alhamdulillah, Allahu Akbar. The Prophet (peace be upon him) taught this to a man who had not yet memorized the Quran.
Learn Al-Fatiha by heart, line by line, with the free memoriser.
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Common questions
Why is Al-Fatiha recited in every rakat?
The Prophet (peace be upon him) said: "There is no prayer for the one who does not recite the Opening of the Book."
Is "Bismillahir Rahmanir Raheem" part of Al-Fatiha?
Some schools count it as the first verse of Al-Fatiha, others as a separate verse said before it. Everyone recites it.
How long does it take to memorize?
Most people learn it line by line over a few days to a few weeks. Listening to it and repeating each line helps the most.
Practise it with audio
Revertly walks you through this with a recitation for every word, at your own pace. Can't afford the app? Ask for a free code.