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Al-Fatiha: Difference between revisions
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{{QualityScore|Lead=2|Structure=2|Content=2|Language= | {{QualityScore|Lead=2|Structure=2|Content=2|Language=4|References=2}} | ||
Al-Fatiha (الْفَاتِحَة) or ''The Opening'' or ''The Opener'' is the first chapter, or [[surah]], of the [[Qur'an]]. It comprises seven verses and is recited at least once during each unit of each of the five daily Islamic [[prayers]]. | Al-Fatiha (الْفَاتِحَة) or ''The Opening'' or ''The Opener'' is the first chapter, or [[surah]], of the [[Qur'an]]. It comprises seven verses and is recited at least once during each unit of each of the five daily Islamic [[prayers]]. | ||
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==Translation notes== | ==Translation notes== | ||
'''1:2''' Arabic generally does not use the [[w:compula | copula]], so the subjunctive "be" is implied. | '''1:2''' Arabic generally does not use the [[w:compula | copula]], so the subjunctive "be" is implied. | ||
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'''1:3''' This is a repetition of the last two words (not counting the definite articles) of 1:1. | '''1:3''' This is a repetition of the last two words (not counting the definite articles) of 1:1. | ||
'''1:4''' مَـالِكِ ("ruler") can also be translated as "slave-master". Its use of the genitive indicates that it is a continuation of '''1:3'''. | '''1:4''' مَـالِكِ ("ruler") can also be translated as "slave-master" or "owner." Its use of the genitive indicates that it is a continuation of '''1:3'''. | ||
The correct translation of <font size="3">دِّين</font>, ''dīn'' is "judgement". Compare Hebrew ''dīn'', "judgement, justice, law" from the root ''dyn'', "to judge". The meaning of ''dīn'' as "faith" is unique to Arabic. Perhaps it is best understood as "law", as <font size="3">إﻣان</font>, '' 'imān'', from the root '' 'mn'', means "faith". The Hebrew word for "faith" comes from the same root. | The correct translation of <font size="3">دِّين</font>, ''dīn'' is "judgement". Compare Hebrew ''dīn'', "judgement, justice, law" from the root ''dyn'', "to judge". The meaning of ''dīn'' as "faith" is unique to Arabic. Perhaps it is best understood as "law", as <font size="3">إﻣان</font>, '' 'imān'', from the root '' 'mn'', means "faith". The Hebrew word for "faith" comes from the same root. | ||
'''1:5''' The words إِيَّاك ('īyāka) and وإِيَّاكَ (wa'īyāka) | '''1:5''' The words إِيَّاك ('īyāka) and وإِيَّاكَ (wa'īyāka) is an extremely usunually way to state "you" as a direct object in Arabic, and manuscripts show no less than three variants. Arthur Jeffrey located several Qur'ans with different readings and one without any version of this verse.<ref>Jeffrey, Author, "[http://www.answering-islam.org/Books/Jeffery/fatiha.htm A Variant Text of the Fatiha]"'', The Muslim World'', Volume 29 (1939), pp. 158-162.</ref> One of the variants is the pair حِيَّاك (ḥīyāka) and وإِيَّاكَ (wīyāaka). Jeffrey has stated that "[these] seem all to be independent attempts to interpret the unvoweled, unpointed skeleton term ([[w:rasm |rasm]]) that stood in the original codex." The most likely translation is a 2nd person masculine singular emphatic accusative (emphatic object). | ||
==Commentary== | ==Commentary== | ||
===In relation to positioning within the Qur'an=== | ===In relation to positioning within the Qur'an=== | ||
There are several indications that this text was a prayer prepended to the Qur'an, possibly to be recited before reading it. This prayer was almost certainly composed orally before the rest of the Qur'an was put to writing, and it likely changed over time. This prayer may not have been included in the recension that produced the current longest-to-shortest ordering of the suras. When the Qur' | There are several indications that this text was a prayer prepended to the Qur'an, possibly to be recited before reading it. This prayer was almost certainly composed orally before the rest of the Qur'an was put to writing, and it likely changed over time. This prayer may not have been included in the recension that produced the current longest-to-shortest ordering of the suras. When the Qur'anic rasm was put to paper, the exact pronunciation had likely been forgotten, which would explain the ambiguity of 1:5. | ||
Unlike in every other surah of the Qur'an, Allah is referred to in the second person here, instead of the first-person perspective employed through most of the text. The surah's major textual variations | Unlike in every other surah of the Qur'an, Allah is referred to in the second person here, instead of the first-person perspective employed through most of the text. The surah's major textual variations sugest that it was recorded after the period of "revelation." They also suggest that this surah fell into disuse and its pronunciation had to be reconstructed. | ||
This surah additionally violates the longest-to-shortest organization rule, and one variant lacks the[[w:basmala | basmala]], meaning it is unlikely to have originated here. | This surah additionally violates the longest-to-shortest organization rule, and one variant lacks the[[w:basmala | basmala]], meaning it is unlikely to have originated here. | ||