The Holy Quran with Five Volume Commentary (Vol 1) — Page 26
CH. 1 AL-FATIHAH prayer contained in this chapter is that it appeals to the inner instincts of man in a perfectly natural manner. There are two fundamental motives in human nature which prompt submission, viz. love and fear. Some people are touched by love, while others are moved by fear. The motive of love is certainly nobler but there may be, indeed there are, men to whom love makes no appeal. They will only submit through fear. In Al-Fatihah an appeal has been made to both of these human motives. First come those attributes of God which inspire love, i. e. ✓ N) (the Creator and Sustainer of the world), (the words Thee alone do we implore for help in the second part. When a Muslim knows God to be the Lord, i. e. the Creator and Sustainer of the worlds and the Source of all development, he at once takes shelter in Him, saying: Thee alone do we implore for help. Again, corresponding to the attribute (the Gracious, i. e. the Giver of innumerable blessings, and the Liberal Provider of our needs) in the first part, we have the words Guide us in the right path in the second; for the greatest of the blessings provided for man is guidance which God provides for him by sending revelation through His Messengers. Again, corresponding to the attribute (the Merciful, i. e. the Giver of the best rewards for man's works) in the first part, we have the words The path of those on whom Thou had bestowed Thy blessings in the second, for it is Ar-Rahim Who bestows merited blessings on His favoured servants. Yet again, corresponding to excels His anger, even the fourth Cell (Master of the Day of Judgement) attribute, i. e. that of in the first half, we have the concluding part of the last verse in the second, viz. those who have not incurred Thy displeasure, and those who have not gone astray. When man thinks of giving an account of his deeds, he dreads failure; SO, pondering over the attribute of Master of the Day of Judgement, he begins to pray to God to be saved from His displeasure and from straying from the right path. (the Gracious) and Merciful). Then in their wake, as it were, comes the attribute of (Master of the Day of Judgement) which reminds man that if he does not mend his ways and does not respond to love, he should prepare to give an account of his deeds before God. Thus the motive of fear is brought into play side by side with that of love. But as God's mercy far EUL (Master of the Day of Judgement), which is the only fundamental attribute designed to evoke fear, has not been left without a reference to mercy. In fact, here too God's mercy transcends His anger, for we are told that we are not appearing before a Judge but before a Master Who has the power to forgive and Who will punish only where punishment is absolutely necessary. Similarly, at the end of the prayer, Another special feature of the the motives of hope and fear have 26