FREE RESOURCEA support for pupils’ tarbiyah

AL-FatihahActivity book

Muslim Youth Initiative Ideal for Key stage 3 and 4Lesson 2

8

When do you recite Surah Al-Fatihah in your day?

9

Abu Hurairah said: ‘I have heard the Prophet say:

“Allah (the Mighty and Sublime) has said: I have divided prayer between Myself and My servant into two halves, and My servant shall have what he has asked for.”’

When the servant says:All praise belongs to Allah the Rabb of all the Worlds.

Allah (mighty and sublime be He) says: My servant has praised Me.

And when he says: The Most Gracious the Most Merciful

Allah (mighty and sublime be He) says: My servant has extolled Me

And when he says:Master of the Day of Judgement

Allah (mighty and sublime be He) says:

And when he says: You alone do we worship and from You alone do we seek help.

He says: This is between Me and My servant, and My servant shall have what he has asked for.

And when he says:Guide us to the Straight Path, the Path of those whom you have favoured, not of those upon whom is Your anger, nor of those who are astray.

He says: This is for My servant, and My servant shall have what he has asked for.

[Reported by Muslim, Maalik, at-Tirmidhee, Abu Daawood, an-Nasaaee and Ibn Maajah]

The Prophet said:When one of you stands to pray, he only

stands beseeching his Lord.

My servant has glorified Me

10

ACTIVITY:

Q1) Why do Muslims claim that the most memorised passage in the world is Surah Al-Fatihah?

Q2) Why is it important to pay attention when reciting Surah Al-Fatihah?

Q4) Why would it be disrespectful to recite this surah quickly?

Q3) Why is it important to know what you are saying in Surah Al-Fatihah?

11

What does this surah teach us?

• It teaches us to praise and glorify Allah by mentioning His beautiful and perfect names and attributes.• It teaches us about His mercy and His justice.• It teaches us about the Day of Judgement and about the recompense of our deeds.• It teaches us that the recompense will be established upon perfect justice. There will not be an injustice

which will not be dealt with justice.• It encourages one to perform righteous actions and dissuades one from performing sins.• It teaches the servants of Allah to ask of Him alone, to humble themselves and worship Him alone and to put

their trust and reliance in Him alone. • It teaches us to ask Allah continuously for guidance to the Straight Path and not be arrogant.• It points us towards the nations of the past and warns us against falling into the same acts of transgression

and misguidance that they were guilty of.• It teaches us to aspire to the company of the sincerely truthful and the righteous.• It teaches that there is nothing in the Quran that would give aid to or even encourage innovation. Hence

never will the innovator be able to find evidence for his misguidance in the Quran.

The Isti’aadha

Who is Shaytan and what do we need to know about him?

Allah says,

“Show forgiveness, enjoin what is good and turn away from the foolish. And if an evil suggestion comes to you from Shaytan then seek refuge with Allah. Indeed He is All-Hearing, All-Knowing.” [Al-A`raaf (7): 199-200]

These verses command the servant of Allah to seek refuge with Him from the accursed Shaytan due to the severe enmity he displays towards mankind and displayed towards their father, Aadam (AS).

Allah says,

“O Children of Adam! Let not Shaytaan deceive you, as he removed your parents out of Paradise.” [Al-A`raaf (7): 27]

Allah, Glorified and Exalted, said, “Shaytan threatens you with poverty and orders you to immorality.” [Al-Baqarah (2): 268]

“Indeed Shaytaan is an open enemy to you so take him as an enemy. He invites his followers only that they may become the denizens of the blazing Fire.” [Faatir (35): 6]

12

Shaytaan took an oath saying,

“By Your Might! I will surely misguide them all, except Your chosen slaves amongst them.” [Saad (38): 82-83]

It is for this reason that we have been encouraged to seek refuge with Allah from the accursed Shaytan. With regards to reciting the Quran, Allah says,

“When you wish to read the Quran then seek refuge with Allah from the accursed Shaytan. Indeed he has no power over those who believe and put their trust only in their Lord. His power is only over those who follow him and join partners with Him.” [An-Nahl (16): 99-100]

Its essential meaning is to flee from that which you fear will harm you to that which will safeguard you from it.

There are a number of texts showing us the virtue of isti’aadha:

1. Bukhari reports from Sulaymaan ibn Sarad that, ‘Two men abused each other in the presence of the Prophet while we were sitting with him. One of the two abused the other while in a state of rage, his face red. The Prophet said, “I know a statement that if he were to say, what he is experiencing would leave him. If only he were to say, ‘I take refuge with Allah from the accursed Shaytan.’”’ .

2. Ahmad reports from Abu Dharr that the Messenger of Allah said, “O Abu Dharr! Take refuge with Allah from the satans from amongst men and jinn.” I said, “Are their satans amongst men?” He replied, “Yes.”

The word Shaytaan is derived from shatana which means to be distanced, and Shaytaan is far removed from any good whatsoever. It is also said that the name is derived from shaata, which means to burn, because he is made from fire.

DID YOU KNOW?

13

ACTIVITY:What type of obstacles can Shaytan place on our path to Allah?

ISTI’AADHA

ACTIVITY:How do we deal with these obstacles?

14

ACTIVITY:

Without looking at the previous page, what lessons can be learnt from the surah?

Parent Answers

Answers for page 10:

Q4) Why would it be disrespectful to recite this surah quickly?

Q1) Why do Muslims claim that the most memorised passage in the world is Surah Al-Fatihah?

A) Almost every Muslim in the world has memorised this surah from the the time of the Prophet to now.

Q2) Why is it important to pay attention when reciting Surah Al-Fatihah?

A) You are having a conversation with Allah. Imagine if you are having a conversationwith someone and the person is not really paying attention to you.

Q3) Why is it important to know what you are saying in Surah Al-Fatihah?

A) As you are having a conversation and praising Allah, it is important you know what you are saying to your Rabb and what you are making duaa for.

A) Try to have a very fast conversation with your child. Asking your child 5 questionsin 15 secs and see what the response is. It will come across disrespectful.

This is a free activity booklet for kids which can be downloaded from the Muslim Youth Initiative (MYI) website. Please visit www.my-i.org.uk for more booklets like this coming soon InshaAllah. We ask Allah that you all benefit from this. Ameen

For more info check out our:- www.my-i.org.uk- Instagram/ukmuslimyouthinitiative - facebook.com/myiuk

Lesson 3 coming soon

2

© Muslim Youth Initiative

All rights reserved worldwide. No part of this publication may be reproduced including the cover design, utilized or transformed in any form or means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopy, recording of any information storage and retrieval system, now known or to be invented without the express permission in writing from the publisher, nor be otherwise circulated in any form of binding or cover other than that in which it is published and without similar condition being imposed on the subsequent purchaser.

enquiries@muslimyouthinitiative.org.ukwww.muslimyouthinitiative.org.uk