Article #210
Subject: Sura 1 The Opening
Author: Andrew W. Harrell
Posted: 5/22/2010 05:24:05 PM

Sura 1 The Opening


1 Bi smi llaahi rrahmaani rrahiim

In the name of God the Compasionate the Caring

2 Al-hamdu li llaahi rabbi l-‘aalamin
Praise be to God Lord Sustainer of the worlds

3 ir-rahmaani rrahim
the Compassionate the Caring

4 maaliki yawmi ddiin
master of the day of reckoning.

5 iyaaka na’budu
To You we turn to worship

Wa uyaaka nasta’iin
And to You we turn in time of need.

6 Ihdina s-sirata I-mustaqim
Guide us on the road straight

7 Siraata l-ladhina an’amta ‘alayhiim
The road of those you have given to whom

Ghayri I-maghduubi ‘alayhiim
Not those with anger upon them

Wa ka d-daalin
Not those who have gone astray.

“The elegant simplicity of the sound patterns complements the basic
prayer of praise and of petition, even as the condensed quality of the sounds
and short verses fits what is in fact a microcosm of basic Qur’anic beliefs
in the compassionate creator, the day of reckoning, and the need for
guidance.”


“The basic sound pattern of the Opening consists of an end rhyme in iin.”
“The short verses and strong use of end rhyme put the sura squarely in the
area
of hymnic suras”
“Verses 5 and 7 are somewhat longer and break the hymnic pattern with a non-
rhymic
verse end (alayhim) and a more prosaic style.”

“The word ‘alayhim usually follows the word salaamun (Peace) as in the
greeting
‘salaamun ‘alayhim’ elsewhere in the liturgy.”

It is also connected/reminesent of the Quranic phrase which occurs with the
phrase ‘a coming down of angels’
Discussion from pages 173 in “Approaching the Qur’an: The Early Revelations”
by Michael Sells