understanding verse 5, chapter one.
This chapter, al-fatiha contains the essence of the entire Quranic teaching. It comprises, in outline, all the subject matters dealt with at length in the body of Quran.
The chapter comprises of seven verses, the first four deal with the praise of Allah in a very excellent and complete way [1-4], the rest three encompasses the most beautiful prayers [5-7].
As the chapter is spliced into two parts, the praise of Allah(i.e. worship) and prayers (i.e. help), similarly this verse under discussion, which is the very first prayer of Quran, embodies that one should make himself submissive to Allah first, only then he/she can Ask him for help.
In the verse the word ﺪﺒﻌﻧ has been placed before the word ﻦﻴﻌﺘﺴﻧ to signify that after man has become aware of God, his first impulse is to worship Him. The idea of invoking God’s help comes after the impulse to worship. Man wishes to worship God but he finds that for doing so he needs God’s help. That is why the word. ﻦﻴﻌﺘﺴﻧ is placed after the word ﺪﺒﻌﻧ. Man should first make up his mind to worship God, then seek His help for carrying out this resolve.
The word ﻙﺎﻳﺍ (Thee alone) has been placed before the words ﺪﺒﻌﻧ and ﻦﻴﻌﺘﺴﻧ to point to the fact that not only is God alone deserving of worship but that He alone can give the help which man needs to discharge this duty truly and effectively. As long as man is not granted the power and means necessary for his guidance, it is not possible for him to become God’s ﺪﺒﻋ or servant in the real sense of the word. No man-made law can make man a good and true servant of the Lord; it is only God’s help that can bring about this change in him.
Thee alone do we WORSHIP and Thee alone we implore for HELP.
[This message has been edited by Zalim (edited November 06, 2000).]