In the name of Allaah, the Most Merciful, the Bestower of mercy.[1] All praise[2] is due to Allaah, the Lord[3] of all creation[4], the Most Merciful[5], the Bestower of mercy[6], the only owner and sovereign of the Day of Recompense[7]. You alone we worship[8], and You alone we ask for assistance[9]. We implore You to guide us to and along the straight path[10], and grant us steadfastness in adhering to that path[11]: the path of those upon whom You bestowed Your favour[12]; not the path of those who incur wrath[13], nor the path of those who are astray[14].
Comments:
[1] In other words: It is in the name of Allaah – who is the Most Merciful and the Bestower of mercy – that I begin my reading of the Qur’aan while seeking His assistance.
[2] As preceded, praise entails affirming every form of perfection and completion for Allaah, and doing so with full love and reverence for Him. Allaah is the only One who deserves that from us.
[3] “The Lord” here refers to the One who creates, owns, and controls everything in existence.
[4] “All creation” encompasses every single created thing, and each one of them is indicative of its Creator: Allaah, the Most Exalted.
[5] This is one explanation for Allaah’s name “ar-Rahmaan.” Another is that He possesses general mercy that encompasses all of creation.
[6] This is one explanation for Allaah’s name “ar-Raheem.” Another is that He possesses special mercy that He only grants to His obedient servants who have sound beliefs and perform righteous deeds.
[7] In other words: Allaah alone is the One who will judge and be in full control on the Day of Resurrection.
[8] In other words: It is to You alone that we direct all forms of worship.
[9] In other words: It is from You alone that we seek assistance in worshipping You and in all other matters as well.
[10] The one that leads an individual directly to all that pleases You, without any crookedness or deviation. This supplication includes asking for guidance to recognize the correct path as well as guidance to accept and follow that path.
[11] Throughout our lives, all the way until we meet You.
[12] By guiding them to obey You through knowing the truth and complying with it. That is the path of an-nabiyyeen (Allaah’s Prophets), as-siddeeqeen (those who continuously testified to the truthfulness of Allaah’s Prophets), ash-shuhadaa’ (those martyred in Allaah’s path), and as-saaliheen (all of those who are righteous, meaning that they fulfill Allaah’s rights as well as the rights of His servants, and they do that by remaining sincerely devoted to Allaah inwardly and complying with His Messenger’s guidance outwardly).
[13] Due to knowing the truth from Allaah but not complying with it.
[14] Due to lacking knowledge of the truth and then acting without sound guidance from Allaah.