Al-Fatihah 1:5
The Opener · Meccan · Juz 1 · Page 1
Worship
إِيَّاكَ نَعۡبُدُ وَإِيَّاكَ نَسۡتَعِينُ ٥
Thee (alone) we worship; Thee (alone) we ask for help.
Translation: Marmaduke Pickthall
Meaning
You alone we worship, and You alone we ask for help. Here the Fatiha changes voice: from speaking about Allah to speaking directly to Him.
Insight
Elmalılı notes that placing ‘You’ before the verb in Arabic gives the meaning ‘You alone, and no one else’. For him, worship is turning to Allah with intention and with one’s whole being.
Reflect
Today, try telling Allah first about the help you are waiting for.
This short note is based on Elmalılı Hamdi Yazır’s Turkish commentary and has not yet been reviewed by a scholar.
Elmalılı’s commentary
An English translation of Elmalılı’s full commentary is coming soon. Read the original Turkish ›