Surah Fateha

Surah Fateha means : The Opening. It is the beautiful opening of
the Book of Allah (S.W.T). It is also known as "Umm al-Kitab" (Mother of the Book), "al-Hamd" (The Praise) and "al-Asas" (The Foundation).

An Angel once told the Holy Prophet (S.A.W) that it is a light that has never been given to any other Prophet before him. It is the main Du'a of the Muslims, and Muslims must recite it in every Rakaah of Salaah.

This Surah is placed at the beginning of the Holy Quran. It is actually a prayer. Allah (S.W.T) is Kind, Merciful, Good to us, and for Him is all our praise. He is our Master and King. We shall stand before Him on the Day of Judgement with our actions, good and bad.

This Surah teaches us how to speak to Allah (S.W.T). He is the only One we worship and ask for help. We ask Him for help with the Wasila (means of approaching Allah's Court) of the Holy Prophet (S.A.W). We ask Allah (S.W.T) to guide us both in this world and the next. We ask Allah (S.W.T) to keep us on the path of those pious people whom He is pleased with. We ask Him not to make us follow those people with whom He is angry, nor those who mislead us, making us confused and lost.

The other names of Surah Fateha are: Faatehatul Kitaab (Opening Chapter of the Book); Ummul Quran (Mother of the Quran); Suratul Kanz (Chapter of the Treasure); Kaafiyah (Abundant); Waafiyah (Complete); Shaafiyah (Healing); Shifa (Cure); Noor (Light); etc.

This Surah was revealed in Makkah Shareef. It contains 7 Ayahs, 27 words and 140 letters.

Surah Takathur

Surah at-Takathur (The Piling of Wealth) is a warning to people who spend much of their time trying to make more money and collect more material possessions for the sake of being richer or more important. Such people want to be better than other people in something.

The Holy Quran says that such people will find out the truth in the grave. None will carry anything in the grave and no riches will work after death. The only thing that will be of use in the Aakirah (Hereafter) will be the good deeds. People will be thrown in the Hell and will be questioned for what they have been doing.

We will be questioned in the Aakirah about everything (favours) which Allah (S.W.T) has given us and what we have done with it (our wealth, health, food, clothing, talents and abilities, etc.) The Prophet (S.A.W) lived a very simple life and we should do the same.

This Surah was revealed in Makkah Shareef. It has 8 Ayahs, 28 words and 120 letters.