Part 2 Surah Al-Fatiha Amazing Deep Explanation : Nouman Ali Khan

Surah Al-Fatiha Ayat 2 ( Verse 2 ):

ٱلْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ رَبِّ ٱلْعَٰلَمِينَ

( " [All] praise is [due] to Allah, Lord of the worlds - ")

In the part 1 of this series, I had started explaining this ayat. I had explained few aspects of 'Alhamdulillah' of this ayat in part 1. You can read first part of surah Al-Fatiha at below link.

Part 1 Surah Fatiha Amazing Deep Explanation : Nouman Ali Khan

In sha Allah, in this post I will try to explain few more aspects of this same ayat.

So, lets start

Point 1:

Suppose if Allah SWT would have not used word 'Allah' in this ayat and it would be “Alhamdu li rabbil aalameen" instead of “Alhamdu li-llaahi rabbil aalameen" then it would mean : "praise for the lord of the worlds". Question arises, it is also conveying the similar meaning so what is the wisdom behind 'Allah' in this ayat. Answer is then it would lead to ambiguity. Let me explain.

Different people in the world may have different concept of God. They May be OK with praise for the  lord of the world but not with praise for the Allah who is lord of the world. It can also be explained from the example of magicians of Firon. When magicians of Firon realised that what moosa A.S is showing is not the magic. It is indeed from Supreme power who has created everything. So they fell down in sajdah. Firon was on stage and magicians were in sajda. Firon got confused on what are they doing. When magicians got up from sajda, they said. "Aamana be rabbil aalameen" ( We have believed in the lord of the worlds )

But Firon was still confused, thinking may be they are talking about him only as he used to think that he is rab. But then they went on saying "rabbi moosa wa haaroon" ( Rab of moosa and haaroon). Telling Firon that no, we are not talking about you. So they had to clarify this by saying "rabbbi moosa wa haaroon" If they only would have said “Aamana be rabbil aalameen” then Firon would have no problem. So word 'Allah' in Alhamdulilah is very critical. As every word is perfect in Quran from all aspects.

Point 2:

Rab is someone who owns. He is the owner(Al-Maalik) and that makes me a property of Allah. This is the first meaning of 'Rab'. Second meaning of Rab is ‘murabbi’ which means someone who ensure the growth. Someone who takes care of something so it can grow. It is possible that you own something but you don’t take care of it. For e.g:  Your old books are covered with dust and are kept in drawers from years. You don't even look at them even though they are yours. You are not caring them although you own them. So you have ownership but you don’t care. The word ‘Rab’ is someone who owns but also take cares of it.

Third meaning of rab is ‘Al-mun'im’ which means to give a gift. So Rab owns, take cares and also gives a gift. Fourth meaning of rab is ‘Al-Qayyim’, the one who make sure it stays together i.e it doesn't fall apart. The one who maintain our the existence. If Allah stops taking care of us for 1 second or half a second everything will fall apart. The Heart beating from one beat to another, blood circulation in our body is all because Allah is letting it. Allah is making it. If Allah stop taking care of it for 1 second and it's all gone. So we are completely dependant on Allah constantly.

The Fifth meaning of Rab is ‘As-sayyed’, someone who has full authority. It is possible that you own something but you don't have full authority over it. You own a car but you can’t drive it however you want. You own a property but you can not build however you want. You have to follow regulations. So when someone owns something and they have full authority to do whatever they want then it can be called as ‘Rab’. And here Allah introduces himself with the word Rab.

Allah SWT is our Rab. He cares what he owns and that to continuously. And he owns everything. If our heart beats stop for a second we will die, but we are still breathing is a proof that Allah SWT continuously take cares of us and all other things that he has created. And he has created everything. Rab means someone who owns you means you own nothing. Someone who cares you while you are growing. One who gives you gift because you own nothing so everything what you have is a gift from Allah SWT. He is the one who is maintaining my and your existence( even our next breath ).

Also Read : Some Beautiful Insights from Surah Ar-Rahman : Nouman Ali Khan

Point 3:

There are some name of Allah which gives you relations like name 'Malik'. With this name the relation is Allah is malik(Master) and we are his salve.( relation between master and slave ). One name of Allah is 'Khaaliq' which means 'the creator'. So when he is Khaaliq(creator), than we are makhlooq( creatures ). E.g ) Other examples are Allah is a teacher and we are student. Allah is giver we are recipient. So, with such names relation can be established between Allah and us.

And some name of Allah are such which don't give relationship, like name 'Aleem'(knowledgeable). This name is just Allah’s description. But in this ayat first description of Allah is something that builds our relation with Allah. Here Allah has used word rab. Allah is Rab and we are abd(slave) leading to relationship. Alhamdulillah.

Point 4:

A slave does not have free will. He can't do anything until masters says to do it. Whereas Employer is free after working for certain hours. But slave is slave even when he is sleeping. Slave is slave because he knows what his master wants. Otherwise he is gonna do what he wants. And if someone does what he wants then by definition he is not a slave, then he is free. So there is no such thing as slavery until master gives an instruction. Allah calls himself Master which makes me slave and makes me think if he is master then I need instructions from him. So, I am supposed to ask him for instructions(guidance).

In fatihah we say "ihdinas siratal mustaqeem." ( Guide me to straight path.) So here is a logical connection between master and guidance. That's why at so many places in Quran , when Allah mentions Rab he also mentions guidance. E.g surah Al-A'la ( 'rab' is mentioned in first ayat,  so 'hada'(guidance) is mentioned in third ayat ) because they are connected with each other. ALLAH SWT is Rab. So, we can call ourselves his slaves(abd) only when we accept his guidance.

Also Read: Surah Al-Baqarah Ayat 1 to 3 : Beautiful Explanation Nouman Ali Khan

Point 5:

Arabic word 'Aalameen' is generally translated as 'worlds' but it is not good translation. In arabic 'al-awaalim' means worlds. Aalameen means worlds of people i.e Different nations. That's why Allah says in Quran to bani israil. "I gave you preference over all other nations ( In this ayat Allah has used arabic word 'Aalameen' )". Every nation is called world. As the same way every generation is called different world. 

Even if we go to different country we sometime say as if we have come to different world. Allah says doesn't matter which civilisation, which culture you belong to, I am a master of all of you. It is Allah who has created all of that. All of us are slaves. So all are at same level. All deserves respect. No one is above anyone. It is Allah who is providing to all and he is a master of all of us. So, It is Allah's way of saying, why do they fighting over authority over each other.

Also Read : Surah Al-Baqarah Ayat 13 and 14 : Beautiful Explanation Nouman Ali Khan

In this blog article, I tried to explain very little about what I understand from ayat 2 of surah Al Fatiha. This was based on my notes taken from one of the lectures of brother Nouman Ali Khan.

Also, Please like my Facebook page "Explain Me Quran" to get latest article on Quran explanation.You can find my Facebook page link at the end of this article.

Also Read : Part 3 Surah Al-Fatiha Ayat 3 and 4 Amazing Deep Explanation : Nouman Ali Khan