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THE FIRST TWO CHAPTERS OF THE HOLY QURAN

AN INTRODUCTION TO ISLAM

The Holy Quran is the foundation of faith for Islam, the second largest religion in our world. In order that people understand the Quran better, we have compiled a set of links to commentaries to help people understand the first two chapters of the Holy Quran. We included the links to these commentaries below our brief explanations of the chapters. We created this for our own internal understanding and thought that it might be useful to others as well.

For those who are new to the Quran, we would suggest taking your studies one chapter at a time. However, there are many ways to study the Quran, so we certainly don't claim that ours is the only way to go.

Disclaimer: World Future Fund does not claim to be a Muslim organization. This is simply an educational resource we put together by researching Islamic sources we trust.


CHAPTER ONE

AL-FATIHA - THE OPENER:

Below is the text of the first chapter of the Quran:

 

“In the name of God, Most Gracious, Most Merciful

All praise is to God, Lord of all the worlds

Most Gracious, Most Merciful

Master of the Day of Judgment

You alone do we worship and You alone do we ask for help

Guide us to the straight path

The path of those on whom You bestowed Your bounties

Not the path of those who incurred Your wrath or those who went astray.” (Quran 1:1-7)

 

The first chapter of the Quran is called, "Al-Fatiha," which means, "The Opening," or, "The Opener" in Arabic. It is one of the most widely recited chapters in the Quran. It serves as a foundational prayer in Islamic worship.

Overall, Al-Fatiha encapsulates key themes in Islam, including monotheism, the importance of guidance, the Day of Judgment, and the attributes of Allah. It is recited in daily prayers and holds a special place in the hearts of Muslims as a powerful and concise expression of faith.


CHAPTER TWO

AL-BAQARA - THE COW:

The second chapter of the Quran is titled, "Al-Baqarah," which means, "The Cow" in Arabic. It is the longest chapter in the Quran, consisting of 286 verses, and is considered one of the most important and comprehensive chapters in the Islamic scripture.

Surah Al-Baqarah is often recited and studied by Muslims for its comprehensive guidance on various aspects of life, faith, and practice.


COMMENTARIES ON THE FIRST TWO CHAPTERS OF THE QURAN:

The First Chapter of the Quran (The Religion of Islam)

An in-depth explanation of each of the verses.

 

The Second Chapter of the Quran (The Religion of Islam)

An introduction to the chapter and a summary of the verses.

 

Chapter One of the Quran with Notes (Towards Understanding Islam)

An English translation of Al-Fatiha with some notes of explanation.

 

Chapter Two of the Quran with Notes (Towards Understanding Islam)

An English translation of Al-Baqara with some notes of explanation.

 

Analysis of Chapter One of the Quran (Wikipedia)

The chapter's historical background, themes, and summary.

 

Analysis of Chapter Two of the Quran (Wikipedia)

The chapter's historical background, themes, and summary.


MORE LINKS FOR LEARNING ABOUT ISLAM

Our Collection of Reports on Islam

The Daily Islamic Prayers in English

Quotations from Islam