public and private, and no solemn contract or transaction is complete unless it is recited. The date of revelation is uncertain, but the fact that it has always, from the very earliest times, formed a part of Muslim worship, there being no record or

remembrance of its introduction, or of public prayer without it, makes it clear that it was revealed before the fourth year of the Prophet's Mission (the tenth year before the Hijrah); because we know for certain that by that time regular congregational

prayers were offered by the little group of Muslims in Mecca. In that year, as the result of insult and attack by the idolaters, the Prophet arranged for the services, which had till then been held out of doors, to take place in a private house.

This surah is also often called Saba'an min al-Mathani, ''Seven of the Oft-repeated'' (''verses'' being understood), S. XV (Al-Hijr ''The Rocky Tract''), 87, words which are taken as referring to this surah. Listed underneath are two interpretations of

Surah 1- Al-Fatihah, the first by Mohamed Marmaduke Pickthall and, the second surah by Abdullah Yusuf Ali:

The Opening - Revealed at Mecca - (Pickthall): In the name of Allah, the Beneficent, the Merciful. 1. Praise be to Allah, Lord of the Worlds, 2. The Beneficent, the Merciful. 3. Owner of the Day of Judgement, 4. Thee (alone) we worship; Thee (alone) we

ask for help. 5. Show us the straight path, 6. The path of those whom Thou hast favoured; 7. Not (the path) of those who earn Thine anger nor of those who go astray.

1. The Opening (Ali): 1. In the name of Allah, Most Gracious, Most Merciful. 2. Praise be to Allah, the Cherisher and Sustainer of the Worlds; 3. Most Gracious, Most Merciful; 4. Master of the Day of Judgment. 5. You do we worship and Your aid we seek.

6. Show us the straight way, 7. The way of those on whom You have bestowed Your Grace, those whose (portion) is not wrath, and who go not astray.

Latinised Arabic: Surah al-Fatihah - Bismillah ar-Rahman ar-Raheem. Al-hamdu lillahi Rabbil 'aalamin, ar-Rahman ar-Raheem, Maliki Yawmid Din. Iyyaka na'abudu wa iyyaaka nasta'een. Ihdinas siratal mustaqim, siratal ladheena an'amta 'alayhim, ghayril