Allah talks to us as we recite surah Fatihah – Print the conversation!

I struggle with khushu in salah. I have good days where certain rakahs are performed with more concentration. And then I have more days where I don’t feel pleased with how I perform my salah at all. Khushu is so important and the key to salah being accepted inshaAllah. There are various narrations where khushu is mentioned as being vital for salah.

I initially made this grid to teach the kids at the masjid the importance of surah Fatihah in salah. I felt a grid would explain the hadith* that records these beautiful responses from Allah in an easier way for the kids to understand. We learnt them as a class and then cut them out and tried to match the responses to the verses we recite. The kids did well alhamdhulillah.

But I remember leaving the lesson thinking that its very good to teach the kids all this and expect them to remember but how often do I remember that I am directly conversing with my Creator when I stand up in front of Him. Surah Fatihah carries great weight – I don’t need to include all the references to show its value. And in salah Allah has blessed us with an opportunity to recite these beautiful words glorifying Him and asking for guidance in each rakah. I wrote this out for myself to read whenever I feel I’m rushing salah, in order for it to help me remain focused from the moment I start salah.

There is something absolutely special about these words,and I promise you, the more you start to think about them, they do something to you. They really do. You feel a connection that can’t be explained. I’ve known these responses for a while but writing them out did something else for me.

You can print a copy for yourself too here: Surah Fatihah.

This is handy for adults and also to use with kids, especially those that are learning how to pray or maybe just haven’t found that connection with salah yet.

If you use this, then please make dua for me, that Allah keeps me steadfast on His Path.

*Abu Huraira reported: The Prophet (saw) said three times, “A prayer performed by one who has not recited the foundation of the Quran (surah al-fatihah) during it is deficient, incomplete.” It was said to Abu Huraira, “Even though we are behind the leader?” Abu Huraira said: Recite it to yourself, for I heard the Prophet say, “Allah the Exalted said: I have divided prayer between Myself and My servant into two halves, and My servant shall have what he has asked for. When the servant says: Praise be to Allah Lord of the Worlds, Allah says: My servant has praised Me. When he says: The Gracious, the Merciful, Allah says: My servant has exalted Me. When he says: Master of the Day of Judgment, Allah says: My servant has glorified Me, and on one occasion He said: My servant has submitted to My power. When he says: You alone we worship, You alone we ask for help, Allah says: This is between Me and My servant, and My servant will have what he has asked for. When he says: Guide us to the straight path, the path of those whom you have favored, not those who went astray, Allah says: This is for My servant, and My servant will have what he has asked for.”

~ Sahih Muslim 395 ~