First published on: The Secrets of Allah’s Name “Al-Fattah”  by Alaa M. Abdou


 Are you suffering from financial problems and living in heavy debt? Do you have marital problems and can not find peace of mind and tranquility at your home? Are you facing problems with your studies and struggling to finish your school or university? Do you feel overwhelmed in the way of Allah and need the renewal of your faith? Do you want the gates of righteous deeds to be opened in front of you? If yes, then continue reading to discover the secrets of Allah’s name Al-Fattah.


1- What Does “Al-Fattah” Mean?


 Al-Fattah comes from the Arabic root “Fa-Ta-Ha” which means to open or to judge. Accordingly, Al-Fattah means The Opener or The Judge. It is He who opens the closed doors that no one else can open and eases the difficulties we face on all levels, spiritual and material. Moreover, it is He who makes judgments according to His Knowledge and Wisdom and separates the truth from the falsehood. Thus, Allah is the ultimate source of success and victory.


2- Which Gate Is Still Not Open in front of You?


  We can understand the manifestation of Allah’s name Al-Fattah when we look at the blessings Allah showered on His servants. Allah says about Himself:


And there is not a thing but that with Us are its depositories, and We do not send it down except according to a known [i.e., specified] measure.” [Qur’an 15:21] (1)


Thus, for you, who shall open the gates of guidance? The gates of happiness and inner peace? The gates of understanding Allah’s revelation? University degrees gates? Money gates? Marriage gates? The gates of having children?


There are endless gates in our lives, but thankfully, their keys are so near to us. Al-Fattah invites us to call Him by this name whenever we feel things are impossible or too difficult.


3- How to Worship Allah through His Name Al-Fattah?


A- Ask “Al-Fattah”


Whenever you face a problem in your life, remember that praying to Allah is the number one key. We just need to raise our hands and pray sincerely to Al-Fattah. The Prophet (ﷺ) teaches us many beautiful prayers related to Allah’s name Al-Fattah.  Here are a few examples:


When any of you enters the mosque he should say, “O God, open to me the gates of Thy mercy, “and when he goes out he should say “O God, I ask Thee out of Thine abundance.” [Hadith] (2)


When one rises in the morning, one should say: “We have reached the morning, and in the morning the dominion belongs to Allah, the Lord of the universe. O Allah! I ask Thee for the good this day contains, for conquest, victory, light, blessing and guidance during it; and I seek refuge in Thee from the evil it contains and the evil contained in what comes after it.” In the evening he should say the equivalent.“ [Hadith] (3)


B- Be a Key to Goodness and a Lock for Evil


The true believer is someone who has been transformed by his belief in Allah and His names. The light of the Quran in his heart urges him to move on earth spreading the truth and helping humanity in all ways he affords. In part of the hadith narrated by Anas Ibn Malek, Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) said:


…glad tidings to the one whom Allah makes a key to good and a lock for evil, and woe to the one whom Allah makes a key to evil and a lock to good.“ [Hadith] (4)


Thus, try always to open the doors of good to people so that Allah opens the doors for you.


C- Study Surat Al-Fatihah


Learn to recite, memorize, and understand Surah Al-Fatihah, the opening surah of the Quran. It is so pivotal in Islam that a Muslim must repeat it at least 17 times per day during his prayers. Ibn Abbas said:


While Jibril (Gabriel) was sitting with the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ), he heard a sound above him. He lifted his head, and said: “This is a gate which has been opened in heaven today. It was never opened before.” Then an angel descended through it, he said: “This is an angel who has come down to earth. He never came down before.” He sent greetings and said: “Rejoice with two lights given to you. Such lights were not given to any Prophet before you. These (lights) are: Fatihah-til-Kitab (Surat Al-Fatihah), and the concluding Ayat of Surat Al-Baqarah. You will never recite a word from them without being given the blessings it contains.” [Hadith] (5)


Moreover, when you recite it in prayer, make sure you pause after each verse and react with it.


D- Trust in The Judge


Life is full of arguments. Some people accuse others and claim to be right. Who is the judge? Who knows the reality, and what the hearts conceal? It is only Al-Fattah. People may speak badly about you and accuse you falsely, but if you are on the right side, do not be afraid, because you are worshipping Al-Fattah, who promises to support the oppressed in this life and in the hereafter. Allah teaches us this beautiful prayer to say: 


Say, “Our Lord will bring us together; then He will judge between us in truth. And He is the Knowing Judge.” [Qur’an 34:26] (6)


4- Important Keys to Attaining the Blessings of Allah’s Name Al-Fattah


The Quran and the Sunnah teach us many ways, through which we can achieve the blessings of Al-Fattah.


The first Key: Having faith in Allah and being pious and mindful of Allah. Read with your heart what Allah says:


And if only the people of the cities had believed and feared Allah, We would have opened [i.e., bestowed] upon them blessings from the heaven and the earth; but they denied [the messengers], so We seized them for what they were earning.”[Qur’an 7:96] (7)


The Second Key: Keeping good relations with your kith and kin. Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) said,


Whoever loves that he be granted more wealth and that his lease of life be prolonged then he should keep good relations with his Kith and kin.” [Hadith] (8)


Therefore, keeping good relations with your family members is highly rewarded and is the key to two gates: wealth and prolonged life. 


Third Key: Making repentance and asking for Allah’s forgiveness.


Noah is one of the greatest prophets, who exerted huge efforts to call his people to submit themselves to Allah only. In the chapter of Noah, we can read this beautiful advice of Noah to his people:


And said, ‘Ask forgiveness of your Lord. Indeed, He is ever a Perpetual Forgiver. He will send [rain from] the sky upon you in [continuing] showers. And give you increase in wealth and children and provide for you gardens and provide for you rivers.” [Qur’an 71:10-12] (9)


So, know for sure that the effects of sins on our lives are disastrous and because of our sins, many doors are still closed.


Fourth Key: Giving Charity


If you wish that the gates of wealth be opened to you, then make sure to give charity generously and help the poor. Prophet Muhammad said (ﷺ):


Spend and do not calculate, (for) Allah would calculate in your case; and do not hoard, otherwise Allah would be withholding from you.” [Hadith] (10)


These are just four of many other keys that we can use to gain the blessings of Al Fattah.


5- Conclusion


Last but not least, this was a short journey with Allah’s name “Al Fattah”. It is such a beautiful name that makes us have hope and peace of mind. We are living in a difficult age, where our needs and desires are expanding more and more. We are in a firm need to live with this name and have firm faith in The One, by whose guidance, closed doors are opened and the unclear is made clear. He is The One who lifts veils and who opens hearts, The One who unties the knots, and softens that which was hardened. Allah says in the Quran:


Whatever Allah grants to people of mercy – none can withhold it; and whatever He withholds – none can release it thereafter. And He is the Exalted in Might, the Wise.”[Qur’an 35:2] (11)


Curious to know more about the names of Allah? Read this series [99 Names of God], then come to chat with us for any questions about the only One God, Allah.


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References:


(1) Verse (15:21) of Qur’an (English Interpretation of Meaning).


(2) Prophet’s Saying (Hadith).


(3) Prophet’s Saying (Hadith).

(4) Prophet’s Saying (Hadith).


(5) Prophet’s Saying (Hadith).


(6) Verse (34:36) of Qur’an (English Interpretation of Meaning).


(7) Verse (7:96) of Qur’an (English Interpretation of Meaning).


(8) Prophet’s Saying (Hadith).


(9) Verse (71:10-12) of Qur’an (English Interpretation of Meaning).


(10) Prophet’s Saying (Hadith).


(11) Verse (35:2) of Qur’an (English Interpretation of meaning).


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