Note 2.

The First Chapter of the Qur'an.

HE following is a translation of the "Opening Chapter" of our Holy Qur'an. I have analysed it by placing Roman and Arabic numerals, the first indicating verses آيات and the second indicating sub-divisions of verses.

Opening Chapter. سورة فاتحة
In the Name of God
Compassionate, the
Merciful.		 بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم
I. Praise be to God, الحمد لله.I
(1) Lord (Nourisher)
of the Worlds, 		١) رب العا لمين)
(2) the Compassionate,
the Merciful 		٢) الرحمن الرحيم)
(3) King of the Day
of Reckoning (= day
of judgment.) 		٣) مالك يوم الدين)
II. .II
(1) Thee only do we
worship, 		١) اياك نعبد)
(2) and Thee only do
we ask for aid. 		٢) و مالك يوم الدين)
(3) Guide us in the
right Path (that is) 		٣) اهدنا الصراط المستقيم)
III.the Path of thoseصراط الذين.III
(1) to whom Thou
art gracious, 		١) انعمت عليهم)
(2) who are not objects
of wrath, 		٢) غير تامغضوب عايهم)
(3) and who go not
astray. 		٣) و لا الضالين)
Amen[12]آمين

The whole Sura divides itself into three parts and each part into three divisions thus:—

PartI.—Nature of God.

Three principal attributes of God:—

(1) Creator or Nourisher

رب

(2) Protector

رحمن ورحيم

(3) Adjuster

مالكيوم الدين

Part II.—Man'sduty to God lies in,

(1) Worship

عبادت

(2) Seeking His Protection

استعانت

(3) Seeking His Guidance

استهدا
Part III.—TheStraight Path اسلام =مذهب for Man

(1) the path of Grace (= path ofthose who obtain Grace)

(2) not the Path of Sin (=path ofthose who deliberately go wrong).

(3) nor the Path of Error (=pathof those who by mistake go astray).
Observe:—

(a) Each of the three duties in the secondpart corresponds with the three attributes mentioned in the firstpart.

(b) The third part, the Path of Grace,i.e., the straight path, is the mean between twoextremes—the path of deliberate sinners on the one handand the path of unwitting stragglers on the other.

(c) The Islamic prayer is simpler than theChristian prayer. I do not say the one is good and the other isbad. No; both are very good indeed, but the oneseems simpler than the other. Compare them.

The Christian Prayer.The Muslim Prayer.
THE LORD'S PRAYER.THE FATIHA.
Adoration.Adoration.
(a) Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. Thy Kingdom come. (a) Praise be to God, Lord of the worlds, the compassionate, the merciful, King of the day of reckoning.
Submission.Submission.
(b) Thy will be done in earth
as it is in heaven. 		(b) Thee only do we worship and of Thee only do we ask aid.
Supplication.Supplication.
(c) Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our debts as we forgive our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: for Thine is the Kingdom, and the power, and the glory for ever. Amen. (c) Guide us into the right path—the path of those to whom Thou hast been gracious, not the path of those who are the objects of wrath nor of those who have gone astray. Amen.
St. Matthew, vi 9-13.The Qur'an, i.

If you will carefully compare the parts of each Prayer which I have written as separate paragraphs marked (a), (b) and (c), you will observe that there is difference only in the language, but no difference whatever in the real meaning. There is in both Prayers absolutely the same spirit of