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Tafsir of Surah Al-Fatihah

“Lord of the Worlds”… What Does That Mean?

Shariah Editor, Dr. Yasir Qadhi
02 November, 2019

{Praise be to Allah, Lord of the Worlds. The Beneficent, the Merciful.} (Al-Fatihah 1:1-2)

We don’t need any reason to praise Allah, the Almighty. His perfection and beauty are more than enough to make us praise Him unconditionally.

It is already deep in our nature to appreciate beauty and to feel awe when we encounter the beautiful and amazing scenes of Allah’s creation.

If that is what we feel towards the signs of Allah in the universe, how much more should we feel so about the Glory and Perfection of Allah Himself?

However, Surah Al-Fatihah provides further reasons for this praise.

Lord of the Worlds

In the Name of Allah; All Universe Sings
In the Name of Allah; All Universe Sings

Allah Almighty is “raabil-`alameen”.

So, what is the meaning of the word “rabb”, usually translated as “Lord”? What are its connotations and why does it entail praise?

Also, what are the worlds that the word “Al-`alameen” refers to?

Why do scholars say it applies to creatures with souls? How about non-living creatures; why are they not included?

The Most Merciful

Interestingly, the next ayah repeats the two qualities of Allah, “Ar-Rahman, Ar- Rahim” after mentioning Allah’s capacity as the Master and Lord or “rabbi al-alamin”.

The meaning of these two attributes have been explained in this article: Al-Fatihah: Difference Between Ar-Rahman and Ar-Rahim

But what is the explanation of this repetition?

Is there any relationship between these two attributes and the previous ayah, {All praise is for Allah—Lord of all worlds} (Al-Fatihah)

Dr. Yasir Qadhi shares great insights about these points and these two ayahs of Surat Al-Fatihah.

Tafsir Surat AL-Fatihah Series:

  1. The 7 Oft-Recited Verses: An Introduction to Al-Fatiha
  2. Who Divided Up Quran into Surahs and Verses?
  3. All About Isti`adhah & Seeking Protection from Satan
  4. Starting with Allah’s Name… What Does Basmalah Mean?
  5. Why Glorify Allah’s Name, Not Allah Himself?
  6. What Is the Meaning of the Name of Allah?
  7. Al-Fatihah: Difference Between Ar-Rahman and Ar-Rahim
  8. Why Surah Al-Fatihah Starts With Al-Hamd
  9. Why “Al-Hamdulillah” Is Particularly Used in Surah Al-Fatihah
  10. What Allah Says When You Recite Surah Al-Fatihah
  11. “Lord of the Worlds”… What Does That Mean?
  12. Day of Judgment & Two Recitations of One Word
  13. Al-Fatihah: 3 Components of Your Relation with Allah