Surah 1. Al-Fathiha, Ayah 2
| الْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ رَبِّ الْعَالَمِينَ |
| Asad | : | ALL PRAISE is due to God alone, the Sustainer of all the worlds,2 |
| Malik | : | All praise is for Allah, the 'Rabb' of the Worlds. |
| Pickthall | : | Praise be to Allah, Lord of the Worlds, |
| Yusuf Ali | : | Praise be to Allah the Cherisher and Sustainer of the Worlds. 20 |
| Transliteration | : | Alhamdu lillahi rabbi alAAalameena |
Note - 2In this instance, the term "worlds" denotes all
categories of existence both in the physical and the
spiritual sense. The Arabic expression rabb - rendered by
me as "Sustainer" - embraces a wide complex of meanings
not easily expressed by a single term in another
language. It comprises the ideas of having a just claim
to the possession of anything and, consequently,
authority over it, as well as of rearing, sustaining and
fostering anything from its inception to its final
completion. Thus, the head of a family is called rabb
ad-dar ("master of the house") because he has authority
over it and is responsible for its maintenance;
similarly, his wife is called rabbat ad-dar ("mistress of
the house"). Preceded by the definite article al, the
designation rabb is applied, in the Qur'an, exclusively
to God as the sole fosterer and sustainer of all creation
- objective as well as conceptual - and therefore the
ultimate source of all authority.
|
Note - 20The Arabic word Rabb, usually translated Lord, has also
the meaning of cherishing, sustaining, bringing to
maturity. God cares for all the worlds He has created.
|
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In this instance, the term "worlds" denotes all categories of existence both in the physical and the spiritual sense. The Arabic expression rabb - rendered by me as "Sustainer" - embraces a wide complex of meanings not easily expressed by a single term in another language. It comprises the ideas of having a just claim to the possession of anything and, consequently, authority over it, as well as of rearing, sustaining and fostering anything from its inception to its final completion. Thus, the head of a family is called rabb ad-dar ("master of the house") because he has authority over it and is responsible for its maintenance; similarly, his wife is called rabbat ad-dar ("mistress of the house"). Preceded by the definite article al, the designation rabb is applied, in the Qur'an, exclusively to God as the sole fosterer and sustainer of all creation - objective as well as conceptual - and therefore the ultimate source of all authority. |
