Surah Al-Fatiha Transliteration with Tajweed
Al-Fatiha (“The Opening”) is the first chapter of the Quran and the most recited surah in Islam. Every Muslim recites it in every unit of prayer, making it the single most important passage to learn. This guide provides the complete transliteration with verse-by-verse pronunciation notes and Tajweed tips.
7
Verses
1
Surah Number
Meccan
Revelation
Page 5
In the Mushaf
Why is Surah Al-Fatiha So Important?
Al-Fatiha holds a unique position in Islam. It is recited in every rakah (unit) of every salah (prayer), which means a Muslim who prays the five daily prayers recites Al-Fatiha at least 17 times each day. No other passage of the Quran is recited this frequently. The surah is sometimes called Umm Al-Kitab (“Mother of the Book”) because it encapsulates the core themes of the entire Quran: praise of Allah, acknowledgement of the Day of Judgement, and a plea for divine guidance.
For anyone beginning to learn the Quran — whether a new Muslim, a convert, or someone returning to their faith — Al-Fatiha is the natural starting point. It is short enough to learn in a single sitting, yet profound enough to study for a lifetime.
Verse-by-Verse Transliteration and Pronunciation Guide
Read each verse slowly. The transliteration shows you the sounds in English letters. The pronunciation notes explain which Tajweed rules to apply.
بِسْمِ ٱللَّهِ ٱلرَّحْمَـٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ
Bismillaahir-Rahmaanir-Raheem
In the Name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful
Pronunciation Notes:
This verse is known as the Bismillah. It appears at the beginning of every surah except Surah At-Tawbah. When reciting, hold the "aa" sounds (Madd) for 2 counts and nasalise the "n" in "Rahmaan" with a Ghunnah.
ٱلْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ رَبِّ ٱلْعَـٰلَمِينَ
Alhamdu lillaahi Rabbil-'aalameen
All praise is due to Allah, Lord of all the worlds
Pronunciation Notes:
The "Ha" in "Alhamdu" is a soft H sound from the throat. The double "l" in "lillaahi" should be pronounced with emphasis (Tafkheem) because it follows a fathah vowel. Elongate the "aa" in "'aalameen" for 2 counts.
ٱلرَّحْمَـٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ
Ar-Rahmaanir-Raheem
The Most Gracious, the Most Merciful
Pronunciation Notes:
This verse repeats two of Allah's names. "Rahmaan" conveys immense, all-encompassing mercy. "Raheem" conveys specific, focused mercy. Both contain Madd — elongate the "aa" in "Rahmaan" and the "ee" in "Raheem" for 2 counts each.
مَـٰلِكِ يَوْمِ ٱلدِّينِ
Maaliki yawmid-deen
Master of the Day of Judgement
Pronunciation Notes:
Elongate the "aa" in "Maaliki" for 2 counts (natural Madd). The "d" in "deen" has a shaddah (doubling), so pronounce it firmly. The "ee" in "deen" is held for 2 counts.
إِيَّاكَ نَعْبُدُ وَإِيَّاكَ نَسْتَعِينُ
Iyyaaka na'budu wa iyyaaka nasta'een
You alone we worship, and You alone we ask for help
Pronunciation Notes:
The "yy" in "Iyyaaka" is doubled (shaddah) — press the tongue firmly. The hamzah (glottal stop) in "na'budu" and "nasta'een" is a brief catch in the throat. Elongate "ee" in "nasta'een" for 2 counts.
ٱهْدِنَا ٱلصِّرَٰطَ ٱلْمُسْتَقِيمَ
Ihdinas-siraatal-mustaqeem
Guide us to the straight path
Pronunciation Notes:
The "s" in "siraatal" is a Saad (ص) — an emphatic S pronounced with the tongue pressed to the roof of the mouth (Tafkheem). The "q" in "mustaqeem" is a Qaf (ق), pronounced deeper in the throat than a regular K. Elongate the "aa" in "siraatal" and the "ee" in "mustaqeem".
صِرَٰطَ ٱلَّذِينَ أَنْعَمْتَ عَلَيْهِمْ غَيْرِ ٱلْمَغْضُوبِ عَلَيْهِمْ وَلَا ٱلضَّآلِّينَ
Siraatal-ladhina an'amta 'alayhim, ghayril-maghdoobi 'alayhim wa lad-daaallleen
The path of those You have blessed — not of those who have earned Your anger, nor of those who have gone astray
Pronunciation Notes:
This is the longest verse and contains several important Tajweed rules. The "gh" in "ghayril" is a Ghain (غ) — a gargling sound from deep in the throat. The "dh" in "maghdoobi" is a Daad (ض) — the most unique Arabic letter, pronounced with emphatic emphasis. The final word "daaallleen" ends with a 6-count prolongation (Madd Laazim) — this is the longest held sound in Al-Fatiha.
How to Practice Surah Al-Fatiha
Start with the Bismillah. The first verse is said before almost every action in a Muslim's daily life. Practice it until you can say it smoothly and naturally, with the correct elongation on “Rahmaan” and “Raheem.”
Learn one verse at a time. Do not try to memorise all seven verses at once. Master each verse before moving to the next. Repeat each verse 10 to 20 times until it flows without hesitation.
Listen and repeat. Use our audio feature to hear a professional reciter pronounce each verse, then pause and repeat it yourself. Match the timing and melody as closely as you can.
Pay attention to the colours. When you read Al-Fatiha in our colour-coded reader, each colour tells you something about pronunciation. Red means hold the sound longer. Green means nasalise. Grey means skip (silent letter). These visual cues are your built-in teacher.
Common Pronunciation Mistakes to Avoid
Rushing through the prolongations. When you see a long vowel (aa, ee, oo), hold it for the full 2 counts. Many beginners skip the elongation, which changes the rhythm and can affect the meaning.
Pronouncing the Saad (ص) as a regular S. In “Siraatal” (verse 6), the S is a Saad — an emphatic letter that requires the tongue to press upward. It sounds deeper and heavier than a normal English S.
Missing the 6-count Madd in the last verse. The word “daaallleen” at the end of verse 7 contains a Madd Laazim — a necessary prolongation of 6 counts. This is the longest held sound in the entire surah and is often shortened by beginners.
Not distinguishing between similar sounds. Arabic has pairs of letters that sound similar to English ears but are very different: Ha (ح) vs Haa (هـ), Saad (ص) vs Sin (س), Daad (ض) vs Daal (د). The Tajweed colours help you identify when emphasis is needed.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many verses are in Surah Al-Fatiha?
Surah Al-Fatiha contains 7 verses. It is the first and shortest surah that is recited in full during every unit of Islamic prayer.
How do you read Surah Al-Fatiha in English?
You can read Surah Al-Fatiha in English using transliteration — the Arabic sounds written in English letters. It begins with “Bismillaahir-Rahmaanir-Raheem.” Our colour-coded transliteration adds visual pronunciation guides for correct Tajweed.
Why is Surah Al-Fatiha so important?
Al-Fatiha is recited in every unit of every prayer, making it the most frequently read passage in the Quran. Muslims who pray five times daily recite it at least 17 times each day. It encapsulates the core themes of the entire Quran.
What does Surah Al-Fatiha mean?
Al-Fatiha means “The Opening.” It opens the Quran and opens every unit of prayer. The surah praises Allah, acknowledges His sovereignty over the Day of Judgement, and asks for guidance to the straight path.
Read Al-Fatiha with Full Tajweed Colour Coding
See every Tajweed rule applied visually in our interactive reader.
Open Surah Al-Fatiha in the Reader