The Opening Chapter

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لِأَنَّ الاِعْتِدَالَ مَشْرُوعٌ

Because moderation is legislated.

فِيهِ التَّحْمِيدُ بِالسُّنَّةِ الْمُتَوَاتِرَةِ وَإِجْمَاعُ الْمُسْلِمِينَ

There is praise according to the Mutawatir Sunnah and the consensus of the Muslims.

وَهُوَ الَّذِي كَانَ النَّبِيُّ ﷺ يَفْعَلُهُ فِي كُلِّ صَلَاةٍ

And it is what the Prophet ﷺ would do in every prayer,

وَكَانَ أَحْيَانًا يَدْعُو بَعْدَ التَّحْمِيدِ بِقَوْلِهِ اللَّهُمَّ بَاعِدْ بَيْنِي وَبَيْنَ خَطَايَايَ

And sometimes he would supplicate after the praise by saying: 'O Allah, distance me from my sins.'

فَأَخَّرَ السُّؤَالَ عَنِ الحَمْدِ وَالثَّنَاءِ وَالمَجْدِ

So he placed the request after praise, glorification, and exaltation.

وَأَمَرَ أَيْضًا بِالْحَمْدِ بِقَوْلِهِ فَإِذَا قَالَ سَمِعَ اللَّهُ لِمَنْ حَمِدَهُ فَقُولُوا رَبَّنَا وَلَكَ الحَمْدُ

And he also commanded praise saying: 'When he says: Allah hears the one who praises Him. You say: Our Lord, to You is the praise.'

وَمَا دَاوَمَ عَلَيْهِ وَقَدَّمَهُ وَأَمَرَ بِهِ أَفْضَلُ مِمَّا كَانَ يَفْعَلُهُ أَحْيَانًا

And what he maintained regularly and prioritized, and commanded is better than what he did sometimes,

وَيُؤَخِّرُهُ وَلَمْ يَأْمُرْ بِهِ

and he delayed it, and did not command it.

وَأَيْضًا فَنَوْعُ الثَّنَاءِ أَضَافَهُ الرَّبُّ إِلَى نَفْسِهِ

And also, a type of praise was attributed by the Lord to Himself,

وَنَوْعُ السُّؤَالِ أَضَافَهُ إِلَى عَبْدِهِ

And the type of request was attributed to His servant.

فَقَالَ إِذَا قَالَ الْعَبْدُ الْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ رَبِّ الْعَالَمِينَ قَالَ اللهُ حَمِدَنِي عَبْدِي

He said: 'When the servant says: "Praise be to Allah, the Lord of the worlds," Allah says: "My servant has praised Me,"

فَإِذَا قَالَ الرَّحْمَنِ الرَّحِيمِ قَالَ أَثْنَى عَلَيَّ عَبْدِي

When he says: "The Most Merciful, the Most Compassionate," He says: "My servant has extolled Me,"

وَإِذَا قَالَ مَالِكِ يَوْمِ الدِّينِ قَالَ اللَّهُ مَجَّدَنِي عَبْدِي

When he says: "Master of the Day of Judgment," God says: "My servant has glorified Me,"

فَإِذَا قَالَ إِيَّاكَ نَعْبُدُ وَإِيَّاكَ نَسْتَعِينُ قَالَ هَذِهِ الآيَةُ بَيْنِي وَبَيْنَ عَبْدِي نِصْفَيْنِ وَلِعَبْدِي مَا سَأَلَ

When he says: "You alone we worship, and You alone we ask for help," He says: "This verse is between Me and My servant in halves, and for My servant is what he asked,"

فَإِذَا قَالَ اهْدِنَا الصِّرَاطَ الْمُسْتَقِيمَ إِلَى آخِرِ السُّورَةِ

When he says: "Guide us on the Straight Path" to the end of the surah.

قَالَ هَؤُلَاءِ لِعَبْدِي وَلِعَبْدِي مَا سَأَلَ

He says: 'These are for My servant, and for My servant is what he asked.'