One Verse a Day: Journey Through the Qur’an | #5
As-salamu alaykum everyone!
Today, I want to reflect on a verse that feels like the very heart of Surah Al-Fatiha:
إِيَّاكَ نَعْبُدُ وَإِيَّاكَ نَسْتَعِينُ
Iyyaka na’budu wa iyyaka nasta’īn
(You alone we worship, and You alone we ask for help.)
I have heard scholars describe Surah Al-Fatiha as the essence of the Qur’an, and this verse as the essence of Al-Fatiha. When I think about it, that makes a lot of sense.
Looking at the structure of this surah, it feels like it’s divided into two parts:
The first part is all about praising Allah – recognizing His greatness, His mercy, and His power.
The second part is where we ask Him for something – seeking His guidance and protection.
And right in the middle, we find this verse – as if it’s a turning point.
The Order Feels Meaningful…
What stands out to me is that worship (Iyyaka na’budu) comes first, and then asking for help (wa iyyaka nasta’īn). Maybe this is a reminder for us that before we ask Allah for anything, we should first acknowledge Him, turn to Him, and establish that connection of worship.
Why “We” Instead of “I”?
Something else that caught my attention is how this verse doesn’t say “I worship You”, but rather “We worship You”. Even when we pray alone, we still say we.
To me, this feels like a reminder that faith is not just an individual experience. It’s something we share as an ummah. We stand together before Allah, worshipping Him as one, seeking His help as one, even if we are physically alone.
I don’t know if everyone notices these things, but I love thinking about the Qur’an this way, reading and asking myself why this way?
What are your thoughts on this verse? Has it ever stood out to you in this way?