Whether Al-Faatihah was revealed in Makkah or Madeenah

16-1-2017 | IslamWeb

Question:

Assalaamu alaykum, dear Scholars. My question is the following: is it true that Soorah Al-Faatihah was reveled twice, once in Makkah and then again in Madeenah? Your assistance in the matter will be highly apreciated. May Allaah reward you.

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Answer:

All perfect praise be to Allah, The Lord of the worlds. I testify that there is none worthy of worship except Allah and that Muhammad is His slave and Messenger. 

The majority of the scholars are of the view that Soorah Al-Faatihah was revealed in Makkah, and it was said that it was revealed twice: once in Makkah and once in Madeenah, and there are other statements in this regard.

Imaam As-Suyooti said in Kitaab Al-Itqaan fee ‘Uloom Al-Qur’aan:

“Soorah Al-Faatihah: Most scholars are of the view that it was revealed in Makkah, and it was reported that it was the first to be revealed, as will be clarified later.

It was reported from Mujaahid that Soorah Al-Faatihah was revealed in Madeenah.

Some other scholars are of the view that it was revealed twice: once in Makkah and once in Madeenah, as an exaggeration in honoring it.

There is a fourth view that says that half of it was revealed in Makkah and half in Madeenah.” [Abridged]

Allah knows best.