Surah Al-Fatihah · Verse 5
Arabic Text
إِيَّاكَ نَعْبُدُ وَإِيَّاكَ نَسْتَعِينُ
5
Mahmoud Khalil Al-Husary
English Translation
It is You we worship and You we ask for help.
— Noor International Center
Word by Word
إِيَّاكَYou Aloneiyyāka
نَعْبُدُwe worshipnaʿbudu
وَإِيَّاكَand You Alonewa-iyyāka
نَسْتَعِينُwe ask for helpnastaʿīnu
Transliteration
Iyyaka na'budu wa iyyaka nasta'in
Context in This Surah
Worship and reliance together — verses 5
The central verse binds exclusive worship to seeking help. It resists both passive dependence and spiritual self-sufficiency: the worshipper commits to God and acknowledges the need for divine assistance in fulfilling that commitment. The surrounding verses define both its immediate purpose and the limits that prevent a careless or overbroad modern application.
Interpretation Notes
- The closing categories should not be used as casual labels for named contemporary people or communities.
- This editorial guide explains structure and devotional meaning; it does not settle detailed legal questions about prayer.
- English translations convey meanings and should not be presented as identical with the Arabic Quranic text.
Recitation: Mahmoud Khalil Al-Husary
Arabic text: Tanzil Project · English translation: QuranEnc (Noor International Center, v1.1.2) · sources and licensing information