Next the Lord commanded the Pen to write: "Al-hamdu-lillahi rabbi-l-'alamin!" (The first verse of the opening chapter 'Al Fatiha' of the Holy Qur'an which means: 'Praise belongs to Allah, the Lord of all Being'.) The Pen wrote it and a great light shone forth from this line. This light was divided into two: one part of it formed the ocean of mercy, the other the sea of forgiveness. The Lord then ordered the soul of the Holy Prophet, * "Enter into these two oceans!" Thus he became a 'Mercy to the Worlds', as it is written in this verse:
"We have not sent thee, save as a mercy unto all beings." (The Prophets, 107)

Again the Lord ordered the Pen, "Write!" "What shall I write?" "Write: 'Maliki yaum-is-Din' (the Master of the Day of Doom, the second verse of the opening chapter, Al-Fatiha). The Pen wrote and from these words issued forth darkness and light mixed together, and they separated from each other and each took to one side. From the light the Lord created the Sea of Bliss and from the darkness the Sea of Misery. "Whoever pronounces these words, " said He, "I will bring him out of the Sea of Miseries into the Sea of Bliss, that there he may abide forever."

Then the Almighty ordered the Pen to write: "Iyyaka na'budu wa iyyaka nasta'in", which means: "Thee only do we serve, to Thee alone we pray for succour." From this phrase a twofold light issued forth; from one part Allah created the Ocean of (Divinely-granted) Success, and from the other part the Ocean of Virtue. He said, "Whoever recites this verse, him I will give success and virtue as his companions."

Again the Lord ordered the Pen to write. It wrote: "Ihdina sirat-al-mustaqim, sirat-alladhina an'amta 'alaihim" (Guide us in the straight path, the path of those whom Thou hast blessed). The light coming fromthese words fell into two parts. From one part was created the Sea of Guidance and from the other part the Sea of Plenty. "Whoever says these words", spoke the Lord, "Him I shall guide, and him I shall provide with My bounty."

Once more He ordered the Pen to write. And the Pen wrote: Ghairi-l-maghdubi 'alaihim wa la dallin", which means, "not of those against whom Thou art wrathful, nor of those who are astray."

And a darkness rose up from these words, and this too was in two parts. Out of one part was created the Sea of Wrath, of the other the Sea of Anger. The Lord spoke, "I will make safe from the Seas of Wrath and Anger whomever recites these verses."

And thus the verses of the 'Fatiha' were written down by the Pen at the beginning of Creation.

* * *

The Holy Prophet * said: "It took the Pen 700 years to write down the Besmela (the words 'Bismillahir Rahman-ir-Rahim'). If a Muslim recites the Besmela with pure intention in his heart, it will be counted as seven hundred years of worship."

The Holy Prophet * also said: "Allah created anking in the midst of darkness, then He showered light upon them. All those who were touched by this light reached to guidance, those who were not touched by it, remained in error."

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