Al-Fatiha is Surah 1 of the Quran and is recited in every rak’ah of formal prayer.
Al-Fatiha means “The Opening.” It is the first chapter of the Quran and contains seven verses in the standard numbering. The chapter is a prayer praising God, affirming worship and dependence on Him, and asking for guidance along the straight path.
In the daily salah, Al-Fatiha is recited in each rak’ah. Islamic legal schools discuss details such as who must recite it and how its recitation applies in congregational prayer, but its central role in formal prayer is widely recognized.
Al-Fatiha is sometimes confused with a longer Quran chapter because “surah” means chapter while “ayah” means verse. The chapter’s seven-verse structure is also why it is known by names connected with repetition and prayer, including Umm al-Kitab in Islamic tradition.