بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم
Alif, Lam, Meem. This is the Book about which there is no doubt, a guidance for those conscious of Allah [Al Baqara: 1,2]
Sura Al Fatiha was our conversation to our Rabb, our prayer to Him to grant us the guidance. To grant us a map so we may navigate through this journey of our life with success. The whole Quran is an answer to this prayer. It is guidance.
But right in the beginning, Allah tells us the condition which will enable us to benefit from this guidance. The set of people who will actually receive guidance from the word of Allah are Muttaqoon.
So who are Muttaqoon? Muttaqoon or the people who have taqwaa are those who have a strong desire to protect themselves. The prerequisite to benefitting from this guidance is the desire to protect ourselves. Protect from what? From the displeasure of Allah and from the eternal fire and eternal pain.
So Allah teaches us from the very beginning to approach this book with the correct intention, with the correct frame of mind, with the desire to please Allah.
It is an interesting cycle. The desire to please Allah will lead us to Quran and Quran will give us the desire to please Allah. So we will approach Quran with an intent to please Allah and Quran will not only tell us how to please Allah but will also increase our love for Allah which will, in turn, increase our thirst for Quran and so on.
In the next ayaat, Allah describes the characteristics of those who have Taqwa. Deeds which can take us in the ranks of Muttaqoon. May All make us one of them. Ameen