In the Name of Allah, the All-Beneficent, the All-Merciful

The explication on the Holy Qur’an is one or the scientific branches combined with the knowledge or reading, recitation and history of the Holy Qur’an whose background goes back to the era or the Holy Prophet (Peace be upon him).

For years, attempts have been made on the ‘explication’. Every theologian has made efforts to give a comment on the issue in the light of his own knowledge and ability. Therefore, various commentaries have been written thereabout so far.

In these varieties of the explication, there are literary discussions, dissimilarities in reading, the state and the rank of the coming down of the verses, the narration of the verses, the commentary on verses and decrees, the moral discussions, scholastic, mystic, mandatory, social and political affairs.

Each commentator in his works has referred to one or a few chapters of the aforementioned issue and most theologians have tried to remove the veil from the divine mysteries according to their own standpoint and their specified background.

In fact, the commentary means removing the veil from the divine mysteries. Following is Imam Khomeini’s comment on this issue:

“Generally speaking, the commentary on a book means simply conveying the sense and the connotation and the concept of the book and more importantly to convey the author’s idea and his point of view. This Holy book, according to the confession of God almighty, is the book for guiding and teaching.

It is also the illumination of humanity conducts and manners, that the commentator or which should show the prosperity way, the leading to the invisible realm, the manner of cognition and humanity to the disciples; of course, not more the cause and the why or the coming down the verses which has been throughout the commentary thoroughly.”1

Imam Khomeini has tried to clarify the meaning and the concept of the Qur’an in his own works and remarks as to prepare a way to train people. Therefore, he used different usual methods in conformity with the different trends of his own methods, the comments which overtook even the others.

By removing the veil from the mysteries of the Holy Qur’an, Imam Khomeini has tried to clarify [the subject] for those interested in such matters, and the seekers of the true path.

The spirit and inspiration of this brilliant Book are clearly discernible in the whole works, deeds and speeches of Imam Khomeini, but of course, the specified works about the conception of the Holy Qur’an can be classified in to some definite groups:

• Perfect commentary on some of verses of Qur’an….

• Commentary on Qur’anic verses...

• Commentary on verses of decrees in jurisprudential works and the theologians’ issues according to the subjects...

• Commentary on some verses, differently, which suits the matter...

• Comparison and attestation to the Qur’anic verses in mystical, moral, social and political fields...

The institute for compilation and publication of Imam Khomeini's works according to the calling which ought to be performed, is determined to publish all works of Imam Khomeini about the commentary on Qur’an coupled with his view about Qur’an in a regular way in the form of a “collective works”.

The commentary on verse praise is the first work of such sorts which has been offered to the lovers of these kinds of works.

Qur’an in a regular way in the form of a “collective works”. The first work of such sorts, which has been offered to the lovers of these kinds of books.

Imam’s method on commenting a verse perfectly is a gnostic and educative method, for he believes that Qur’an by enjoying the culture is a human lecturer.

This method too has been seen in some of the previous works or a few of theologians who focused their comments upon the gnostic, moral and sagacious trend;

Ta‘wilat al-Qur’an, Kashf al-Asrar, commentary on Surah Fatihah.

Fatihah al-Kitab is as the mentioned issues.

The commentary on Fatihah al-Kitab enjoys subtle delicate points and gnostic profound points, which make this work remarkable, and elevates it to the high level, more important than the others’ works thereabout.

Such a process e.g., this distinguished view is inspired by the great mentality of Imam Khomeini who is the expert in Qur’an of the era, who comprehended these realities and put it down in written works.

Comparing the Imam’s aspects in this trend with some other ones, their comments on Surah Al-Hamd will clarify this point so obvious to the epistemologists, that the discussion about which does not suit here because of limitation of space and also as it is a long discussion for our passage.

Regarding the importance and the Qur’anic debates, in the first step, we have compiled the commentary on “Surah Al-Hamd” in this book. And also due to this reason that whatever has been gathered so far entitled and is known as “The Commentary on Surah Al-Hamd” by Imam Khomeini have been only topic for a few lectures, which were merely about the debates of (bismillah) in the Name of God, the compassionate, the Merciful, which was not even perfectly explained.

Therefore, some people have thought that the whole commentary on Surah Al-Hamd commented by Imam Khomeini confined to the mentioned lectures.

The present book is to remove such ambiguity, therefore as it will be seen, this book consists of four pans, collectively works about the commentary on Surah Al-Hamd by Imam Khomeini. This book is presented to these who are interested in such issues;

Part One: A concise commentary on Surah Al-Hamd which is taken from the valuable book “Sirr as-Salat” a book on mysticism explaining the ethical and mystical secrets of the namaz, written in 1358 AHS, 1318 AH, 1939 AD, by Imam Khomeini.

Part Two: After the triumph of revolution in February 1979 Imam Khomeini consented to give lectures on Surah al- Fatihah or Surah al-Hamd the opening chapter of the Qur’an. The point of departure and return is always the opening chapter, and more importantly, the wide range of subjects evoked illustrates the fact that the chapter contains the whole of Islam compressed within it-that it is “the mother of the book” as the Prophet designated it... This part neatly has been prepared.

Part Three: It is a commentary, which can be considered as a comment and explication on Surah Al-Hamd that was written in 1361 AHS.

Part Four: Different phrases, which are about Bismillah and some main parts of Surah Al-Hamd in the Imam’s written and oral works.

In this work, like the other ones, the Institute for compilation and publication of Imam Khomeini's works has tried to offer a distinguished book illuminating the view of the great leader whose works are going to be published in the same way from now on.

The Institute for Compilation and

Publication of Imam Khomeini’s Works

International Affairs Department

• 1. The Discipline Of Prayer, pp.193-195.