`FATIHA' means beginning, starting, or opening. any thing, and here it refers to the Book - the Holy QURÄN'S opening chapter.

      We have enough evidences that the chapter was so called by the prophet himself; and opens a window towards an important Islamic problem - that which some people may think that QURÄN has been compiled and collected after the prophet, and in the life time of either ABUBKR, OMAR, or OTHMÄN. But the name FATIHA that has been the same in prophet's lifetime and even since then, is a proof of the prophet's care and watchful attention on the Holy Book. We have clear cut documents, and proofs that the collected work which we have it now in our hands, was compiled as it is, and arranged in this sequence by the order of the prophet himself.

      ALI- IBN- IBRAHIM the great commentator of QURÄN who lived in the third century A.H. has narrated from Imam Sädiq (AS) that the prophet ordered his cousin, son-in-low, and vicegerent, HAZRAT ALI (AS) to collect and compile the different parts of QURÄN, which were then written upon pieces of silk, paper, skins of animals, and etc.

      The narrator adds that ``HAZRAT ALI (AS) fulfilled the commandment, sincerely collecting the scattered pieces and parts. He then wrapped all the parts in a yellow cloth and took them for compilation.''

      Besides that; the famous tradition of the prophet, which is related by many, and through successive witnesses; saying: ``I shall go and leave among you two heavy things: the BOOK OF ALLAH, and my kins.'' Is an enough proof that QURÄN had already been compiled in prophet's time.

      As for the view that some say: ``HAZRAT ALI (AS) compiled the Book, after the prophet'' It Should be known that, what was collected by HAZRAT ALI (AS), after the prophet, was not merely the text of QURÄN: It rather was a collection consisting of the text with various comments of the prophet about different verses, and the historical evidences, and some details and reasons for the revelations, and etc.