The Opening Chapter
الفَاتِحَة
With (the one whose)name (is) Allah*, the Merciful, the Compassionate
بِسْمِ اللهِ الرَّحْمٰنِ الرَّحِيْمِ
All praise is for Allah, the Lord* of the worlds**.
ٱلْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ رَبِّ ٱلْعَـٰلَمِينَ
*Rabb means the Lord or Master (12: 42) or the one who cares like an affectionate parent (17: 24).
**Alam in Arabic means the world or universe. Since the universe is constantly changing from one state to another, Allah has used an all-encompassing term of Al Alameen, which encompasses every existing moment or state of the universe.