Fatihah is that which opens a subject or a book or any other thing. In other words, Al-Fatihah is a sort of preface. Surah Al Fatihah is one of the very earliest Revelations to the Holy Prophet. This surah is in fact a prayer that Allah has taught to all those who want to make a study of His book. It has been placed at the very beginning of the Quran to teach this lesson to the reader: if you sincerely want to benefit from the Quran, you should offer this prayer to the Lord of the Universe.
In the name of Allah, the most compassionate, most merciful.
All praise is due to Allah, lord of the worlds
The entirely merciful, the especially merciful,
Master of the day of judgment.
You alone we worship and You alone we ask for help.
Guide us along the straight path,
The path of those upon whom you have bestowed favor, not of those who have earned your anger or of those who are astray.