فَاتِحَةٌ

(tropical:) The commencement, or first part, of a thing: (S, A, * K:) plural فَوَاتِحُ. (A.) فَاتِحَةُ الكِتَابِ, (Msb,) or فَاتِحَةُ القُرْانِ, (TA,) [and simply الفَاتِحَةُ, (assumed tropical:) The opening chapter, or exordium, of the Qur'an,] is [said to be] so called because the recitation in prayer is commenced therewith. (Msb.) One says also, قَرَأَ فَاتِحَةَ السُّورَةِ وَخَاتِمَتَهَا (tropical:) He recited the first part, or portion, of the chapter of the Qur'an and its last part, or portion. (A.) And فَوَاتِحُ القُرْانِ signifies (tropical:) The first parts, or portions, of the chapters of the Qur'an. (K, TA.) [See also مُفْتَتَحٌ.]