Dear OpenMinded,

I'm not familiar with what the Al-Fatiha is.

• If it is the opening to the first chapter of the Koran, why would any Catholic do that?
  

I when to the web site you gave us and it is all in Arabic so I have no idea what it says and
I can't copy and paste the text into the Google Translator.

I'm sure your friend means well, but the text of the Koran has a lot of hostility toward Christians and Jews. Unless she is a non-practicing Muslim, she should know this.

Instead, I would say, thank-you, but no thank-you, and share with her the marvels of saying the Holy Rosary. A great prayer to say prior to any surgery.

My colleagues may have addition advice.

Mike

Dear Mike and Dear OpenMinded,

I trust that your co-worker is making a kindly gesture!

Many Muslims have pious beliefs about the effectiveness of carrying the Al-Fatiha prayer — to the point where we might consider it superstitious from a Catholic point of view.

The Al-Fatiha includes these words:

Guide us to the Straight Path.

The path of those whom Your blessings are upon, Not of those who You have cursed nor of those who have gone astray.

Here, the word cursed refers to Jews and gone astray refers to Christians, so the Muslim is praying to stay away from the paths of Jews and Christians. In no way could this be a suitable prayer for a Catholic.

I found that information in this article:

• The Antichrist in Muhammad: Praying Never to Know Jesus as Lord

Since you mentioned having some serious medical issues, I hope you will ask your parish priest about receiving the Sacrament of the Anointing of the Sick at some point, especially if you are facing any dangerous illness or treatment. The Lord gave us this sacrament particularly for healing, so we should avail ourselves of it.

I hope this is useful! God bless!

— Richard