I am a convert to Islam, and my husband started trying to teach me the Fatiha when I expressed the desire to pray. I could not learn it, no matter how hard I tried. Then after quite a long period of time, about three or four months, I had a dream in which I recited the Fatiha without a single mistake. I learnt Fatiha by heart in a dream. Can you tell me the meaning of the dream?

All perfect praise be to Allah, The Lord of the Worlds. I testify that there is none worthy of worship except Allah, and that Muhammad is His slave and Messenger.

The prayer represents the most trustworthy hand-hold between the creature and his Creator.

Allah Says (what means): {Maintain with care the [obligatory] prayers and [in particular] the middle prayer and stand before Allah, devoutly obedient.} [Quran 2:238]

Abu Hurayrah narrated that the Prophet said: “There is no prayer for he who does not recite the Umm al-Quran (i.e. al-Faatihah) [i.e. his prayer is void]." He repeated that thrice. Someone asked Abu Hurayrah: “Even when we pray in congregation?” Abu Hurayrah answered: “Recite it secretly,” since I heard the Prophet saying: “Allah (The Almighty and Sublime) has said [i.e. in a Qudsi hadeeth], ‘I have divided the prayer between Myself and My servant into two halves, and My servant shall have what he has asked for. When the servant says, 'Al-hamdu lillahi rabbil ‘Aalameen (All the praise is to Allah, the Lord of all that exists),' Allah says, 'My slave has praised Me.' And when he says, 'Ar-Rahmaanir-Raheem (The Most Gracious, the Most Merciful),' Allah says, 'My slave has extolled Me.' And when he says, 'Maaliki yawmi-iddeen (The Owner/The only Ruling Judge of the Day of Recompense],' Allah says, 'My slave has Glorified Me.' And when he says, 'Iyyaaka na'budu wa iyyaaka nasta’een (It is You (Alone) we worship, and You (Alone) we ask for help),' He says, 'This is between Me and My slave, and My slave shall have what he asks for.' And when he says, 'Ihdinas-siraat-al-mustaqeem, siraat-allatheena an'amta 'alayhim ghayri-l-maghdhoobi 'alayhim wala-dhaalleen (Guide us to the Straight Path, the Path of those on whom You have bestowed Your Grace, not (the path) of those who earned Your Anger, nor of those who went astray),' He says, 'This is for My slave, and My slave shall have what he has asked for.'’" [Muslim]

Thus, the prayer is the first act that a slave will be held accountable for on the Day of Judgement.

The Prophet said: “The prayer is the first act that the person will be accountable for. If it is good, then he will be successful; and if it is bad, he will be a loser.” [At-Tirmithi]

Another Hadeeth reads: “Between a person and disbelief and polytheism is abandoning the prayer.” [Muslim]

Learning how to perform the prayer is easy as long as one believes that it is very important, and has a sound determination.

Allah Says (what means): {And fear Allah. And Allah teaches you. And Allah is Knowing of all things.} [Quran 2:282]

Here, we tell our sister that there are many ways to learn how to perform the prayer. Among these ways are:

(1) Performing the prayer in congregation with your husband and following him step by step, and

(2) Reading illustrated booklets that show how to perform the prayers as well as using any other useful means.

Also, it is your husband's duty to teach you and to take you to religious gatherings and lessons so that you can learn your religion and recognize the greatness of Islam; the only religion that will be accepted on the Day of Judgement.

Allah Says (what means): {And whoever desires other than Islam as religion - never will it be accepted from him, and he, in the Hereafter, will be among the losers.} [Quran 3:85]

Moreover, teaching a family the religion ranks high in Islam, and makes one get closer to his Lord.

As for your dream, it is a good indication –Allah willing – that Allah will open to you gates of good and close gates of evil, and He will answer your prayers.  

Allah knows best.