1. Al-Fatihah
1.1 Narrated Abu Huraira:
Allah’s Messenger (ﷺ) said, “The Um (substance) of the Qur’an is the seven oft-repeated verses (Al- Mathaini) and is the Great Qur’an (i.e. Surat-al-Fatiha).
Sahih al-Bukhari Vol. 6, Book 60, Hadith 227
1.2 Narrated Abu Sa`id Al-Khudri:
Some of the companions of the Prophet (ﷺ) came across a tribe amongst the tribes of the Arabs, and that tribe did not entertain them. While they were in that state, the chief of that tribe was bitten by a snake (or stung by a scorpion). They said, (to the companions of the Prophet (ﷺ) ), “Have you got any medicine with you or anybody who can treat with Ruqya?” The Prophet’s companions said, “You refuse to entertain us, so we will not treat (your chief) unless you pay us for it.” So they agreed to pay them a flock of sheep. One of them (the Prophet’s companions) started reciting Surat-al-Fatiha and gathering his saliva and spitting it (at the snake-bite). The patient got cured and his people presented the sheep to them, but they said, “We will not take it unless we ask the Prophet (whether it is lawful).” When they asked him, he smiled and said, “How do you know that Surat-al-Fatiha is a Ruqya? Take it (flock of sheep) and assign a share for me.”
1.3 Abu Sa’id Khudri reported
that some persons amongst the Companions of Allah’s Messenger (ﷺ) set out on a journey and they happened to pass by a tribe from the tribes of Arabia. They demanded hospitality from the members of that tribe, but they did not extend any hospitality to them. They said to them:
Is there any incantator amongst you, at the chief of the tribe has bgen stung by a scorpion? A person amongst us said: ‘Yes. So he came to him and he practised incan- tation with the help of Sura al-Fatiha and the person became all right. He was given a flock of sheep (as recompense), but he refused to accept that, saying: I shall make a mention of it to Allah’s Apostle (ﷺ), and if he approves of it. then I shall accept it. So we came to Allah’s Apostle (ﷺ) and made a mention of that to him and he (that person) said: Allah’s Messenger by Allah, I did not practice incantation but with the help of Sura al-Fatiha of the Holy Book. He (the Holy Prophet) smiled and said: How did you come to know that it can be used (as incactation)? – and then said: Take out of that and allocate a share for me along with your share.
1.4 This hadith has been reported on the authority of Abu Bishr with the same the same chain of transmitters (with these words):
That he recited Umm-ul-Qur’an (Sura Fatiha), and he collected his spittle and he applied that and the person became all right.
1.5 Narrated Ibn `Abbas:
Some of the companions of the Prophet (ﷺ) passed by some people staying at a place where there was water, and one of those people had been stung by a scorpion. A man from those staying near the water, came and said to the companions of the Prophet, “Is there anyone among you who can do Ruqya as near the water there is a person who has been stung by a scorpion.” So one of the Prophet’s companions went to him and recited Surat-al-Fatiha for a sheep as his fees. The patient got cured and the man brought the sheep to his companions who disliked that and said, “You have taken wages for reciting Allah’s Book.” When they arrived at Medina, they said, ‘ O Allah’s Messenger (ﷺ)! (This person) has taken wages for reciting Allah’s Book” On that Allah’s Messenger (ﷺ) said, “You are most entitled to take wages for doing a Ruqya with Allah’s Book.”
1.6 ‘Ata’ reported it on the authority of Abu Huraira who said:
Recitation (of Surat al-Fatiha) in every (rak’ah) of prayer in essential. (The recitation) that we listened to from the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) we made you listen to it. And that which he recited inwardly to us, we recited it inwardly for you. And he who recites Umm al-Qur’an, it is enough for him (to complete the prayer), and he who adds to it (recites some other verses of the Holy Qur’an along with Surat al-Fatiha), it is preferable for him.
1.7 Narrated Abu Sa`id Al-Mu’alla:
While I was praying, the Prophet (ﷺ) called me but I did not respond to his call. Later I said, “O Allah’s Apostle! I was praying.” He said, “Didn’t Allah say:
‘O you who believe! Give your response to Allah (by obeying Him) and to His Apostle when he calls you’?” (8.24)
He then said, “Shall I not teach you the most superior Surah in the Qur’an?” He said, ‘(It is), ‘Praise be to Allah, the Lord of the worlds. ‘ (i.e., Surat Al-Fatiha) which consists of seven repeatedly recited Verses and the Magnificent Qur’an which was given to me.”
1.8 Narrated Talha bin `Abdullah bin `Auf:
I offered the funeral prayer behind Ibn `Abbas and he recited Al-Fatiha and said, “You should know that it (i.e. recitation of Al-Fatiha) is the tradition of the Prophet (ﷺ) Muhammad.
1.9 ‘Ata’ narrated on the authority of Abu Huraira
who said that one should recite (al-Fatiha) in every (rak’ah of) prayer. What we heard (i. e. recitation) from the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ), we made you listen to that. And that which he (recited) inwardly, we (recited) inwardly for you. A person said to him:
If I add nothing to the (recitation) of the Umm al Qur’an (Surat al-Fatiha), would it make the prayer incomplete? He (AbuHuraira) said: If you add to that (if you recite some of verses of the Qur’an along with Surat at-Fatiha) that is better for you. But if you are contented with it (Surat al-Fatiha) only, it is sufficient for you.
1.10 Narrated ‘Ubada bin As-Samit:
Allah’s Messenger (ﷺ) said, “Whoever does not recite Al-Fatiha in his prayer, his prayer is invalid.”
1.11 Narrated `Abdullah bin Abi Qatada:
My father said, “The Prophet (ﷺ) uses to recite Al-Fatiha followed by another Sura in the first two rak`at of the prayer and used to recite only Al-Fatiha in the last two rak`at of the Zuhr prayer. Sometimes a verse or so was audible and he used to prolong the first rak`a more than the second and used to do the same in the `Asr and Fajr prayers.”
1.12 Abu Huraira reported:
The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said: One is not credited with having observed the prayer without the recitation (of al-Fatiha). So said Abu Huraira: (The prayer in which) the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) recited in a loud voice, we also recited that loudly for you (and the prayer in which) he recited inwardly we also recited inwardly for you (to give you a practical example of the prayer of the Holy Prophet).
1.13 Yahya related to me from Malik
from al-Ala ibn Abd ar-Rahman ibn Yaqub that Abu Said, the mawla of Amir ibn Kuraz told him that the Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, called toUbayy ibn Kab while he was praying. When Ubayy had finished his prayer he joined the Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, and the Messenger of Allah put his hand upon his hand, and he was intending to leave by the door of the mosque, so the Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, said, “I hope that you will not leave the mosque until you know a sura whose like Allah has notsentdown in the Tawrah nor in the Injil nor in the Qur’an.” Ubayysaid, “I began to slow down my pace in the hope of that. Then I said, ‘Messenger of Allah, the sura you promised me!’ He said, ‘What do you recite when you begin the prayer?’ I recited the Fatiha (Sura 1 ) until I came to the end of it, and the Messengerof Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, said, ‘It is this sura, and it is the “seven oft-repeated” and the Great Qur’an which I was given.’ ”
Muwatta Malik Book 3, Hadith 39
1.14 It was narrated that ‘Ali said:
“I heard the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) saying ‘Amin’ after he said, ‘nor of those who went astray.’[1:7]
Sunan Ibn Majah Vol. 1, Book 5, Hadith 854
1.15 Ibn ‘Abdullah bin Mughaffal narrated from his father and he said:
“I have rarely seen a man for whom innovation in Islam was harder to bear than him. He heard me reciting: ‘In the Name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful’ Bismillahir-Rahmanir-Rahim [1:1] and he said: ‘O my son, beware of innovation, for I prayed with the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ), and with Abu Bakr, and with ‘Umar, and with ‘Uthman, and I never heard any of them saying this. When you (begin to) recite, say: ‘All the praises and thanks are to Allah, the Lord of all that exists.’ (Al-hamdu Lillahi Rabbil-‘Alamin).’” [1:2]
Sunan Ibn Majah Vol. 1, Book 5, Hadith 815
1.16 It was narrated that ‘Aishah said:
“The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ), Abu Bakr, ‘Umar and ‘Uthman used to start their recitation with “All praises and thanks are to Allah, the Lord of all that exists. (Al- hamdu Lillahi Rabbil-‘Alamin).’” [1:2]
Sunan Ibn Majah Vol. 1, Book 5, Hadith 812
1.17 It was narrated from Abu Hurairah that
the Prophet (ﷺ) used to start his recitation with ‘All the praises and thanks are to Allah, the Lord of all that exists’ (Al-hamdu Lillahi Rabbil-‘Alamin),’ [1:
2]
Sunan Ibn Majah Vol. 1, Book 5, Hadith 814
1.18 It was narrated from ‘Abdul-Jabbar bin Wa’il that his father said:
“I performed prayer with the Prophet (ﷺ) and when he said: ‘Nor of those who went astray’,[1:7] he said Amin and we heard that from him.”
Sunan Ibn Majah Vol. 1, Book 5, Hadith 855
1.19 It was narrated that Abu Hurairah said:
“The people stopped saying Amin, but when the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said ‘Not (the way) of those who earned Your Anger, nor of those who went astray’[1:7] he would say Amin, until the people in the first row could hear it, and the mosque would shake with it.
Sunan Ibn Majah Vol. 1, Book 5, Hadith 853
1.20 It was narrated that Abu Hurairah said:
“The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said: ‘The Imam has been appointed to be followed, so when he says Allahu Akbar, then say Allahu Akbar, when he recites, then listen attentively; when he says: Not (the way) of those who earned Your anger, nor of those who went astray,[1:7] then say Amin; when he bows then bow; when he says Sami’ Allahu liman hamidah (Allah hears those who praise Him), then say Allahumma Rabbana wa lakal-hamd (O Allah, our Lord, to You is the praise);” when he prostrates then prostrate; and if he prays sitting down then all of you pray sitting down.’”
Sunan Ibn Majah Vol. 1, Book 5, Hadith 846
1.21 Jabir (RAA) narrated that
the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) used to say four Takbirat over the dead, and would recite al-Fatihah in (after saying) the first (opening) Takbirat.’
1.22 It was narrated that Ubayy bin Ka’b said:
“The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said: ‘Allah, the Mighty and Sublime, did not reveal in the Tawrah or the Injil anything like Umm Al-Quran (Al-Fatihah), which is the seven oft-recited, and (Allah said) it is divided between Myself and My slave will have what he asked for.'”
1.23 It was narrated that Ubadah bin As-Samit said:
“The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) led us in one of the prayers in which the recitation is done out loud, and he said: ‘None of you should recite when I recite out loud, apart from the Umm Al_quran (Al Fatihah).'”
1.24 Narrated Wa’il ibn Hujr:
When the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) recited the verse “Nor of those who go astray” (Surah al-Fatihah, verse 7), he would say Amin; and raised his voice (while uttering this word).
1.25 Ibn ‘Abbas (May Allah be pleased with them) reported:
While Jibril (Gabriel) was sitting with the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ), he heard a sound above him. He lifted his head, and said: “This is a gate which has been opened in heaven today. It was never opened before.” Then an angel descended through it, he said: “This is an angel who has come down to earth. He never came down before.” He sent greetings and said: “Rejoice with two lights given to you. Such lights were not given to any Prophet before you. These (lights) are: Fatihah-til-Kitab (Surat Al-Fatihah), and the concluding Ayat of Surat Al-Baqarah. You will never recite a word from them without being given the blessings it contains.”
Riyad as-Salihin Book 9, Hadith 32
1.26 It was narrated from Jabir bin Abdullah that
when the Messenger of Allah came to Maqam Ibrahim he recited:
“And take you the Maqam (place) of Ihrahim as a place of prayer.” Then he prayed two Rakahs reciting the Opening of the Book (Al-Fatihah) said: “Say: O you disbelievers” and “Say: He is Allah, (the) One.” Then he went back to the Corner and touched it, then he went out to As-Safa.
1.27 Narrated Samurah ibn Jundub:
I remember two period of silence in prayer, one when the imam said the takbir; and one when he finished reciting the Fatihah and the surah when he was about to bow. But Imran ibn Husayn took it as something strange. So they wrote about it to Ubayy (ibn Ka’b) in Medina. He verified the statement of Samurah.
Abu Dawud said: Humaid also narrated in this tradition the words “and one period silence when he finished the recitation (of the Qur’an)”
1.28 Narrated Samurah ibn Jundub:
I remember from the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) two periods of silence. Sa’id said: We asked Qatadah: What are those two periods of silence? He said: (one) when he began his prayer, and (one) when he finished the recitation. Then he added: When he finished reciting (the closing verse of the Fatihah): “Not of those with whom Thou art angry, nor of who go astray.”
1.29 Narrated Alaqah ibn Sahar at-Tamimi:
Alaqah came to the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) and embraced Islam. He then came back from him and passed some people who had a lunatic fettered in chains.
His people said: We are told that your companion has brought some good. Have you something with which you can cure him? I then recited Surat al-Fatihah and he was cured. They gave me one hundred sheep. I then came to the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) and informed him of it.
He asked: Is it only this? The narrator, Musaddad, said in his other version: Did you say anything other than this? I said: No. He said: Take it, for by my life, some accept if for a worthless chain, but you have done so for a genuine one.
1.30 Kharijah b. al-Salt quoted
his parental uncle as saying that he passed (some people) :
He recited Surat al-Fatihah over him for three days morning and evening. Whenever he finished it, he collected some of his saliva and spat it out, and he seemed as if he were set free from a bond. They gave him something as payment. He then came to the Prophet (ﷺ). He then transmitted the rest of the tradition to the same effect as Musaddad narrated.
1.31 Nafi’b. Mahmudb. Al-Rabi’ Al-Ansari said:
“Ubadah b. al-samit came to late to lead the morning prayer. Abu Nu’aim, the mu’adhdhin, pronounced the takbir and he led the people in prayer. Then Ubadah came and I was with him. We Joined the row behind Abu Nu’aim, while Abu Nu’aim was reciting the Qur’an loudly. Then ‘Ubadah began to recite the Umm al-Quran (I.e Surah al Fatihah). When he finished, I said to Ubadah: I heard you reciting the Umm al-Qur’an while Abu Nu’aim was reciting Qur’an loudly. He replied: yes> The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) led us in a certain prayer in which the Qur’an is recited loudly, but he became confused in the recitation. When he finished he turned his face to us and said: Do you recite when I recite the Qur’an loudly? Some of us said: we do so; this is why I said to myself: What is that which confused me (in the recitation of ) the Qur’an. Do not recite anything from the Qur’an when I recite it loudly except the Umm al-Qur’an.
1.32 The above mentioned tradition has been transmitted through a different chain of narrators by ‘Ubadah b. al-samit like the version of al-Rabi’b Sulaiman. This version adds:
Makhul used to recite Surah al Fatihah al-kitab quietly in the prayer in which the imam recites the Qur’an loudly when he observes the period of silence. If he does not observe the period of silence, recite it before him(i.e before his recitation), or along with him or after him; do not give it up in any case.
1.33 Abu Hurairah reported the prophet (ﷺ) as saying;
when the imam recites “ not of those with whom thou art angry, nor of those who go astray” (surah al-fatihah,verse 7) say Amin, for if one’s words (utterance of amin) synchronise with those of the angles, he will be forgiven his past sins.
1.34 It was narrated from Abu Sa’ib that he heard Abu Hurairah say:
“The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said: ‘Whoever performs a prayer in which he does not recite Ummul Qur’an (the Mother of the Qur’an, i.e., Al- Fatihah), it is deficient; not complete.’” I said: ‘O Abu Hurairah, sometimes I am behind the Imam. He pressed my forearm and said: ‘O Persian! Recite it to yourself.’”
Sunan Ibn Majah Vol. 1, Book 5, Hadith 838
1.35 Abu Sa’id Ar-Rafi’ bin Al-Mu’alla (May Allah be pleased with him) reported:
The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said, “Shall I teach you the greatest Surah in the Qur’an before you leave the mosque?” Then he (ﷺ), took me by the hand, and when we were about to step out, I reminded him of his promise to teach me the greatest Surah in the Qur’an. He (ﷺ) said, “It is ‘Alhamdu lillahi Rabbil ‘Alamin (i.e., Surat Al-Fatihah) which is As-Sab’ Al-Mathani (i.e., the seven oft- repeated Ayat) and the Great Qur’an which is given to me.”
Riyad as-Salihin Book 9, Hadith 19
1.36 It was narrated that Nu’aim Al-Mujmir said:
“I prayed behind Abu Hurairah and he recited: In the Name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful, then he recited Umm Al-Qur’an (Al Fatihah), and when he reached: not (the way) of those who earned Your anger, nor of those who went astray, he said: ‘Amin and the people said ‘Amin. And every time he prostrated he said: ‘Allahu Akbar and when he stood up from sitting after two Rak’ahs he said: ‘Allahu Akbar’. And after he had said the Salam he said: ‘By the One in Whose Hand is my soul! My prayer most closely remembers the prayer of the Messenger of Allah.'”
1.37 Kharijah b. al-Salt quoted
his paternal uncle as saying that he passed by a clan (of the Arab) who came to him and said:
You have brought what is good from this man. Then they brought a lunatic in chains. He recited Surat al-Fatihah over him three days, morning and evening. When he finished, he collected his saliva and then spat it out, (he felt relief) as if he were set free from a bond. They gave him something (as wages). He then came to the Prophet (ﷺ) and mentioned it to him. The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said: Accept it, for by my life, some accept it for a worthless charm, but you have done so far a genuine one.
1.38 Narrated Aisha, Ummul Mu’minin:
Zurarah ibn Awfa said that Aisha was asked about the midnight prayer of the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ).
She said: He used to offer his night prayer in congregation and then return to his family (in his house) and pray four rak’ahs. Then he would go to his bed and sleep, but the water for his ablution was placed covered near his head and his tooth-stick was also kept there until Allah awakened him at night.
He then used the tooth-stick, performed ablution perfectly then came to the place of prayer and would pray eight rak’ahs, in which he would recite Surah al-Fatihah, and a surah from the Qur’an as Allah willed. He would not sit during any of them but sit after the eighth rak’ah, and would not utter the salutation, but recite (the Qur’an) during the ninth rak’ah. Then he would sit and supplicate as long as Allah willed, and beg Him and devote his attention to Him; He would utter the salutation once in such a loud voice that the inmates of the house were almost awakened by his loud salutation. He would then recite Surah al-Fatihah while sitting, bow while sitting, and then recite the Qur’an during the second rak’ah, and would bow and prostrate while sitting. He would supplicate Allah as long as He willed, then utter the salutation and turn away.
This amount of prayer of the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) continued till he put a weight. During that period he retrenched two rak’ahs from nine and began to pray six and seven rak’ahs standing and two rak’ahs sitting. This continued till he died.
1.39 The client of Ibn ‘Abbas said that he asked him:
How would the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) pray during the night ? He replied: I spent a night with him when he was with Maimunah. He slept and awoke when half the night or one-third of it had passed. He stood up and went to a leather bad containing water. He performed ablution and I also performed ablution with him. He then stood up and I also stood at his left side. He made me stand at his right side. He then put his hand upon my head, as he was touching my ear and awakening me. He then prayed two light rak’ahs and recited Surah al-Fatihah in each of them, and uttered the salutation. He then prayed eleven rak’ahs observing the witr and slept. Then Bilal came to him and said: Prayer, Messenger of Allah. He got up and prayed two rak’ahs, and then led the people in the prayer.
1.40 Nafi’b. Mahmudb. Al-Rabi’ Al-Ansari said:
“Ubadah b. al-samit came to late to lead the morning prayer. Abu Nu’aim, the mu’adhdhin, pronounced the takbir and he led the people in prayer. Then Ubadah came and I was with him. We Joined the row behind Abu Nu’aim, while Abu Nu’aim was reciting the Qur’an loudly. Then ‘Ubadah began to recite the Umm al-Quran (I.e Surah al Fatihah). When he finished, I said to Ubadah: I heard you reciting the Umm al-Qur’an while Abu Nu’aim was reciting Qur’an loudly. He replied: yes> The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) led us in a certain prayer in which the Qur’an is recited loudly, but he became confused in the recitation. When he finished he turned his face to us and said: Do you recite when I recite the Qur’an loudly? Some of us said: we do so; this is why I said to myself: What is that which confused me (in the recitation of ) the Qur’an. Do not recite anything from the Qur’an when I recite it loudly except the Umm al-Qur’an.
1.41 It was narrated that Abu Rafi’ said:
“The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said to ‘Abbas: ‘O uncle, shall I not give you a gift, shall I not benefit you, shall I not uphold my ties of kinship with you?’ He said: ‘Of course, O Messenger of Allah.’ He said: ‘Pray four Rak’ah, and recite in each Rak’ah the Opening of the Book (Al-Fatihah) and a Surah. When you have finished reciting, say: Subhan-Allah wal-hamdu Lillah wa la ilaha illallah wa Allahu Akbar (Glory is to Allah, praise is to Allah, none has the right to be worshipped but Allah and Allah is the Most Great) fifteen times before you bow in Ruku’. Then bow and say it ten times; then raise your head and say it ten times; then prostrate and say it ten times; then raise your head and say it ten times; then prostrate and say it ten times; then raise your head and say it ten times before you stand up. That wil be seventy-five times in each Rak’ah and three hundred times in the four Rak’ah, and even if your sins are like the grains of sand, Allah will forgive you for them.’ He said: ‘O Messenger of Allah, what if someone cannot say it in one day?’ He said: ‘Then say it once in a week; if you cannot, then say it once in a month’ until he said: ‘Once in a year.’
Sunan Ibn Majah Vol. 1, Book 5, Hadith 1386
1.42 It was narrated that Ibn ‘Abbas said:
“The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said to ‘Abbas bin ‘Abdul-Muttalib: ‘O ‘Abbas, O my uncle, shall I not give you a gift, shall I not give you something, shall I not tell you of something which, if you do it, will expiate for ten types of sins? If you do them, Allah will forgive you your sins, the first and the last of them, the old and the new, the unintentional and the deliberate, the minor and the major, the secret and the open, ten types of sin. Pray four Rak’ah, and recite in each Rak’ah the Opening of the Book (Al-Fatihah) and a Surah. When you have finished reciting in the first Rak’ah, while you are standing, say: Subhan-Allah wal- hamdu Lillah wa la ilaha illallah wa Allahu Akbar (Glory if to Allah, praise is to Allah, none has the right to be worshipped but Allah and Allah is the Most Great) fifteen times. Then bow and say it ten times while you are bowing. Then raise your head from Ruku’ and say it ten times. Then go into prostration and say it ten times while you are prostrating. Then raise your head from prostration and say it ten times. Then prostrate and say it ten times. Then raise your head from prostration and say it ten times. That will be seventy-five times in each Rak’ah. Do that in all four Rak’ah. If you can pray it once each day then do so. If you cannot, then once each week; if you cannot, then once each month. If you cannot, then once in your lifetime.’”
Sunan Ibn Majah Vol. 1, Book 5, Hadith 1387
1.43 Abu As-Sa’ib- the freed slave of Hisham bin Zuhrah-said:
“I heard Abu Hurairah say: ‘The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said: “Whoever offers a prayer in which he does not recite Umm Al-Quran (Al Fatihah), it is deficient, it is deficient, it is deficient, incomplete.” I (Abu As-Sa’ib) said: ‘O Abu Hurairah, sometimes I am behind the Imam.’ He poked me in the arm and said: ‘Recite it to yourself, O Persian! For I heard the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) say: “Allah says: “I have divided prayer between Myself and My slave into two halves, and My slave shall have what he has asked for.'” The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said: “Recite, for when the slave says: All the praises and thanks be to Allah, the Lord of all that exists, Allah says: ‘My slave has praised Me.’ And when he says: The Most Gracious, the Most Merciful, Allah says: ‘My slave has extolled Me.’ And when he says: The Only Owner (and the Only Ruling Judge) of the Day of Recompense (i.e. the Day of Resurrection), Allah says: ‘My slave has glorified Me’ . And when he says: You (alone) we worship, and You (alone) we ask for help (for each and everything), He says: ‘This is between Me and My slave, and My slave shall have what he has asked for.’ And when he says: ‘Guide us to the straight way, the way of those on whom You have bestowed Your grace, not (the way) 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 asked for.'”
1.44 On the authority of Abu Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him) from the Prophet (ﷺ), who said:
A prayer performed by someone who has not recited the Essence of the Quran (1) during it is deficient (and he repeated the word three times), incomplete. Someone said to Abu Hurayrah: [Even though] we are behind the imam? (2) He said: Recite it to yourself, for I have heard the Prophet (may the blessings and peace of Allah be up on him) say: Allah (mighty and sublime be He), had said: I have divided 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 rabbi l-alamin (3), Allah (mighty and sublime be He) says: My servant has praised Me. And when he says: Ar-rahmani r-rahim (4), Allah (mighty and sublime be He) says: My servant has extolled Me, and when he says: Maliki yawmi d-din (5), Allah says: My servant has glorified Me – and on one occasion He said: My servant has submitted to My power. And when he says: Iyyaka na budu wa iyyaka nasta in (6), He says: This is between Me and My servant, and My servant shall have what he has asked for. And when he says: Ihdina s-sirata l- mustaqim, siratal ladhina an amta alayhim ghayril-maghdubi alayhim wa la d-dallin (7), He says: This is for My servant, and My servant shall have what he has asked for. (1) Surat al-Fatihah, the first surah (chapter) of the Qur’an. (2) i.e. standing behind the imam (leader) listening to him reciting al-Fatihah. (3) “Praise be to Allah, Lord of the Worlds.” (4) “The Merciful, the Compassionate”. (5) “Master of the Day of Judgement”. (6) “It is You we worship and it is You we ask for help”. (7) “Guide us to the straight path, the path of those upon whom You have bestowed favors, not of those against whom You are angry, nor of those who are astray”. It was related by Muslim (also by Malik, at-Tirmidhi, Abu-Dawud, an-Nasa’i and Ibn Majah).
1.45 Narrated Abu Hurairah:
that the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said: “Al-Hamdulillah is Umm Al-Qur’an and Umm Al-Kitab and the seven oft-repeated.”
Jami` at-Tirmidhi Vol. 5, Book 44, Hadith 3124
1.46 It was narrated that Abu Hurairah said, ‘I heard the Messenger of Allah(ﷺ) say’:
“Allah said: ‘I have divided the prayer between Myself and My slave into two halves, and My slave shall have what he has asked for.’When the slave says: ‘Al-hamdulillah i rabbil Alameen (All the praise is to Allah, the Lord of all that exists),’ Allah says:’My slave has praised Me, and My slave shall have what he has asked for.’ And when he says: ‘Ar-Rahmanir-Rahim (The Mos Gracious, the Most Merciful),’ Allah says: ‘My slave has extolled Me, and My slave shall have what he has asked for.’ And when he says: ‘Maliki yawmiddin [The Only Owner (and he Ruling Judge] if the Day of Recompense],’ Allahs says: ‘My slave has Glorified Me. This is for Me, and this Verse is between me and My slave in two halves.’ And when he says: ‘ Iyyaka na’budu wa iyyaka nastain [You (Alone) we worship, and You (Alone) we ask for help],’ He says: ‘This is between Me an My slave, and My slave shall have what he has asked for.’ And the end of the Surah is for My slave.’ And when he says: ‘Ihdinas-siratal-mustaqeema, siratal-alldhina an’amta alayhim a lad-dallin [Guide us to the Straight Way, the way of those on whom You have bestowed Your Grace, not(the way) 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.”
1.47 Ubada b. as-Samit reported:
The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said: He who does not recite Umm al-Qur’an is not credited with having observed the prayer.
1.48 Yahya related to me from Malik
that he had heard that Abu Hurayra used to say, “Whoever catches the ruku has caught the sajda and whoever misses the recitation of the umm al-Qur’an has missed much good.”
Muwatta Malik Book 1, Hadith 18
1.49 Yahya related to me from Malik
from Abu Nuaym Wahb ibn Kaysan that he heard Jabir ibn Abdullah say, “Someone who prays a raka without reciting the umm al-Qur’an in it has not done the prayer except behind an imam.”
Muwatta Malik Book 3, Hadith 40
1.50 Abu Nu’aim Wahb bin Kaisan narated that he heard Jabir bin ‘Abdullah saying:
“Whoever prayed a Rak’ah in which he did not recite Umm Al-Qur’an, then he did not pray except if he was behind an Imam.”
1.51 It was narrated that Abu Umamah said:
“The Sunnah, when offering the funeral prayer, is to recite Umm Al-Qur’an) the Essence of the Qur’an) quietly in the first Takbir, Then to say three (more) Takbir and to say the Taslim after the last one.
1.52 Yahya related to me from Malik
from Abu Ubayd, the mawla of Sulayman ibn Abd alMalik, from Ubada ibn Nusayy from Qays ibn al Harith that Abu Abdullah as-Sunabihi said, “I arrived in Madina in the khalifate of Abu Bakr as-Siddiq, and I prayed maghrib behind him. He recited the umm al Qur’an and two suras from the shorter ones of the mufassal in the first two rakas. Then he stood up in the third and I drew so near to him that my clothes were almost touching his clothes. I heard him reciting the umm al-Qur’an and this ayat,
رَبَّنَا لاَ تُزِغْ قُلُوبَنَا بَعْدَ إِذْ هَدَيْتَنَا وَهَبْ لَنَا مِنْ لَدُنْكَ رَحْمَةً إِنَّكَ أَنْتَ الْوَهَّابُ
‘Our Lord, do not make our hearts go astray after You have guided us, and give us mercy from Your presence. Surely You are the Giver. ‘ ” (Sura 3 ayat 8)
Muwatta Malik Book 3, Hadith 26
1.53 Ubadah bin As-Samit narrated:
“Allah’s Messenger prayed the Subh prayer, and he had difficulty with the recitation. When turned (after finishing) he said: ‘I think that you are reciting behind your Imam?'” He said: “We said: ‘Yes, Messenger of Allah, by Allah!’ He said: ‘Do not do that, except for Umm Al-Kitab, for there is no Salat for one who does not recite it.'”
1.54 Nafi’b. Mahmudb. Al-Rabi’ Al-Ansari said:
“Ubadah b. al-samit came to late to lead the morning prayer. Abu Nu’aim, the mu’adhdhin, pronounced the takbir and he led the people in prayer. Then Ubadah came and I was with him. We Joined the row behind Abu Nu’aim, while Abu Nu’aim was reciting the Qur’an loudly. Then ‘Ubadah began to recite the Umm al-Quran (I.e Surah al Fatihah). When he finished, I said to Ubadah: I heard you reciting the Umm al-Qur’an while Abu Nu’aim was reciting Qur’an loudly. He replied: yes> The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) led us in a certain prayer in which the Qur’an is recited loudly, but he became confused in the recitation. When he finished he turned his face to us and said: Do you recite when I recite the Qur’an loudly? Some of us said: we do so; this is why I said to myself: What is that which confused me (in the recitation of ) the Qur’an. Do not recite anything from the Qur’an when I recite it loudly except the Umm al-Qur’an.
1.55 Abu Huraira reported:
The Apostle of Allah (ﷺ) said: If anyone observes prayer in which he does not recite Umm al-Qur’an, It is deficient [he said this three times] and not complete. It was said to Abu Huraira: At times we are behind the Imam. He said: Recite it inwardly, for he had heard the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) declare that Allah the Exalted had said: I have divided the prayer into two halves between Me and My servant, and My servant will receive what he asks. When the servant says: Praise be to Allah, the Lord of the universe, Allah the Most High says: My servant has praised Me. And when he (the servant) says: The Most Compassionate, the Merciful, Allah the Most High says: My servant has lauded Me. And when he (the servant) says: Master of the Day of judg- ment, He remarks: My servant has glorified Me. and sometimes He would say: My servant entrusted (his affairs) to Me. And when he (the worshipper) says: Thee do we worship and of Thee do we ask help, He (Allah) says: This is between Me and My servant, and My servant will receive what he asks for. Then, when he (the worshipper) says: Guide us to the straight path, the path of those to whom Thou hast been Gracious not of those who have incurred Thy displeasure, nor of those who have gone astray, He (Allah) says: This is for My servant, and My servant will receive what he asks for. Sufyan said: ‘Ala b. ‘Abd al-Rahman b. Ya’qub narrated it to me when I went to him and he was confined to his home on account of illness, and I asked him about it.
1.56 Narrated Al-‘Ala bin ‘Abdur-Rahman:
from his father, from Abu Hurairah that the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said: “Whoever performs a Salat in which he does not recite Umm Al-Qur’an in it, then it is aborted, it is aborted, not complete.” He Said: “I said: ‘O Abu Hurairah! Sometimes I am behind an Imam.’ He said: ‘O Ibn Al-Farisi! Then recite it to yourself. For indeed I heard the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) saying: Allah, the Most High said: “I have divided the Salat between Myself and My slaves into two halves. Half of it is for Me, and half of it for My slave, and My slave shall have what he asks for. My slave stands and says: All praise is due to Allah, the Lord of All that exists.” So Allah, Blessed is He and Most High says: “My slave has expressed his gratitude to Me.” He says: “The Merciful, the Beneficent. So he says: “My slave has praised Me.” He says: Owner of the Day of Reckoning. He says: “My slave has glorified Me. And this is for Me, and between Me and My slave is: It is You alone whom we worship and it is You alone from whom we seek aid” until the end of the Surah “This is for My slave and My slave shall have what he asks for.” So he says: Guide us to the straight path. The path of those upon whom You have bestowed your favor, not those with whom is Your wrath, now those who are astray.”‘
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