There are many powerful hadiths about Surah Al-Fatiha. I have translated some of them below but haven’t written any explanation for them.
I did this so that you can read them and reflect on them yourself to gain a deeper understanding.
Read and reflect:
Hadith 1 – The Greatest Surah
Imam Ahmad bin Hanbal recorded in the Musnad that Abu Sa`id bin Al-Mu`alla said, “I was praying when the Prophet called me, so I did not answer him until I finished the prayer. I then went to him and he said, ‘What prevented you from coming,’ I said, ‘O Messenger of Allah! I was praying.’
He said, `Didn’t Allah say, O you who believe! Answer Allah and His Messenger when he calls you to that which gives you life?’ He then said, ‘I will teach you the greatest Surah in the Qur’an before you leave the Masjid.’ He held my hand and when he was about to leave the Masjid, I said, `O Messenger of Allah! You said, I will teach you the greatest Surah in the Qur’an.’ He said, ‘Yes. It is Al-Hamdu lillahi Rabbil-`Alamin. (All praise to due to Allah, Lord of the Universe)It is the seven oft-repeated verses and the Glorious Qur’an that I was given.”
Hadith 2 – Nothing Like It
Imam Ahmad[1] recorded that Abu Hurayrah said, “The Messenger of Allah went out while Ubayy bin Ka`b was praying and said, ‘O Ubayy!’ Ubayy did not answer him. The Prophet said, ‘O Ubayy!’ Ubayy prayed faster then went to the Messenger of Allah saying, `Peace be unto you, O Messenger of Allah!’ He said, ‘Peace be unto you. O Ubayy, what prevented you from answering me when I called you?’ He said, `O Messenger of Allah! I was praying.’ He said, ‘Did you not read among what Allah has sent down to me, Answer Allah and His Messenger when he calls you to that which gives you life?’ He said, `Yes, O Messenger of Allah! I will not do it again.’
The Prophet said, ‘Would you like me to teach you a Surah the likes of which nothing has been revealed in the Tawrah, the Injil, the Zabur (Psalms) or the Furqan (the Qur’an)?’ He said, `Yes, O Messenger of Allah!’ The Messenger of Allah said, “I hope that I will not leave through this door until you have learned it.”
He (Ka`b) said, `The Messenger of Allah held my hand while speaking to me. Meanwhile, I was slowing down fearing that he might reach the door before he finished his conversation.
When we came close to the door, I said: ‘O Messenger of Allah, what is the Surah that you have promised to teach me?’ He said, ‘What do you read in the prayer?’ Ubayy said, `So I recited Umm Al-Qur’an to him.’ He said, ‘By Him in Whose Hand is my soul! Allah has never revealed in the Torah, the Gospel, the Psalms or the Furqan (Quran) a Surah like it. It is the seven repeated verses that I was given.”
Hadith 3 – A Conversation With Allah
Abu Hurayrah narrated that the messenger of Allah said that Allah said, “I have divided the prayer (Al-Fatihah) into two halves between Myself and My servant, and My servant shall have what he asks for.” If he says, “All praise and thanks be to Allah, the Lord of existence.” Allah says, “My servant has praised Me.”
When the servant says, “The Most Gracious, the Most Merciful.” Allah says, “My servant has glorified Me.” When he says, “The Master of the Day of Judgment,” Allah says, “My servant has glorified Me,” or “My servant has related all matters to Me.”
When he says, “You alone we worship, and You alone we ask for help.” Allah says, “This is between Me and My servant, and My servant shall have what he asks for,”
When he says, “Guide us to the straight path. The way of those on whom You have granted Your grace, not the way of those who earned Your anger, nor of those who went astray,” Allah says, “This is for My servant, and My servant shall acquire what he asked for.”
Note: All three hadiths are narrated in Tafsir Ibn Kathir. You can find more Hadiths about Surah Al-Fatiha there.
