Surah Al-Fatihah and the Prayer

Librarian Location: The Wonderful Art Garden

Al-Fatihah and the Prayer

Muslim recorded that Abu Hurairah (Radhi Allahu Anhu) said that the Prophet (Sallallahu Alayhi wa Sallam) said,
Whoever performs any prayer in which he did not read Umm Al-Qur'an, then his prayer is incomplete. He said it thrice.
Abu Hurairah (Radhi Allahu Anhu) was asked, "[When] we stand behind the Imam'' He said, "Read it to yourself, for I heard the Messenger of Allah say,

Allah, the Exalted, 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,

الْحَمْدُ للَّهِ رَبِّ الْعَـلَمِينَ

(All praise and thanks be to Allah, the Lord of existence.)

Allah says, `My servant has praised Me.'

When the servant says,

الرَّحْمَـنِ الرَّحِيمِ

(The Most Gracious, the Most Merciful.)

Allah says, `My servant has glorified Me.'

When he says,

مَـلِكِ يَوْمِ الدِّينِ

(The Owner of the Day of Recompense.)

Allah says, `My servant has glorified Me,' or `My servant has related all matters to Me.'

When he says,

إِيَّاكَ نَعْبُدُ وَإِيَّاكَ نَسْتَعِينُ

(You (alone) we worship, and You (alone) we ask for help.)

Allah says, `This is between Me and My servant, and My servant shall acquire what he sought.'

When he says,

اهْدِنَا الصِّرَاطَ الْمُسْتَقِيمَ - صِرَاطَ الَّذِينَ أَنْعَمْتَ عَلَيْهِمْ غَيْرِ الْمَغْضُوبِ عَلَيْهِمْ وَلاَ الضَّآلِّينَ

(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.''

These are the words of An-Nasa'i, while both Muslim and An-Nasa'i collected the following wording, "A half of it is for Me and a half for My servant, and My servant shall acquire what he asked for.''

Source: Tafsir ibn Kathir (Abridged)