By Sr Sadaf
Its Status:
*Narrated Abu Hurayrah, the Prophet (saws) said to Ubay bin Ka’ab,
“By Him in Whose Hand is my soul! Allah has never revealed in the Tawrah, the Injil, the Zabur or the Furqan a surah like it. It is the seven repeated verses that I was given.”
[Ahmad]
*Sab’al Mathani, or the seven repeated verses are those of Surah Al Fatihah. As the Prophet mentioned, this surah has the highest status not only amongst what was revealed to prophets who preceded Rasool Allah SalAllahu ‘Alayhee Wassallam, but also amongst what Allah revealed to our prophet in Ummul Kitaab (Mother of the books, Al Qur’an).
*Narrated Ibn `Abbas,
“While Jibril was with the Messenger of Allah, he heard a noise from above. Jibril lifted his sight to the sky and said,
`This is a door in heaven being open, and it has never been opened before now.’
An angel descended from that door and came to the Prophet and said,
`Receive the glad tidings of two lights that you have been given, which no other Prophet before you was given: the Opening of the Book (Surah Al Fatihah) and the last (three) Ayat of Surat Al-Baqarah. You will not read a letter of them, but will gain its benefit.”
‘[Muslim, Nasai]
The Requirement:
*Furthermore, Ubadah ibn Samit narrated that the Prophet SalAllahu ‘Alayhee Wassallam said: “There is no prayer for the one who does not recite the Opening of the Book (Al Fatihah).” [Bukhari] This hadith is the stronger opinion out of the three that were mentioned during the Purification Act seminar. The Majority of scholars have stated that Al Fatihah is indeed to be recited behind the imam. And Allah in His Ultimate Wisdom knows best why a person’s salaah would not be accepted if Surah Al Fatihah is not recited, however out of His Mercy we have the following narration:
Endless Mercy of the Most Merciful:
* Narrated Abu Hurairah, Prophet Muhammad salAllahu ‘alayhee was sallam said,
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 the first verse,
‘ 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 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,
‘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,
‘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.’
[Muslim, AnNasa'i]
* Even if Allah (swt) had not told us the above mentioned, it would have been incumbent upon us to recite this surah in every salah. However, to make our salah more fruitful, to add meaning and khushu’ to it, He let us in on the beauty of Al Fatihah. So next time you stand to pray, imagine having this conversation with your Rabb, where you are praising Him and asking Him to Guide you and help you, and His response is nothing but full of love and mercy to you. As He says,
“A half of it (Al fatihah) is for Me and a half for My servant, and My servant shall acquire what he asked for.”
[AnNasa'i]
