in the Gospel, the Psalms, or anywhere else in the Qur’an; it is the Seven Oft-Repeated Verses and the Magnificent Qur’an that I have been granted.” Its merits are exceedingly numerous.

Al-Hasan al-Basri—according to a report transmitted by Ibn Mājah and others—said: “Allah sent down one hundred scriptures and four Books. The knowledge contained in those scriptures was gathered into the four Books; the knowledge of the four Books was gathered into the Qur’an; the knowledge of the Qur’an was gathered into the mufassal (the short surahs beginning with surah Qāf and ending with surah al-Nās); the knowledge of the mufassal was gathered into the Mother of the Qur’an; and the knowledge of the Mother of the Qur’an was gathered into these two comprehensive phrases: ‘You alone we worship, and You alone we ask for help’ (al-Fātiḥah 5). Indeed, the knowledge of all the divinely revealed books is encompassed within these two all-embracing words.”

For this reason it is authentically reported that Allah, Exalted is He, says: “I have divided the prayer between Myself and My servant into two halves—half of it is Mine …”