that has never before been opened in heaven.’ He said, ‘An angel descended through it and came to the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, saying: “Rejoice in two lights that have been given to you, which no prophet before you has been given: the Opening of the Book and the concluding verses of Sura al-Baqarah. You will not recite a single letter of either without being granted it.”’” (1) This hadith is authentic. [Muslim narrated it from al-Hasan ibn Rabi‘, from Abu al-Ahwas.] (2)

Abu al-Hasan Muhammad ibn Muhammad al-Shirazi informed us; Zahir ibn Ahmad al-Sarakhsi narrated to us; Abu Ishaq Ibrahim ibn Abd al-Samad al-Hashimi informed us; Abu Mus‘ab Ahmad ibn Abi Bakr al-Zuhri informed us from Malik, from al-Ala ibn Abd al-Rahman, who heard Abu al-Sa’ib, the client of Hisham ibn Zuhrah, say: I heard Abu Hurayrah, may Allah be pleased with him, say that the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, said:

“Whoever performs a prayer without reciting the Mother of the Quran in it, it is deficient, incomplete.”

Abu al-Sa’ib said, “I said, ‘Abu Hurayrah, I am sometimes behind the imam.’ He nudged my arm and said, ‘Recite it silently to yourself, O Persian. For I heard the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, say: Allah, Exalted is He, says: “I have divided the prayer between Myself and My servant into two halves: one half is for Me, and one half is for My servant; and My servant shall have what he asks for.”’

The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, said, “Recite: the servant says, ‘All praise is due to Allah, Lord of all worlds.’ 5/b Allah says, ‘My servant has praised Me.’ The servant says, ‘The Most Merciful, the Especially Merciful.’ Allah says, ‘My servant has extolled Me.’ The servant says, ‘Master of the Day of Recompense.’ Allah says, ‘My servant has glorified Me.’ The servant says, ‘You alone we worship, and You alone we ask for help.’ Allah, Exalted is He, says, ‘This verse is between Me and My servant, and My servant shall have what he asks for.’ The servant says, ‘Guide us to the straight path: the path of those upon whom You have bestowed favor, not those who have incurred wrath, nor those who have gone astray.’ Allah says, ‘These are for My servant, and My servant shall have what he asks for.’” (4) This hadith is authentic. [Muslim narrated it from Qutaybah, from Malik.] (5)