It is also established in the Sahīh that when the angel first brought revelation, he said:

“Read in the name of your Lord who created—created man from a clinging clot. Read, and your Lord is the Most Generous, who taught by the pen—taught man what he did not know.”

This was the first revelation; “In the name of Allah, the Most Merciful, the Bestower of Mercy” had not been revealed before it.

It is also established in the Sunan that he said:

“A surah of the Quran consisting of thirty verses interceded for a man until he was forgiven. It is ‘Blessed is He in whose hand is dominion,’ and it consists of thirty verses excluding the basmalah—the formula ‘In the name of Allah, the Most Merciful, the Bestower of Mercy.’”

It is also established in the Sahīh that he said:

“Allah Most High says: ‘I have divided the prayer between Myself and My servant into two halves: half is for Me and half is for My servant, and My servant shall have what he asks for.

‘When the servant says, “All praise is for Allah, Lord of all worlds,” Allah says, “My servant has praised Me.” When he says, “The Most Merciful, the Bestower of Mercy,” Allah says, “My servant has extolled Me.” When he says, “Master of the Day of Judgment,” Allah says, “My servant has glorified Me.”

‘When he says, “You alone we worship, and You alone we ask for help,” He says, “This verse is divided into two halves between Myself and My servant, and My servant shall have what he asks for.”

‘When the servant says, “Guide us to the straight path—the path of those You have blessed, not of those who have incurred anger, nor of those who have gone astray,” Allah says, “These are for My servant, and My servant shall have what he asks for.”’”

This hadith is authentic and explicitly establishes that it is not part of al-Fātihah, and it has not been contradicted by