On the authority of Abu Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him) from the Prophet (PBUH), who said:

"A prayer performed by someone who has not recited within it, the Essence of the Qur'an (1), is deficient (and he repeated the word three times), incomplete." Someone said to Abu Hurayrah: "[Even though] we are behind the imam?" (2)

He said: "Recite it to yourself, for I have heard the Prophet (may the blessings and peace of Allah be up on him) say:

'Allah (mighty and sublime Is He), had said:

{I have divided prayer between Myself and My servant into two halves, and My servant shall have what he has asked for.

When the servant says: <Al-hamdu lillaahi rabbi l-`aalameen> (3), Allah (mighty and sublime Is He) says: <My servant has praised Me.>

And when he says: <Ar-rahmaani r-raheem> (4), Allah (mighty and sublime Is He) says: <My servant has extolled Me.>

And when he says: <Maaliki yawmi d-deen> (5), Allah says: <My servant has glorified Me> - and on one occasion He said: <My servant has submitted to My power.>

And when he says: <Iyyaaka na`budu wa iyyaaka nasta`een> (6), He says: <This is between Me and My servant, and My servant shall have what he has asked for.>

And when he says: <Ihdina s-siraata l- mustaqeem, siraatal lazheena an`amta alayhim ghayril-maghdoobi alayhim wa la d-daalleen> (7), He says: <This is for My servant, and My servant shall have what he has asked for.>}'

Related by Muslim (also by Maalik, at-Tirmizhi, Abu-Dawood, an-Nasaa'i and Ibn Maajah).

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(1) Surah al-Faatihah, the first surah (chapter) of the Qur'an.

(2) i.e. standing behind the imam (leader) listening to him reciting al-Faatihah.

(3) "Praise be to Allah, Lord of the Worlds."

(4) "The Merciful, the Compassionate".

(5) "Master of the Day of Judgement".

(6) "You do we worship and You do we ask for help".

(7) "Guide us to the straight path, the path of those upon whom You have bestowed favors, not of those against whom You are angry, nor of those who are astray".

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