It is narrated from Sayyiduna Abu Hurairah (may Allah be pleased with him) that the Noble Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) called Sayyiduna Ubayy bin Ka'b (may Allah be pleased with him) while he was praying. The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) called again: "O Ubayy!" He paid attention but could not respond. Then he completed his prayer with brevity and afterwards came to the Noble Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) and said: "O Messenger of Allah! Peace be upon you." The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said: "Peace be upon you, O Ubayy! What prevented you from coming when I called you?" He said: "O Messenger of Allah! I was praying." The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said: "Did you not hear this revelation {اسْتَجِیبُوا لِلَّہِ وَلِلرَّسُولِ إِذَا دَعَاکُمْ لِمَا یُحْیِیکُمْ} ... O you who believe, respond to Allah and to the Messenger when he calls you to that which gives you life?" He said: "Yes, indeed, O Messenger of Allah! I will not do so again." The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said: "Would you like me to teach you a surah, the like of which has neither been revealed in the Torah, nor in the Psalms, nor in the Gospel, nor in the Noble Qur'an?" I said: "O Messenger of Allah! Please do teach me." The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said: "I hope you will not leave through this door until I have taught it to you." Then the Noble Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) began to speak with me, and I was walking slowly out of fear that the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) might reach the door before these words were finished. Then, when we approached the door, I said: "O Messenger of Allah! Which is the surah you promised to teach me?" The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said: "What do you recite in prayer?" I replied by reciting Surah Al-Fatihah. Then the Noble Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said: "By Him in Whose hand is my soul! Allah has not revealed a surah like it in the Torah, nor in the Gospel, nor in the Psalms, nor in the Noble Qur'an. These are the seven oft-repeated verses, and this is the Great Qur'an."

It is also narrated from Sayyiduna Abu Hurairah, may Allah be pleased with him, that the Noble Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him and his family, said regarding Umm al-Qur’an (that is, Surah al-Fatihah): These are the seven verses that are repeatedly recited, and this Surah is called the Great Qur’an.

(Second chain) The Noble Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, said: Surah Al-Fatihah is the Mother of the Qur’an, the Mother of the Book, and the seven oft-repeated verses.

It is narrated from Sayyiduna Abu Sa'id bin Mu'alla (may Allah be pleased with him), he says: I was performing prayer when the Noble Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) passed by me and called me, but I could not come until I completed my prayer and then presented myself before him. The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said: What prevented you from coming to me? I said: O Messenger of Allah, I was performing prayer. The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said: Did Allah Almighty not say: {یَا أَ یُّہَا الَّذِینَ آمَنُوْا اسْتَجِیبُوا لِلّٰہِ وَلِلرَّسُولِ إِذَا دَعَاکُمْ لِمَا یُحْیِیکُمْ} … O you who believe, respond to Allah and to the Messenger when he calls you to that which gives you life? Then the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said: Shall I not teach you the greatest Surah of the Qur'an before you leave the mosque? Then when the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) was about to leave the mosque, I reminded him. The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said: It is Surah Al-Fatiha; these are the seven verses and the Great Qur'an which I have been given.

It is narrated from Sayyiduna Abdullah bin Jabir, may Allah be pleased with him, who says: The Noble Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, said to me: O Abdullah bin Jabir! Shall I not tell you the best Surah of the Noble Qur’an? I said: Yes, of course, O Messenger of Allah! Please do tell. He, peace and blessings be upon him, said: Recite {اَلْحَمْدُ لِلّٰہِ رَبِّ الْعَالَمِیْنَ … } until you complete it.

Sayyiduna Ubayy bin Ka'b (may Allah be pleased with him) narrates that the Noble Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said: Allah Almighty did not reveal any Surah like Surah Al-Fatihah in the Torah nor in the Gospel. These are the seven oft-repeated verses, and this Surah is divided between Me (Allah) and My servant, and for My servant is whatever he asks.