Sayyiduna Abu Hurairah (may Allah be pleased with him) narrates this statement of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him): "Whoever performs prayer and does not recite Surah Al-Fatihah in it, his prayer is incomplete." (The narrator says), I said: O Abu Hurairah (may Allah be pleased with him), sometimes I am behind the Imam. He said: O son of Farsi! Recite it in your heart. I heard the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) say this: "Allah Almighty says: I have divided the prayer (i.e., Surah Al-Fatihah) between Myself and My servant into two halves. Half of it is for Me and half is for My servant. And My servant will have what he asks for. My servant stands and says: 'All praise is due to Allah, Lord of all the worlds.' Allah Almighty says: My servant has praised Me. The servant says: 'The Most Gracious, the Most Merciful.' Allah Almighty says: My servant has extolled Me. The servant says: 'Master of the Day of Judgment.' Allah Almighty says: My servant has glorified Me. This (i.e., the next verse) is between Me and My servant: 'You alone we worship and You alone we ask for help.' Then, from the end of the Surah onwards, all of it is for My servant, and My servant will have what he asks for."