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.

It is narrated from Abdullah bin Shafeeq, who reports from a companion that he heard the Holy Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, while he was riding his horse in the valley of Qura. A man from Balqeen asked the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, and said: O Messenger of Allah! Who are these people? The Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, replied: These are the people upon whom wrath has been brought. Along with this, the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, pointed towards the Jews. Then the man said: And who are these people? The Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, replied: These are the misguided ones. By this, the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, meant the Christians. Meanwhile, a man came and said: O Messenger of Allah! Your servant has been martyred. The Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, replied: Rather, because of betraying a cloak, he is being dragged towards the fire.

Sayyiduna ‘Adi bin Hatim (may Allah be pleased with him) narrates that the Noble Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said:“Those who incurred wrath are the Jews, and those who went astray are the Christians.”

Sayyiduna Abu Umamah (may Allah be pleased with him) narrates that the Noble Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said: Recite and learn the Qur’an, for it will intercede for its reciters on the Day of Resurrection. And recite the two radiant Surahs, i.e., Surah al-Baqarah and Surah Aal-e-Imran, for on the Day of Resurrection they will come like two clouds or two shades, or like two flocks of birds spreading their wings, and they will defend their reciters. Then the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said: Recite Surah al-Baqarah, for acquiring it is a blessing and abandoning it is a cause of regret, and magicians cannot overpower it.

Sayyiduna Nawas bin Sam'an Kalabi (may Allah be pleased with him) narrates that the Noble Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said: On the Day of Resurrection, the Qur'an and those who acted upon it will be brought forth, Surah Al-Baqarah and Surah Aal-e-Imran will be in front of them. The Noble Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) gave three examples of these two Surahs, which I have not forgotten till now. He (peace and blessings be upon him) said: It is as if these two Surahs will be two clouds, or two shades, or two shadow-like (shades) in which there will be light, or as if they will be two flocks of birds with outspread wings, and they will defend those who recited them.