It is narrated from Hazrat Abu Huraira (may Allah be pleased with him) that the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said: "Any prayer in which Surah Al-Fatiha is not recited is incomplete, incomplete, incomplete." Abu Sa’ib said to Hazrat Abu Huraira (may Allah be pleased with him): "O Abu Huraira, sometimes I am behind the Imam (in prayer)." He pinched my arm and said: "O Persian! Recite Surah Al-Fatiha in your heart, because I heard the Noble Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) say: Allah the Exalted has said: 'I have divided the prayer between Myself and My servant into two halves (and My servant shall have what he asks for).’ When the servant says: 'All praise is due to Allah, Lord of the worlds,' Allah the Exalted says: 'My servant has praised Me.' When the servant says: 'The Most Gracious, the Most Merciful,' Allah the Exalted says: 'My servant has extolled My greatness or glorified Me.' When the servant says: 'Master of the Day of Judgment,' Allah the Exalted says: 'My servant has entrusted himself to Me.' When the servant says: 'You alone we worship and You alone we ask for help,' Allah the Exalted says: 'This is between Me and My servant, and My servant shall have what he asks for.' Then when the servant recites from 'Guide us to the straight path' to the end, Allah the Exalted says: 'This is for My servant, and he shall have what he asked for.'"