(775) Abu Huraira reported: The Apostle of Allah, peace be upon him, said, “if anyone observes prayer in which he does not recite Umm al-Quran, it is deficient [he said this three times] and not complete.” It was said to Abu Huraira: At times we are behind the Imam. He said: Recite it inwardly, for he had heard the Messenger of Allah, peace be upon him, declare that Allah the Exalted had said: I have divided the prayer into two halves between Me and My servant, and My servant will receive what he asks. When the servant says:
Praise be to Allah, the Lord of the universe, Allah the Most High says: My servant has praised Me.
And when he (the servant) says: The Most Compassionate, the Merciful, Allah the Most High says: My servant has lauded Me.
And when he (the servant) says: Master of the Day of Judgment, He remarks: My servant has glorified Me, and sometimes He would say: My servant entrusted (his affairs) to Me.
And when he (the servant) says: Thee do we worship and of Thee do we ask help, He says: This is between Me and My servant, and My servant will receive what he asks for.
Then, when he (the worshiper) says: Guide us to the straight path, the path of those to whom Thou hast been Gracious – not of those who have incurred Thy displeasure, nor of those who have gone astray, He (Allah) says: This is for My servant, and My servant will receive what he asks for.
Sufyan said: Ala b. Abd al-Rahman b Ya’qub narrated it to me when I went to him and he was confined to his home on account of illness, and I asked him about it.