and he would greatly honor this sūrah, saying: (al-Bukhārī and Muslim) "There is no prayer for the one who does not recite [in it] the Opening of the Book [and beyond]." (al-Dāraquṭnī, who authenticated it, and Ibn Ḥibbān) In another version: "A prayer is not valid if a man does not recite the Opening of the Book in it." At times, he would say: (Muslim and Abū ʿAwānah) "Whoever performs a prayer in which he does not recite the Opening of the Book, it is deficient, it is deficient, it is deficient, not complete." He says: (Muslim, Abū ʿAwānah, and Mālik) "Allāh said: 'I have divided the prayer - meaning al-Fātiḥah - between Myself and My servant into two halves: one half is for Me and one half is for My servant, and My servant shall have what he asks for.'" The Messenger of Allāh (ṣallá Allāhu ʿalayhi wa-sallam) said: "Recite: The servant says: 'All praise is due to Allāh, Lord of all the worlds,' Allāh, the Exalted, says: 'My servant has praised Me.' The servant says: 'The Most Merciful, the Most Compassionate,' Allāh says: 'My servant has extolled Me.' The servant says: 'Master of the Day of Judgment,' Allāh, the Exalted, says: 'My servant has glorified Me.' The servant says: 'You alone we worship, and You alone we ask for help.' [He said]: 'This is between Me and My servant, and My servant shall have what he asks for.' The servant says: 'Guide us to the straight path, the path of those You have blessed, not of those who have incurred Your wrath, nor of those who have gone astray.' [He said]: 'These are for My servant, and My servant shall have what he asks for.'"