8/15. Chapter:
Sunan Abi Dawud 1458 — The Greatest Surah in the Quran
Fatihatil-Kitab (The Opening Of The Book)
Greatest Surah in the Quran: Surah Al-Fatihah Hadith
Sunan Abi Dawud : 1458
Sunan Abi DawudHadith Number 1458
حَدَّثَنَا عُبَيْدُ اللَّهِ بْنُ مُعَاذٍ، حَدَّثَنَا خَالِدٌ، حَدَّثَنَا شُعْبَةُ، عَنْ خُبَيْبِ بْنِ عَبْدِ الرَّحْمَنِ، قَالَ سَمِعْتُ حَفْصَ بْنَ عَاصِمٍ، يُحَدِّثُ عَنْ أَبِي سَعِيدِ بْنِ الْمُعَلَّى، أَنَّ النَّبِيَّ صلى الله عليه وسلم مَرَّ بِهِ وَهُوَ يُصَلِّي فَدَعَاهُ قَالَ فَصَلَّيْتُ ثُمَّ أَتَيْتُهُ قَالَ فَقَالَ " مَا مَنَعَكَ أَنْ تُجِيبَنِي " . قَالَ كُنْتُ أُصَلِّي . قَالَ " أَلَمْ يَقُلِ اللَّهُ عَزَّ وَجَلَّ { يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا اسْتَجِيبُوا لِلَّهِ وَلِلرَّسُولِ إِذَا دَعَاكُمْ لِمَا يُحْيِيكُمْ } لأُعَلِّمَنَّكَ أَعْظَمَ سُورَةٍ مِنَ الْقُرْآنِ أَوْ فِي الْقُرْآنِ " . شَكَّ خَالِدٌ " قَبْلَ أَنْ أَخْرُجَ مِنَ الْمَسْجِدِ " . قَالَ قُلْتُ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ قَوْلَكَ . قَالَ " { الْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ رَبِّ الْعَالَمِينَ } وَهِيَ السَّبْعُ الْمَثَانِي الَّتِي أُوتِيتُ وَالْقُرْآنُ الْعَظِيمُ " .
Abu Sa'id b. al-Mu'alla Narrated from:
When he was praying the Prophet (ﷺ) passed by him and he called him. He said: I prayed and then I came to him. He asked: What prevented you from answering me ? He replied: I was praying.He said: Has not Allah said: "O you who believe, respond to Allah and the Apostle when he calls you to that which gives you life ? (8:24)Let me teach you the greatest surah from the Qur'an or in the Qur'an (the narrator Khalid doubted) before I leave the mosque. I said: (I shall memorize) your saying. He said: It is: "Praise be to Allah, the Lord of the Universe" which is the seven oft-repeated verses, and the mighty Qur'an.
[1] Al-Anfāl (8:24)Reference : Sunan Abi Dawud 1458In-book reference : Book 8, Hadith 43English translation : Book 8, Hadith 1453
Summary of Sunan Abi Dawud Hadith 1458
This Hadith about the greatest surah in the Quran begins with Abu Sa'id b. al-Mu'alla praying when the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم called him. After he finished and came, the Prophet asked what stopped him from answering. Abu Sa'id said he was praying. The Prophet then cited the meaning of responding to Allah and the Messenger when called to what gives life. He promised to teach the greatest surah before leaving the mosque. The surah was “Praise be to Allah, the Lord of the Universe,” meaning Al-Fatihah. The Hadith also calls it the seven oft-repeated verses and the mighty Qur'an. The text centers on the high rank of Al-Fatihah.
What we learn from this hadith
- The Prophet called Al-Fatihah the greatest surah in this report.
- The Hadith links Al-Fatihah with the seven oft-repeated verses.
- The narration also mentions responding to the Messenger's call.
- The teaching was given before leaving the mosque, as stated in the Hadith.
