66/9. Chapter:
Sahih Bukhari 5006 — The Greatest Surah in the Quran
The superiority of Fatiha-til-Kitab
Hadith About Surah Al-Fatiha as the Greatest Surah
Sahih Bukhari : 5006
Sahih BukhariHadith Number 5006
حَدَّثَنَا عَلِيُّ بْنُ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ، حَدَّثَنَا يَحْيَى بْنُ سَعِيدٍ، حَدَّثَنَا شُعْبَةُ، قَالَ حَدَّثَنِي خُبَيْبُ بْنُ عَبْدِ الرَّحْمَنِ، عَنْ حَفْصِ بْنِ عَاصِمٍ، عَنْ أَبِي سَعِيدِ بْنِ الْمُعَلَّى، قَالَ كُنْتُ أُصَلِّي فَدَعَانِي النَّبِيُّ صلى الله عليه وسلم فَلَمْ أُجِبْهُ قُلْتُ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ إِنِّي كُنْتُ أُصَلِّي. قَالَ " أَلَمْ يَقُلِ اللَّهُ {اسْتَجِيبُوا لِلَّهِ وَلِلرَّسُولِ إِذَا دَعَاكُمْ} ثُمَّ قَالَ أَلاَ أُعَلِّمُكَ أَعْظَمَ سُورَةٍ فِي الْقُرْآنِ قَبْلَ أَنْ تَخْرُجَ مِنَ الْمَسْجِدِ ". فَأَخَذَ بِيَدِي فَلَمَّا أَرَدْنَا أَنْ نَخْرُجَ قُلْتُ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ إِنَّكَ قُلْتَ لأُعَلِّمَنَّكَ أَعْظَمَ سُورَةٍ مِنَ الْقُرْآنِ. قَالَ "{الْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ رَبِّ الْعَالَمِينَ} هِيَ السَّبْعُ الْمَثَانِي وَالْقُرْآنُ الْعَظِيمُ الَّذِي أُوتِيتُهُ ".
Abu Sa`id Al-Mu'alla Narrated from:
While I was praying, the Prophet (ﷺ) called me but I did not respond to his call. Later I said, "O Allah's Apostle! I was praying."He said, "Didn't Allah say: 'O you who believe! Give your response to Allah (by obeying Him) and to His Apostle when he calls you'?" (8.24)He then said, "Shall I not teach you the most superior Surah in the Qur'an?" He said, '(It is), 'Praise be to Allah, the Lord of the worlds. ' (i.e., Surat Al-Fatiha) which consists of seven repeatedly recited Verses and the Magnificent Qur'an which was given to me."
Reference : Sahih al-Bukhari 5006In-book reference : Book 66, Hadith 28USC-MSA web (English) reference : Vol. 6, Book 61, Hadith 528
Summary of Sahih Bukhari Hadith 5006
This Hadith is a well-known hadith about Surah Al-Fatiha. Abu Sa‘id Al-Mu‘alla was praying when the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم called him, and he did not respond until later. The Prophet reminded him of the verse about responding to Allah and His Messenger when called. Then he promised to teach him the greatest surah in the Quran before leaving the mosque. When Abu Sa‘id reminded him, the Prophet identified “Al-hamdu lillahi Rabbil-‘alamin,” meaning Surah Al-Fatiha. He described it as the seven repeatedly recited verses and the Magnificent Quran given to him. The Hadith focuses on the rank of Al-Fatiha, the value of responding to the Prophet, and the special place of this surah in Quran recitation.
What we learn from this hadith
- Responding to Allah and His Messenger is directly mentioned in the narration.
- Surah Al-Fatiha is called the greatest surah in the Quran here.
- Al-Fatiha is described as seven repeatedly recited verses.
- A learner may respectfully remind a teacher about a promised lesson.
