11/26. Chapter:
Sunan an-Nasai 913 — The Greatest Surah
The Interpretation of the saying of Allah, The Mighty and Sublime: And Indeed, "We have
Hadith About Al-Fatihah as the Greatest Surah
Sunan an-Nasai : 913
Sunan an-NasaiHadith Number 913
أَخْبَرَنَا إِسْمَاعِيلُ بْنُ مَسْعُودٍ، قَالَ حَدَّثَنَا خَالِدٌ، قَالَ 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 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 } أَلاَ أُعَلِّمُكَ أَعْظَمَ سُورَةٍ قَبْلَ أَنْ أَخْرُجَ مِنَ الْمَسْجِدِ " . قَالَ فَذَهَبَ لِيَخْرُجَ قُلْتُ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ قَوْلَكَ . قَالَ " الْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ رَبِّ الْعَالَمِينَ هِيَ السَّبْعُ الْمَثَانِي الَّذِي أُوتِيتُ وَالْقُرْآنُ الْعَظِيمُ " .
Abu Sa'eed bin Al-Mu'alla Narrated from:
The Prophet (ﷺ) passed by him when he was praying, and called him. He said: "I finished praying, then I came to him, and he said: 'What kept you from answering me?' He said: 'I was praying.' He said: 'Does not Allah say: O you who believe! Answer Allah (by obeying Him) and (His) Messenger when he calls you to that which will give you life? Shall I not teach you the greatest surah before I leave the masjid?'Then he went to leave, and I said: 'O Messenger of Allah, what about what you said?' He said: "All praise and thanks be to Allah, Lord of all that exists. These are the seven oft-recited that I have been given, and the Grand Quran.'"
[1] Al-Hijr 15:87.[2] Al-Anfâl 8:24.[3] Al-Fâtihah 1:2.Reference : Sunan an-Nasa'i 913In-book reference : Book 11, Hadith 38English translation : Vol. 2, Book 11, Hadith 914
Summary of Sunan an-Nasai Hadith 913
This hadith about the greatest surah tells of Abu Sa'eed bin Al-Mu'alla praying when the Prophet called him. After Abu Sa'eed finished, the Prophet asked what stopped him from answering and reminded him of Allah’s command to answer Allah and His Messenger when called to what gives life. The Prophet then promised to teach him the greatest surah before leaving the masjid. When Abu Sa'eed reminded him, the Prophet identified it as All praise and thanks be to Allah, Lord of all that exists. He called it the seven oft-recited and the Grand Quran. The narration joins respect for prayer, answering the Messenger, and the high rank of Al-Fatihah.
What we learn from this hadith
- The Prophet called Al-Fatihah the greatest surah in this narration.
- Al-Fatihah is described as the seven oft-recited and the Grand Quran.
- The hadith mentions answering Allah and His Messenger when called.
- Abu Sa'eed carefully reminded the Prophet about the promised teaching.
