Surah al-Fatiha: Umm al-Kitab

Surah al-Fatiha is known as Umm al-Kitab (the Mother of the Book).

A man once heard a righteous man repeating it over and over after Salat al-Fajr and asked him why he was doing so. The righteous man explained that the surah contains gratitude to Allah, mention of His names, supplication, and du'a — meaning that by reciting it, one thanks Allah, remembers His names, and makes supplication, all at once.

Hadith Qudsi on Surah al-Fatiha

The Prophet relays that Allah says,

"I have divided prayer between Myself and My servant into two halves, and My servant shall have what he has asked for. When the servant says Al-hamdu lillahi rabbi l-'alamin, Allah says: 'My servant has praised Me.' When he says Ar-rahmani r-rahim, Allah says: 'My servant has extolled Me.' When he says Maliki yawmi d-din, Allah says: 'My servant has glorified Me' — and on one occasion He said: 'My servant has submitted to My power.' When he says Iyyaka na'budu wa iyyaka nasta'in, He says: 'This is between Me and My servant, and My servant shall have what he has asked for.' And when he says Ihdina s-sirata l-mustaqim, siratal ladhina an'amta 'alayhim ghayril-maghdubi 'alayhim wa la d-dallin, He says: 'This is for My servant, and My servant shall have what he has asked for.'"