A lot has been said about Prayer (Salat) and the meritorious Surah al Fatiha (the Opening). But the best ever, or may be the more of spiritual impact of all said about the two, is a heartfelt Qudusi Hadith, wherein Allah illustrates the virtual conversation taking place between Him the Almighty and a Muslim during prayer and the recitation of Surah al Fatiha; a fundamental element of Prayer, without which a Muslim prayer is void and rejected. Abu Hurairah (may Allah be pleased with him said: “A prayer performed by someone who has not recited the Essence of the Qur’an (1) during it is deficient (and he repeated the word three times), incomplete.” Someone said to Abu Hurayrah: [Even though] we are behind the imam? (2) He (Abu Hurairah) said: Recite it to yourself, for I have heard the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be up on him) say: “Allah (mighty and sublime be He), had said: ‘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’ (3), Allah (mighty and sublime be He) says: ‘My servant has praised Me.’ And when he says: ‘Ar-rahmani r-rahim’ (4), Allah (mighty and sublime be He) says: ‘My servant has extolled Me,’ And when he says: ‘Maliki yawmi d-din’ (5), Allah says: ‘My servant has glorified Me’ – and on one occasion He said: ‘My servant has submitted to My power.’ And when he says: ‘Iyyaka na budu wa iyyaka nasta in’ (6), 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’ (7), He says: ‘This is for My servant, and My servant shall have what he has asked for.’ ” – { This is a Qudusi Hadith} It was related by Muslim (also by Malik, at-Tirmidhi, Abu-Dawud, an-Nasa’i and Ibn Majah). (1) Surat al-Fatihah, the first surah (chapter) of the Qur’an. (2) i.e. standing behind the imam (leader) listening to him reciting al-Fatihah. (3) “Praise be to Allah, Lord of the Worlds.” (4) “The Merciful, the Compassionate.” (5) “Master of the Day of Judgement.” (6) “It is You we worship and it is You we ask for help.” (7) “Guide us to the straight path, the path of those upon whom You have bestowed favors, not of those against whom You are angry, nor of those who are astray.”