And [it is narrated in] al-Mishkat (5289), Fath al-Bari (9/342), al-Targhib (4/252), Ibn Adi in al-Kamil (2/472), and al-Durar (127).

Some of the predecessors (al-Salaf) said: The Fatihah (the opening chapter) is the secret of the Qur'an, and its secret is this phrase: "It is You we worship and You we ask for help." The first part is an acquittal from shirk (associating partners with Allah), and the second is an acquittal from having power and strength [of one's own], and an entrustment of affairs to Allah, the Mighty and Majestic. This meaning is [found] in more than one verse of the Qur'an, as the Almighty said: "So worship Him and rely upon Him. And your Lord is not unaware of what you do," and His saying: "Say, 'He is the Entirely Merciful; we have believed in Him, and upon Him we have relied,'" and His saying: "[He is] the Lord of the East and the West; there is no deity except Him, so take Him as Disposer of affairs."

The beginning of this chapter is a report from Allah, the Most High, praising His own noble Self through the beauty of His excellent attributes, and an instruction for His servants to praise Him with those [attributes]. For this reason, the prayer of one who does not recite it while being capable of doing so is invalid, as it is stated in the two Sahih collections from Ubadah ibn al-Samit, who said: The Messenger of Allah (may Allah bless him and grant him peace) said: "There is no prayer for one who does not recite the Opening of the Book (Fatihat al-Kitab)."

Authentic. Agreed upon. Narrated by al-Bukhari (1/192), Muslim in (Al-Salah, no. 34), Abu Dawud (no. 822), al-Tirmidhi (no. 247, 311), al-Nasa'i (2/137, 138), Ahmad (5/314), al-Bayhaqi (2/38, 61, 164, 375), Ibn Abi Shaybah (1/360), al-Daraqutni (1/321, 322), Abu Awanah (2/124), Nasb al-Rayah (1/365), and al-Irwa' (2/10, 11).