851 - I was informed of this by 'Abd al-Razzaq, from Ibn Jurayj, from his father, from Sa'id ibn Jubayr, from Ibn 'Abbas."

Abu Ya'qub said: "Likewise, it was narrated from the Prophet, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, that the seven often-repeated verses are the Opening of the Book. This was also mentioned on the authority of 'Ali ibn Abi Talib and others among the Companions of the Prophet, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him:

852 - We were informed of this by Waki', from Sufyan, from al-Suddi, from 'Abd Khayr, from 'Ali."

• Ishaq said: "Whoever omits 'Bismillahi al-Rahmani al-Rahim' in the Hamd whenever he recites it, has made a clear slip. How can it be permissible to omit it when it is the beginning of the Hamd?!

If one intentionally omits a letter from 'Bismillahi al-Rahmani al-Rahim' or from the Opening of the Book when praying alone in a rak'ah in which he recites 'Al-hamdu lillah,' then his prayer is invalid, due to the saying of the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him: 'There is no prayer except with the Mother of the Book.' Therefore, whoever intentionally omits a letter of it, his prayer is invalid, and he must repeat it, unless he omitted it out of forgetfulness.

And if he is a non-Arab who cannot speak clearly, or if there is an impediment in his tongue, such that some of its letters eluded him for this reason, we hope that it is permissible."