Narrated Abu Sa`id Al-Mualla:
While I was praying, the Prophet (ﷺ) passed by and called me, but I did not go to him till I had finished my prayer. When I went to him, he said, “What prevented you from coming?” I said, “I was praying.” He said, “Didn’t Allah say” “O you who believes Give your response to Allah (by obeying Him) and to His Messenger.” (Al-Anfal 24) Then he added, “Shall I tell you the most superior Sura in the Qur’an before I go out of the mosque?” When the Prophet (ﷺ) went out (of the masjid), I reminded him and he said, “That is: “Al hamdu-li l-lahi Rabbil-`alamin (Surat-al-Fatiha) which is the seven oft repeated verses (Al-Mathani) and the Great Qur’an which has been given.”
حَدَّثَنِي مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ بَشَّارٍ، حَدَّثَنَا غُنْدَرٌ، حَدَّثَنَا شُعْبَةُ، عَنْ خُبَيْبِ بْنِ عَبْدِ الرَّحْمَنِ، عَنْ حَفْصِ بْنِ عَاصِمٍ، عَنْ أَبِي سَعِيدِ بْنِ الْمُعَلَّى، قَالَ مَرَّ بِيَ النَّبِيُّ صلى الله عليه وسلم وَأَنَا أُصَلِّي فَدَعَانِي فَلَمْ آتِهِ حَتَّى صَلَّيْتُ ثُمَّ أَتَيْتُ فَقَالَ ” مَا مَنَعَكَ أَنْ تَأْتِيَ ”. فَقُلْتُ كُنْتُ أُصَلِّي. فَقَالَ ” أَلَمْ يَقُلِ اللَّهُ {يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا اسْتَجِيبُوا لِلَّهِ وَلِلرَّسُولِ} ثُمَّ قَالَ أَلاَ أُعَلِّمُكَ أَعْظَمَ سُورَةٍ فِي الْقُرْآنِ قَبْلَ أَنْ أَخْرُجَ مِنَ الْمَسْجِدِ ” فَذَهَبَ النَّبِيُّ صلى الله عليه وسلم لِيَخْرُجَ مِنَ الْمَسْجِدِ فَذَكَّرْتُهُ فَقَالَ ”{الْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ رَبِّ الْعَالَمِينَ} هِيَ السَّبْعُ الْمَثَانِي وَالْقُرْآنُ الْعَظِيمُ الَّذِي أُوتِيتُهُ ”.
Reference : Sahih al-Bukhari 4703
In-book reference : Book 65, Hadith 225
USC-MSA web (English) reference : Vol. 6, Book 60, Hadith 226
