The greatest chapter of the Quran

Sayyidunā Abū Sa’īd bin Mu’allā رَضِىَ الـلّٰـهُ عَـنْهُ was a companion of the Prophet صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم. He stated:

I was praying, and the Prophet صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم passed by and called me, but I did not go until I had completed salah. When I went, the Prophet صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم said, “What prevented you from coming?”

I replied, “I was praying.”

The Prophet صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم said, “Did Allah not say,

یٰۤاَیُّہَا الَّذِیۡنَ اٰمَنُوا اسۡتَجِیۡبُوۡا لِلّٰہِ وَ لِلرَّسُوۡلِ  اِذَا دَعَاکُمۡ  لِمَا یُحۡیِیۡکُمۡ ۚ

[Translation:] ‘O you who believe! Come forth to the court of Allah and His Messenger when they call you to that which gives you life.’”^[1]

After reciting this verse, the Prophet صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم added, “Shall I not tell you of the most superior chapter in the Quran before I leave the masjid?” Then, he held my hand. When the Prophet صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم intended to leave the masjid, I reminded him.

He صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم stated, “اَلۡحَمۡدُ لِلّٰہِ رَبِّ الۡعٰلَمِیۡنَ [i.e. Surah al Fātiḥah]. This is the greatest chapter in the Quran; they are the seven oft-repeated verses (Sab’ al-Mathānī) which were given to me.”^[2]

Obedience to the Prophet: a fundamental of faith

Dear Islamic brothers, this incident teaches us that when the Prophet صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم calls out to someone whilst they are praying, it is necessary to leave the salah and go to him immediately.