​On the authority of Abu Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him) from the Prophet , whosaid:
A prayer performed by someone who has not recited the Essence of the Quran (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 said: Recite it to yourself, for I have
heard the Prophet (may the blessings and peace 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.