Abu Huraira (رضي الله عنه) reported:

The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said:

“If anyone performs a prayer in which he does not recite Umm al-Qur’an (Surah Al-Fatihah), it is deficient”—he repeated this three times—“and not complete.”

It was said to Abu Huraira (رضي الله عنه):

“At times we are behind the Imam.”

He replied:

“Recite it inwardly, for I heard the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) say that Allah, the Exalted, has said:

’I have divided the prayer into two halves between Me and My servant, and My servant shall receive what he asks for.

When My servant says: “Praise be to Allah, the Lord of the worlds,”
Allah says: “My servant has praised Me.”

When he says: “The Most Compassionate, the Most Merciful,”
Allah says: “My servant has extolled Me.”

When he says: “Master of the Day of Judgment,”
Allah says: “My servant has glorified Me.”
Sometimes He says: “My servant has entrusted his affairs to Me.”

When he says: “You alone we worship, and You alone we ask for help,”
Allah says: “This is between Me and My servant, and My servant shall receive what he asks for.”

Then, when he says: “Guide us to the straight path—the path of those upon whom You have bestowed Your grace, not of those who have incurred Your anger, nor of those who have gone astray,”
Allah says: “This is for My servant, and My servant shall receive what he asks for.”’

Sufyan said:

“‘Ala’ ibn ‘Abd al-Rahman ibn Ya’qub narrated this to me when I visited him while he was confined to his home due to illness, and I asked him about this hadith.”

Reference: Sahih Muslim 395 a

May Allah ﷻ grant us understanding of His Words and make us among those who reflect upon them and live by them.

Aameen!