THE VIRTUE OF SURAT AL-FATIHAH AND THE END OF SURAT AL-BAQARAH

 From Ibn 'Abbas " who said:"WhileJibra'eel (Gibrael) " `May Peace be upon him' was sitting withthe Prophet !, he heard the opening of a gate above him. So he raisedhis head and said: `This is a gate from the shies that has openedtoday, which has never opened before this day.' So an angeldescended from it (the gate). So he Jibra'eel" said: "This is an angelthat has descended to the earth, which has never descended except

today. He gave Salam and said: 'Receive glad tidings [Oh Muhammad

! with two lights which have been given to you, that have never been

given to a Prophet before you: The Opening of the Book (i.e. Surat Al-

Fatihah) and the end of Surat Al-Baqarah. Never do you read a letter

from either of the two (Surahs) except that you are given it.3 (Reported

by Muslim)

3- Which means that you are given its reward (i.e. the reward of recitation)" Taken

fromMukhtasarSahih Muslim with Shaykh AI-Albani's editing, p.553, Hadith no.

2094.