Short answer
Al-Bukhari reports that when Surah al-Fath was revealed, the Prophet ﷺ said: "A surah has been revealed to me tonight that is dearer to me than everything the sun rises upon." It brought him the good news of forgiveness and of a clear victory after the Treaty of Hudaybiyyah. Specific rewards for reading it at set times are not authentically reported.
Reading Surah al-Fath is mustahabb like any surah, and its authentic virtue is the Prophet's ﷺ love for it. Claims of set rewards for reading it on particular nights or a set number of times have no sound basis.
The four schools agree on this.
Explanation
When it came. In 6 AH the Prophet ﷺ set out with about fourteen hundred Companions to perform umrah, but the Quraysh blocked them at al-Hudaybiyyah. A treaty was signed that seemed to many Companions a loss: they had to return without umrah. On the way back to Madinah, Surah al-Fath was revealed, opening with "Indeed, We have given you a clear victory" (48:1). Within two years Makkah was opened.
Its authentic virtue. Umar ibn al-Khattab narrated that the Prophet ﷺ said that night: "A surah has been revealed to me tonight that is dearer to me than everything the sun rises upon," then he recited al-Fath. The surah promises that Allah forgives him what came before and what came after, completes His favour on him and guides him (48:2).
Lessons Muslims draw from it:
- What looks like defeat can be the start of victory.
- Allah sent sakinah (tranquillity) into the hearts of the believers in a hard moment.
- The pledge under the tree (Bay'at al-Ridwan) earned Allah's pleasure.
- The surah ends with a description of the Companions, firm against disbelief and merciful among themselves.
Weak claims. Some books say reading al-Fath on the first night of Ramadan protects you for the year, or that reading it a set number of times wins any case. These have no reliable chains. See are surah benefits online authentic. Read Surah al-Fath with translation.
The evidence
Quran, Surah Al-Fath 48:1-2
بِسْمِ ٱللَّهِ ٱلرَّحْمَٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ إِنَّا فَتَحْنَا لَكَ فَتْحًۭا مُّبِينًۭا ﴿١﴾ لِّيَغْفِرَ لَكَ ٱللَّهُ مَا تَقَدَّمَ مِن ذَنۢبِكَ وَمَا تَأَخَّرَ وَيُتِمَّ نِعْمَتَهُۥ عَلَيْكَ وَيَهْدِيَكَ صِرَٰطًۭا مُّسْتَقِيمًۭا ﴿٢﴾
Indeed, We have given you, [O Muhammad], a clear conquest That Allah may forgive for you what preceded of your sin and what will follow and complete His favor upon you and guide you to a straight path
The opening promise of victory and forgiveness.
Sahih al-Bukhari 4177
Sahih... لقد أنزلت علي الليلة سورة لهي أحب إلي مما طلعت عليه الشمس ...
"A surah has been revealed to me tonight that is dearer to me than everything the sun rises upon."
The Prophet's ﷺ special love for Surah al-Fath.
Where the ruling is recorded
- Tafsir Ibn Kathir, Introduction to Surah al-Fath. Gives the occasion of revelation after al-Hudaybiyyah and the hadith of Umar.
Checked by our team. For a more accurate answer to your own situation, consult a scholar. Quran translation by Sahih International. Hadith Arabic from the standard editions of the six books and the Muwatta, with gradings as recorded there; the English is our own rendering. Spotted a mistake? Tell us.