The Shaykh Al-Albani’s explanation of the two forms of praise found in the Sunnah, and an explanation of the occasions for saying each one.

The Shaykh : The Lady Aisha (may Allah be pleased with her) said: , ; meaning there are two forms of praise, sometimes like this and sometimes like this. She said: "The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him), when something came to him that pleased him and brought him joy, would say: Praise be to Allah, by whose grace good deeds are completed .
The student : .

The Shaykh : Good deeds are completed, .
The student : .

The Shaykh : So do not blame me if I tell you that when someone asks me how I am and I say, "Praise be to Allah in every circumstance," it occurs to me that something good has happened, if Allah wills. What happened to you? If nothing happened to you, then why would you say "Praise be to Allah"?
The student : Praise be to Allah.

The Shaykh : But if something unusual comes to you that pleases you and brings you joy, you say . And conversely, if something comes to you that saddens you and distresses you, you say "Praise be to Allah in every circumstance," because it is the nature of the believer to be content with the decree of Allah (Mighty and Majestic) and His divine decree, whether it is good or bad.
The student : We are content with the decree of Allah...

The Shaykh : Yes; and therefore he (peace be upon him) said: .
The student : We are content with the decree of Allah...

The Shaykh, and here the difference between faith and the arrogance of the disbeliever becomes apparent. When the disbeliever’s affairs become difficult, he puts this dagger in his belly and goes to Hell, and what an evil destination. As for the Muslim, he is content. Why is he content? Because, as they say in our region of Syria, he is like a saw that cuts both on the way up and on the way down. Likewise, the believer is recorded with good deeds whether he is afflicted with good or with bad. So we ask Allah to make us among these believers.