The Meaning of the Saying of Allah the Exalted: "Alhamdulillah" (Praise be to Allah).

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The Shaykh : The Third Topic: What is the meaning of the saying of Allah the Exalted

[All] praise is [due] to Allah, Lord of the worlds -

الحمد لله رب العالمين

[Al-Fatihah 1:2]

? Is it a statement informing about the perfect attributes of Allah, or is it a statement meaning a command, i.e., "Praise Allah"? The answer is that it is a statement, as evidenced by the saying of Allah the Exalted in the Holy Hadith

My servant praised Me

حمدني عبدي

. And is "Hamd" (praise) a statement or an act of creation? By Allah, I do not know about you; do you know the difference between an act of creation and a statement? Is it a statement or an act of creation? "My servant praised Me"—is it a statement or an act of creation? It is a statement. Therefore, the sentence is purely a statement and does not mean a command. So, what is the meaning of "Alhamdulillah"? "Alhamdulillah" is describing the one who is praised with perfection. Describing the one who is praised with perfection means that praise includes describing the one who is praised with intrinsic perfection and with perfection that extends to others. So, Allah (Mighty and Majestic) is praised for the perfection of His attributes and for the perfection of His benevolence. As for the perfection of His attributes, Allah said about Himself

and for Allah is the highest attribute

ولله المثل الأعلى

[An-Nahl 16:60]

. What is the meaning of "Mithl" (like)? It means attribute. The evidence that "Mithl" comes to mean attribute is the saying of Allah the Exalted

Is the description of Paradise, which the righteous are promised, wherein are rivers

مثل الجنة التي وعد المتقون فيها أنهار

[Muhammad 47:15]

. The meaning of "Mithl" is attribute. Allah has the highest attribute. Every description of perfection, Allah (Mighty and Majestic) has the most perfect of it. So, Allah is praised for His perfection. Among that is the saying of Allah the Exalted

And say, "Praise to Allah, who has not taken a son and has had no partner in [His] dominion and has no [need of a] protector out of weakness; and glorify Him with [great] glorification."

وقل الحمد لله الذي لم يتخذ ولدا ولم يكن له شريك في الملك ولم يكن له ولي من الذل وكبره تكبيرا

[Al-Isra 17:111]

. This is a description. What does it relate to? It relates to the perfection of attributes, the perfection of attributes. The description regarding the perfection of benevolence is like the saying of Allah the Exalted

And We had certainly given to David and Solomon knowledge, and they said, "Praise [is due] to Allah, who has favored us over many of His believing servants."

ولقد آتينا داود وسليمان علما وقالا الحمد لله الذي فضلنا على كثير من عباده المؤمنين

[An-Naml 27:15]

. This is praise for what? For the perfection of benevolence, for the blessings. And in the hadith

Allah is pleased with His slave who says: 'Al-hamdu lillah (praise be to Allah)' when he takes a morsel of food and drinks a draught of water.

إن الله ليرضى عن العبد ياكل الأكلة فيحمده عليها ويشرب الشربة فيحمده عليها

Riyad as-Salihin 1396

. This is praise for benevolence. So, what is Allah praised for? For His perfection in His essence and for His benevolence to His servants. It is based on this and this. Good.

Source alathar.net

The Arabic text is copied verbatim from the original source, without any edits.

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