Religion:Al-hamdu lillahi rabbil 'alamin

Al-ḥamdu li-llāhi rabbi l-ʿālamīn (Arabic: الحمد لله ربّ العالمين) is the second verse of the first surah of the Quran. It is also one of the sentences most commonly repeated by Muslims in their lives, in a variety of situations.

Meaning

The English translation of this verse is "All the praises and thanks be to God who is the Lord of the universes". A literal translation reads, "Praise be to God, Lord of the Worlds".

Significance

This verse belongs to Al-Fatiha, a surah that is an obligatory part of the salah (prayer) and hence is recited daily. Other than being recited daily during the five prayers, Muslims also strive to recite this expression during other activities throughout their daily lives. Muslims recite the bismillah before performing any work; and when they finish, they thank God for his favors by reciting this verse. They are taught to strive to be grateful to God for his blessings and thus this verse is a statement of thanks, appreciation, and gratitude to God. Quran also signals a suggestion to finish the prayers by reciting this sentence in chapter Yunus verse 10 in the Quran.

A commentator on the Quran from the ninth century, al-Tabari, said:

The meaning of al-ḥamdu li-llāhi is: all thanks are due purely to God, alone, not any of the objects that are being worshipped instead of him, nor any of his creation. These thanks are due to God's innumerable favors and bounties, that only he knows the amount of. God's bounties include creating the tools that help the creation worship him, the physical bodies with which they are able to implement his commands, the sustenance that he provides them in this life, and the comfortable life he has granted them, without anything or anyone compelling him to do so. God also warned his creation and alerted them about the means and methods with which they can earn eternal dwelling in the residence of everlasting happiness. All thanks and praise are due to God for these favors from beginning to end.

See also

• Subhan Allah
• Alhamdulillah