Al-ḥamdu lillāh (Arabic: الحمد لله) is an Arabic phrase meaning "thanks be to
God". It is commonly used by Arabic speakers (but also Iranians) of all religions, including Christianity and Judaism, and frequently by Muslims due to the centrality of this specific phrase within the texts of the Qur'an and the words of the Islamic prophet Muhammad.
The meaning and in-depth explanation of 'Alhamdulillah' have been the subject of much exegesis.
The phrase has three basic parts:
Al - The definite article, "the."
Ḥamdu - Meaning the "feeling of gratitude", as opposed to Shukr, "words of gratitude."
Li-l-lāh - preposition + noun Allah. Li- is a preposition meaning "for," "belonging to," etc.
Note: (1) The word "Allah" is the fusion of the article al (the) and the word ilah (a god, deity). Very much like in English, "The" article is used here to single out the noun as being the only one of its kind, "The god" (the one and only) or "God" with a capital G (the concept of capital letters does not exist in Arabic). Therefore, "Allah" is the Arabic word for "God". (2) "ilāh" is the Arabic cognate of the ancient Semitic name for God, El
It also means that anything in existence to which is ascribed praise, thanks, glorification, or gratitude, is only able to achieve it due to God's infinite mercy and grace.
Alhamdulillah: in theory, it is to be said with a profound sense of love, adoration, and awe of the power, glory, and mercy of God. In practice, however, its use is so widespread in Arabic-speaking countries that it might better be understood as meaning "thankfully," "thank goodness," or "thank God" as used in American English. Which is to say that not all Arabic speakers who use the phrase are consciously praising God when they say it.
It not only praises God in general for the above-mentioned qualities, but also seeks to praise Him specifically for those attributes of God's names in Islam, which God did not necessarily have as omnipotent (such as all-seeing, all-hearing), but rather chose to have out of His mercy (the Loving (Al-Wadud), the Beneficent (Ar-Rahman)) and showering Grace upon His servants.
The meaning and in-depth explanation of 'Alhamdulillah' have been the subject of much exegesis.
The phrase has three basic parts:
Al - The definite article, "the."
Ḥamdu - Meaning the "feeling of gratitude", as opposed to Shukr, "words of gratitude."
Li-l-lāh - preposition + noun Allah. Li- is a preposition meaning "for," "belonging to," etc.
Note: (1) The word "Allah" is the fusion of the article al (the) and the word ilah (a god, deity). Very much like in English, "The" article is used here to single out the noun as being the only one of its kind, "The god" (the one and only) or "God" with a capital G (the concept of capital letters does not exist in Arabic). Therefore, "Allah" is the Arabic word for "God". (2) "ilāh" is the Arabic cognate of the ancient Semitic name for God, El
It also means that anything in existence to which is ascribed praise, thanks, glorification, or gratitude, is only able to achieve it due to God's infinite mercy and grace.
Alhamdulillah: in theory, it is to be said with a profound sense of love, adoration, and awe of the power, glory, and mercy of God. In practice, however, its use is so widespread in Arabic-speaking countries that it might better be understood as meaning "thankfully," "thank goodness," or "thank God" as used in American English. Which is to say that not all Arabic speakers who use the phrase are consciously praising God when they say it.
It not only praises God in general for the above-mentioned qualities, but also seeks to praise Him specifically for those attributes of God's names in Islam, which God did not necessarily have as omnipotent (such as all-seeing, all-hearing), but rather chose to have out of His mercy (the Loving (Al-Wadud), the Beneficent (Ar-Rahman)) and showering Grace upon His servants.
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