To understand Alhamdulillah, we need to understand “Hamd” first.
Sometimes there is a word in Arabic that cannot be translated to just one word in English. “Hamd” is one such word. The word hamd includes two things at the same time: praise and thanks. So, Alhamdulillah cannot be just translated as ‘Praise belongs to Allah (subhanahu wa ta’ala)’ or just ‘Thanks belongs to Allah (subhanahu wa ta’ala)’.
Difference between Praise and Thanks:
Someone we praise isn’t necessarily someone we thank and someone we thank isn’t necessarily someone we praise. These are mutually exclusive things.
Example of praise without thanks: If we see a really nice car, we don’t thank the car but we might praise the car by saying that it’s a nice car. Similarly when we see any mountain or ocean we praise it, but we do not thank it.
Example of thanks without praise: In another example, Ibrahim (alaihissalam) was grateful to his father as he brought him up. But his father was an idol maker, and hence was not praiseworthy. Similarly Musa (alaihissalam) was brought up in the household of Firaun and Musa (alaihissalam) acknowledged that, but he never praised Firaun.
When Shukr is the word to express gratitude, why is it Alhamdulillah, and not Ashshukrulillah?
A common word used for thanks in Arabic is Shukr. Shukr means gratitude, thankfulness. Shukr is only done in response to a favor done to you (saying/showing shukran/shukriya). Hamd is not done only in exchange for a favor because the gratitude to Allah (subhanahu wa ta’ala) is not limited to a reaction. Also, Hamd is more narrow than Shukr. It can be only done by tongue and cannot be shown through actions, whereas Shukr, can be through tongue or through actions (in the form of gifts etc).
Common words used for praise are Mad’ah, Sana. Mad’ah in Arabic means praise. But Mad’ah can also be a false praise, just to make someone feel good. Sana is another word used for more elaborate praise.
Quality of Praise and Thanks in Hamd:
Hamd necessitates that the praise and thanks are genuine and sincere.
The thanks are due to innumerable favors and bounties of Allah (subhanahu wa ta’ala) that only he knows the amount of. The bounties of Allah (subhanahu wa ta’ala) 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. Allah (subhanahu wa ta’ala) 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.
The praise in Hamd is a genuine ultimate praise given to Allah (subhanahu wa ta’ala) because he is worthy of it. It is not solely because of the blessings Allah (subhanahu wa ta’ala) gave us. In other words, the praise in Hamd is more general, in that it is a statement of praise for one’s characteristics, and not only for what he has done. Even if Allah (subhanahu wa ta’ala) didn’t create us or give us anything he would still be “Alhamd”.
Significance of “Al” before “hamd” in Alhamdulillah:
The “Al” before hamd is to signify every single imaginable hamd. It also signifies that only Allah (subhanahu wa ta’ala) is hamd and no one else can be hamd unless Allah (subhanahu wa ta’ala) allows them to. If “Al” wasn’t part of this then it would mean some hamd belongs to Allah (subhanahu wa ta’ala) and not every hamd.
Meaning of Alhamdulillah
Every single, genuine and sincere, praise and thanks are due unconditionally and purely to Allah (subhanahu wa ta’ala) alone, not any of the objects that are being worshipped instead of him, nor any of his creation.