Hamdulillah: everything you need to know about this Arabic expression
The expression Hamdulillah is widely used in the Muslim world and beyond. This article will allow you to understand its meaning, the circumstances where it can be used, how to reply to it and much more. We will also address the different ways of writing Hamdulillah, as well as some Hadiths and invocations beginning with Hamdulillah. So is Hamdulillah found in the Holy Quran? That is what we are going to see right away.
What does Hamdulillah mean?
Hamdulillah (الحمد لله) is an Arabic expression that means literally "praise be to Allah". The closest English translation would be "God be praised" or "let us give thanks to God".
The word Hamd in Arabic means: eulogy, praise, thanks, act of grace.
This formula expresses gratitude towards God for all the blessings received in daily life. It also seems to reflect an Islamic philosophy of always attributing the merits and the blessings to God rather than to oneself or to others. More than that, it is an integral part of the Islamic creed and of the pure belief to recognize with certainty that all praise belongs to Allah, Creator of the Universe and of the invisible world. To bear witness to the Oneness of Allah is to recognize His right to be praised without associating anyone with Him in His Creation and in His Powers.
He is the Only One Worthy of being worshipped, praised, feared, and to Him we will return, willingly or unwillingly, on the Last Day.
Hamdulillah encompasses these fundamental beliefs to which Muslims adhere. To recognize that every blessing that touches us is a benediction for us on this Earth or in the hereafter is one thing. To know and be inwardly satisfied that Allah needs no cause to be praised is another very important thing for our faith.
When to use Hamdulillah?
There are several circumstances where one can use the expression Hamdulillah:
- After experiencing a happy event: we thank God for the positive moments such as passing an exam, a birth or a reunion with a loved one.
- To show one's gratitude for help provided: when someone does you a service or offers you a gift, you can say Hamdulillah to express your gratitude to God.
- After overcoming a trial: whether it is an illness, an accident or a material loss, we use this expression to thank God for having helped us get through these difficult moments.
- In daily life: Hamdulillah can also be used in everyday life to remind ourselves that everything that happens to us is a divine blessing and that we must know how to be grateful for it.
What to reply to Hamdulillah?
When someone sneezes and says Hamdulillah, it is customary to reply with "Yarhamuk Allah" (يرحمك الله) which means "may God have mercy on you". This reply expresses your support and your solidarity towards the person who has expressed their gratitude to God. In short, you in turn wish them divine protection and benevolence.
Different ways of writing Hamdulillah
Hamdulillah is found in its appropriate Arabic version in the second verse of the first chapter of the Holy Quran Al Fatiha:
In phonetics: Al-Ĥamdu Lillāhi Rabbi Al-`Ālamīna
In English: Praise be to Allah, Lord of the universe.
Even though some translations of the Holy Quran do not put an « s » at the end of the word « praise », this expresses the entirety of the praise. In other words, it means:
All praise belongs to Allah.
There are different ways of writing Hamdulillah:
- In Arabic: الحمد لله
- Transliteration: Al-Hamdu Lillah or Alhamdulillah
- French phonetics: Hamdoulillah
The other ways of writing and pronouncing hamdoulillah are drawn from the cultural uses of the Arabic version: Al Hamdu lil Lah:
- Hamdouleh
- Alhamdoulileh
- Al hamdoulah
It is important to note that the deep meaning is not the same depending on the spelling used. To say hamdouleh means praise belongs to Allah, whereas when we write (and pronounce) Al Hamdou li lah we affirm that ALL praises belong to Him.
Hamdulillah in the Quran
The expression Hamdulillah appears several times in the Quran. It is, as we have seen, present in Surah "Al-Fatiha" (The Opening), which is the first surah of the Quran and one of the most important since it is recited during every prayer:
الْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ رَبِّ الْعَالَمِينَ "Praise be to Allah, Lord of the universe!" (Quran, 1 :2)
This expression is also present in other passages of the Quran, thus testifying to its importance in the Muslim faith:
And Allah is self-sufficient and He is worthy of praise. Surah 4 Verse 131
These are indeed some of the reasons that make Allah the Only One Worthy of the best praises. Among them, the blessings that He grants us, but He, may He be exalted, informs us that He is self-sufficient, and this word Al hamdu lillah is also the one that the believers will pronounce in Paradise.
As for those who appreciate praise without reason, here is what the Word of Allah says about it:
Do not think that those who rejoice in what they have brought and who love to be praised for what they have not done, do not think then that they will find a refuge against the punishment: for them a painful punishment!
Surah 3 Verse 188
Hadiths with Hamdulillah
Numerous Hadiths (words and actions attributed to the prophet Muhammad) highlight the use of the expression Hamdulillah. Here is one example:
"Whoever eats then says: 'Praise be to Allah Who has given me this food without any effort or power on my part', his past sins are forgiven." (Reported by Abû Dawûd)
This Hadith encourages the use of Hamdulillah after eating, as a sign of gratitude towards God for the food received.
Invocations beginning with Hamdulillah
In the Islamic tradition, there are several invocations (du'as) that begin with Hamdulillah. Here is one example:
الْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ الَّذِي عَافَانِي فِي جَسَدِي وَرَدَّ عَلَيَّ رُوحِي وَأَذِنَ لِي بِذِكْرِهِ "Praise be to Allah who has granted me health in my body, has returned my soul to me and has permitted me to remember Him."
In short, Hamdulillah is an Arabic expression charged with meaning and rooted in the Muslim faith. It makes it possible to bear witness to one's gratitude towards God and to evoke His presence in happy moments as well as in trials. Do not hesitate to use it regularly to express your divine gratitude.