The word “hamd” in the Arabic language is used for a very specific type of praise. This praise is for something which is in the control of the one who is being praised, and praise, when the word “hamd” is applied to it, is used for something that we say with the tongue. It is a praise which is done with the tongue and is verbal and it is in response to something which is in control of the one who is being praised. Now, whether it is a favor that the person has done or not is a separate thing and hamd is not restricted to that. This is as opposed to the word “madh”, which is used for any kind of praise. For example, the word “hamd” would be used, theoretically speaking, for knowledge and generosity, but the word “hamd” would not be used for the beauty of someone, because being beautiful physically is not in the control of someone, but rather, the one who made them that way. There is another word that is used frequently – this is “shukr”. This word is used in response to a bounty. You do not do shukr because of someone’s knowledge, but you do shukr because you benefitted from someone’s knowledge. You would not do shukr from someone’s geneoristy, but rather, you would do shukr if you have benefitted from someone’s generosity. Shukr is a little bit different from hamd also in the sense that it can be done with the tongue, heart and with an act, whereas hamd is not don with the heard or act, but rather, the tongue.
Practically speaking, the word hamd is reserved for Allah (SWT). I gave you the literal definition of hamd, but in the Qur’an, when this word is used, it refers to that praise which applies to the beautiful attributes of Allah (SWT). All the good that comes into the world is a reflection of something that Allah (SWT) has done and is a manifestation of one of the attributes of Allah (SWT). Anything good that we see in this world comes back to Allah (SWT). It does not exist on its own and does not happen by itself. If it was a bounty that came to us, it does not come on its own, and if it was a difficulty that was removed from us, it did not happen on its own. If it is something like rizq, it did not happen on its own. All good things in the world come from Allah (SWT). Therefore, when we say “Alhamdulillah”, we are saying that all the good in the world to us and to all creations are all happening because Allah (SWT) wants us to happen. There is a difference between “Alhamdulillah” and “Lillahil hamd”. The latter means exclusivity to Allah (SWT) and it is only for Allah (SWT) that all praise is reserved, and “Alhamdulillah” means “All praise is for Allah”. Both are used in surah al-Fatiha. Why? Because before we address the exclusivity of Allah (SWT), we want to praise him. We say that all of the good things happening are merely a manifestation of his attributes. “Al hamd” here is brought first. When we say “Alhamdulillah”, we should imagine all of the bounties that we have today and all that mankind has. All of it comes back to Allah (SWT). There is only one source that caused it to happen, so all praise goes back to Allah (SWT). Because all praise goes to Allah (SWT), this is who we turn to. This word is so powerful that the reward of saying “Alhamdulillah” is so much that it fills the gap between the sky and the earth if it is said from the heart. This is also a way which we say our du’a. We always begin our prayers to Allah (SWT) by praising and glorifying Allah (SWT). This word, “hamd”, should be said with a lot of praise, and we should recognize that everything in this vast universe comes from Allah (SWT). May Allah (SWT) give us tawfiq.
