الحميد
This beautiful name of Allah came in many verses of the Holy Quraan. The translation of some of those verses is here:
Surah Faatir 15;
15.O mankind, you are those in need of Allah , while Allah is the Free of need, the Praiseworthy.
Surah Al-Hajj 24;
24. And they had been guided [in worldly life] to good speech, and they were guided to the path of the Praiseworthy.
Surah Luqmaan 12;
12. And We had certainly given Luqman wisdom [and said], “Be grateful to Allah .” And whoever is grateful, is grateful for [the benefit of] himself. And whoever denies [His favor] — then indeed, Allah is Free of need and Praiseworthy.
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Al-Hamd (praising Allah, Allah’s praises) is encompassing everything. All qualities and attributes of Allah are full of Praises. The actions of Allah, the Orders of Allah and HIS Justice, HIS Retribution from the enemies, HIS Grace and Bounties on His friends (awliyaa-Allah),HIS creation and Command, all are established on the bases of HIS Hamd(Praising), and HIS Praises appear from all of them. The purpose of all of the system is to show and spread HIS Hamd. In short, Allah’s Hamd is the soul of everything. Whatever is present in the universe, whether we can see it or feel it spiritually, reflects the greatness and beauty of Allah.
Shaikh-ul-Islam Ibni Temiah said that Allah Subhaanahu wa Ta’ala informed us that all praises are for Allah and that HE is Hameedu-m-Majeed.
Here is an example: A person is very beautiful. While describing the beauty, who has the right to be praised, the beautiful person or the Creator? The answer is: “The Creator of course.”
Similarly, if a person is very intelligent or very brave, the praises become due for the Creator Allah only.
There are two types of Hamd:
1.The Praises of Allah due to Allah’s kindness and Help for the servants, the other name for it is thanks and gratitude to Allah. For e.g. someone asks how are you? You say alhamdulillah. So you praised Allah for the good health and safe circumstances that Allah has blessed you with.
The praises of Allah for Allah’s blessings and kindness to the servants are very common because Allah is Kind to all servants whether Muslims or non-Muslim, righteous or sinners. Allah hears and accepts the du’aa of all and gives relief from pain and trouble to all kinds of people! Allah gives blessings even before a servant prays for it.
Allah All-Mighty gives health, wealth, property, good spouse in marriage, blessings of children, good job and many other blessings which cannot be counted. Similarly, Allah gives the blessings of the faith of Islam, ability to do obligatory duties of Islam and to abstain from sinful deeds, love for the true faith and righteous deeds; and hate from unbelief and all sinful deeds. Allah opens the way of guidance for the servants so that they can work for Allah’s pleasure and stay away from HIS anger. So Allah is to be praised for all the blessings which cannot be counted. A person can find the blessings of Allah in the Holy Quraan if he / she try to read it and understand it from the beginning to the end.
Thus Hamd (praise ) of Allah and thanks to HIM for HIS grace of Islam, and HIS Hamd for our eemaan, HIS Hamd for the Blessing of the HOLY Quraan, HIS Hamd for the blessing of our families and relatives, and HIS Hamd for all the blessing whether old or new, hidden or apparent, common or special, as many praises of Allah as Allah is pleased with.
Allah All-Mighty informed us in surah Al-A’raaf 43 about the dwellers of Paradise. When they will be admitted to Paradise, they will pay thanks to Allah and praise HIM because they will be protected from Hell (May Allah make us all among the dwellers of Paradise, aameen). The translation of the verse is:
Surah Al-A’raaf 43 (translation)
43. And We shall remove from their hearts any lurking sense of injury;- beneath them will be rivers flowing;- and they shall say: “Praise be to Allah, who hath guided us to this (felicity): never could we have found guidance, had it not been for the guidance of Allah: indeed it was the truth, that the messengers of our Lord brought unto us.”And they shall hear the cry: “Behold! The garden before you! Ye have been made its inheritors, for your deeds (of righteousness).”
The other translation is:
43. And We will have removed whatever is within their breasts of resentment, [while] flowing beneath them are rivers. And they will say, “Praise to Allah, who has guided us to this; and we would never have been guided if Allah had not guided us. Certainly the messengers of our Lord had come with the truth.” And they will be called, “This is Paradise, which you have been made to inherit for what you used to do.”
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2. The second type of the praises of Allah is due to Allah’s beautiful qualities. These cannot be counted at all. The translation of a few verses of the Holy Quraan show some of them.
Surah Saba 1:
1. [All] praise is [due] to Allah,to whom belongs whatever is in the heavens and whatever is in the earth, and to Him belongs [all] praise in the Hereafter. He is Full of Wisdom, acquainted with all things.
Surah Al-Isra 111:
111. And say: Praise be to Allah, Who hath not taken unto Himself a son, and Who hath no partner in the Sovereignty, nor hath He any protecting friend through dependence. And magnify Him with all magnificence.
Surah Al-Jaathiyah 36, 37:
36. Then, to Allah belongs [all] praise -Lord of the heavens and Lord of the earth, Lord of the worlds.
37. And His (Alone) is the Majesty in the heavens and the earth, and He is the All-Mighty, the All-Wise.
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We must praise Allah for HIS blessings like Ibraheem alaihi salaam did. Translation of verse 39 of the surah Ibraheem is a good example:
39. “All the praises and thanks are to Allah, Who has given me in old age Isma’il (Ishmael) and Ishaque (Isaac).Verily! My Lord is indeed the All-Hearer of invocations.
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