One Verse a Day: Journey Through the Qur’an | #2
As-salamu alaykum everyone!
Let’s continue our journey through the Qur’an with the opening of Surah Al-Fatiha. This surah is known as "The Opener", as it is the key to the Qur’an and our prayers. It is recited in every rak’ah of salah, making it an essential part of our daily connection with Allah.
The next verse of Al-Fatiha is:
ٱلْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ رَبِّ ٱلْعَٰلَمِينَ
Alhamdulillahi Rabbil ‘Alamin
(All praise belongs to Allah, Lord of all worlds.)
Often, we say “Alhamdulillah” without thinking about its deeper meaning. But what does it really mean?
One thing I found fascinating is that "Alhamd" does not just mean "praise" in a general sense. It is a unique kind of praise, a praise that is given out of love, respect, and recognition of perfection. It is not just about thanking Allah for something specific, but about acknowledging that He alone is worthy of every form of praise.
We can praise people for their good qualities or achievements, but only Allah deserves every single form of praise, absolutely and unconditionally. People may do good things, but they are never perfect. Allah, on the other hand, is perfect in every way, His knowledge, His wisdom, His justice, His mercy, everything about Him is deserving of praise.
Another interesting thing is that the word "Alhamd" already includes "all praise" within it. There is no need to say "all praise" separately, because in Arabic, the definitive "Al-" in "Alhamd" already means total, absolute praise. This is a reminder that every good thing we see in this world ultimately comes from Allah.
"Rabbil ‘Alamin" means "Lord of all worlds." Alamin is the plural of ‘Alam (world), and because it appears in its definite form ("Al-‘Alamin"), it already includes all worlds, even though the word 'all' is not explicitly written. That’s why many translations say 'Lord of all worlds' instead of just 'Lord of the worlds'.
Have you ever deeply reflected on the meaning of Alhamdulillah?