Al-hamdu lillahi rabbil 'alamin
Encyclopedia
Al-hamdu lillahi rabbil 'alamin (Arabic script الحمد لله ربّ العالمين) is the first Ayah
Ayah
Ayah or Aayah is the Arabic word for sign or proof:"These are the Ayat of Allah, which We recite to you with truth...

 of the first Surah
Sura
A sura is a division of the Qur'an, often referred to as a chapter. The term chapter is sometimes avoided, as the suras are of unequal length; the shortest sura has only three ayat while the longest contains 286 ayat...

 of the Qur'an
Qur'an
The Quran , also transliterated Qur'an, Koran, Alcoran, Qur’ān, Coran, Kuran, and al-Qur’ān, is the central religious text of Islam, which Muslims consider the verbatim word of God . It is regarded widely as the finest piece of literature in the Arabic language...

 (assuming that the introductory Bismillah
Basmala
Basmala or Bismillah is an Arabic noun used as a collective name for the whole of the recurring Islamic phrase b-ismi-llāhi r-raḥmāni r-raḥīmi, It is sometimes translated as "In the name of God, Most Gracious, Most Merciful"...

 is not counted as the first verse).

Significance

This verse belongs to Surah
Sura
A sura is a division of the Qur'an, often referred to as a chapter. The term chapter is sometimes avoided, as the suras are of unequal length; the shortest sura has only three ayat while the longest contains 286 ayat...

 Al-Fatiha
Al-Fatiha
Sura Al-Fatiha , is the first chapter of the Qur'an. Its seven verses are a prayer for Allah's guidance, and stress His Lordship and Mercy...

 which is an obligatory part of the Muslim
Muslim
A Muslim, also spelled Moslem, is an adherent of Islam, a monotheistic, Abrahamic religion based on the Quran, which Muslims consider the verbatim word of God as revealed to prophet Muhammad. "Muslim" is the Arabic term for "submitter" .Muslims believe that God is one and incomparable...

 Prayer and is hence recited very often. Other than being recited daily during the five prayers, Muslims also strive to recite this expression in every activity of their daily lives. Muslims invoke the praises of Allah
Basmala
Basmala or Bismillah is an Arabic noun used as a collective name for the whole of the recurring Islamic phrase b-ismi-llāhi r-raḥmāni r-raḥīmi, It is sometimes translated as "In the name of God, Most Gracious, Most Merciful"...

 before performing any work; and when they finish, they thank Allah for His favors by a recital of this verse. They are taught to strive to be grateful to God
Allah
Allah is a word for God used in the context of Islam. In Arabic, the word means simply "God". It is used primarily by Muslims and Bahá'ís, and often, albeit not exclusively, used by Arabic-speaking Eastern Catholic Christians, Maltese Roman Catholics, Eastern Orthodox Christians, Mizrahi Jews and...

 for all His blessings and thus this verse is a statement of thanks, appreciation, and gratitude from the creature to his Creator
Creator deity
A creator deity is a deity responsible for the creation of the world . In monotheism, the single God is often also the creator deity, while polytheistic traditions may or may not have creator deities...

.

A notable commentator on the Qur'an
Qur'an
The Quran , also transliterated Qur'an, Koran, Alcoran, Qur’ān, Coran, Kuran, and al-Qur’ān, is the central religious text of Islam, which Muslims consider the verbatim word of God . It is regarded widely as the finest piece of literature in the Arabic language...

 from the ninth century, Abu Jafar Muhammad ibn Jarir at-Tabari, said,
"The meaning of (Al-Hamdu Lillah) (all praise and thanks be to Allah) is: all thanks are due purely to Allah, alone, not any of the objects that are being worshipped instead of Him, nor any of His creation. These thanks are due to Allah's innumerable favors and bounties, that only He knows the amount of. Allah's bounties 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 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. All thanks and praise are due to Allah for these favors from beginning to end.

Further, Ibn Jarir also commented on the verse that it means,
"A praise that Allah praised Himself with, indicating to His servants that they too should praise Him, as if Allah had said, `Say: All thanks and praise is due to Allah.' The statement also entails praising Allah by mentioning His most beautiful Names and most honorable Attributes. Thus when one proclaims, `All thanks are due to Allah,' he will be thanking Him for His favors and bounties.

Translation

The English translation of this verse is "All the praises and thanks be to Allâh, the Lord of the 'Alamîn (i.e. mankind, jinn
Jinn
Jinn are supernatural beings in Arab folklore and Islamic teachings.Jinn may also refer to:* Jinn , a Japanese band* Qui-Gon Jinn, a character in the Star Wars universe...

s and all that exists)"
.

For the complete surah " Al hamdo lillah...." translation see Surah Fatiha. In brief it is as follows:

[الْحَمْدُ للَّهِ رَبِّ الْعَـلَمِينَ ] :All praise and thanks be to Allah, the Lord of existence.
[الرَّحْمَـنِ الرَّحِيمِ ] :The Most Gracious, the Most Merciful.
[مَـلِكِ يَوْمِ الدِّينِ ] :The Owner of the Day of Recompense.
[إِيَّاكَ نَعْبُدُ وَإِيَّاكَ نَسْتَعِينُ ] :(You (alone) we worship, and You (alone) we ask for help.
[اهْدِنَا الصِّرَاطَ الْمُسْتَقِيمَ - صِرَاطَ الَّذِينَ أَنْعَمْتَ عَلَيْهِمْ غَيْرِ الْمَغْضُوبِ عَلَيْهِمْ وَلاَ الضَّآلِّينَ ] :Guide us to the straight path. The way of those on whom You have granted Your grace, not (the way) of those who earned Your anger, nor of those who went astray.

Further reading

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