KNOWLEDGE
THE NAME OF ALLAH, AL-HAMEED is mentioned seventeen times in the Qur’an.
WHO IS AL-HAMEED?
- The One to Whom all praises belong. He is praiseworthy in His being, names, attributes and actions.
PRAISING ALLAH IS OF TWO TYPES:
1. TO PRAISE ALLAH FOR HIS GOODNESS TO HIS SLAVES
- Blessings obligate one to praise the One Who bestowed them, and all blessings are from Allah. This type of praise is witnessed upon all of creation; the good doer and evil doer, the believer and disbeliever. It is witnessed in His plentiful gifts, vast giving and mercy, goodness and gentleness, responding to the invocation, removing the distress, and initiating the giving of blessings before being asked purely out of His favor and generosity.
- He guides His believing slaves to the path which leads to paradise, defends them in the best way, protects them from falling into sin, adorns faith in their hearts and makes disbelief and disobedience hateful to them. He opens the doors of guidance for them and brings the means to His pleasure and keeps them away from His wrath.
- Thus, to Allah belongs all praise out of gratitude, and to Him belongs all praise for His favors. All praise is due to Allah for Islam, for faith and for the Qur’an. To Him belongs praise for family, wealth, well-being and all the blessings He has bestowed on us in the past and in the present, secretly and openly, specific and general.
2. TO PRAISE ALLAH FOR HIS NAMES AND ATTRIBUTES
- Allah praises Himself in His Book for His Lordship over everything that exists. He praises Himself for being singled out as the only One True God. He praises Himself for not being described with that which does not suit Him, such as taking a son or partner or an associate from His creation out of need. He praises Himself for His great and magnificent names, actions and attributes.
IMPACTS
- Praising Allah is the best supplication.
- Ask Allah Al-Hameed to make you praiseworthy in your words, actions and manners.
- Praise Allah for any decree that befalls you.
IN THE QUR’AN
يَا أَيُّهَا النَّاسُ أَنتُمُ الْفُقَرَاءُ إِلَى اللَّهِ ۖ وَاللَّهُ هُوَ الْغَنِيُّ الْحَمِيدُ
“O mankind! it is you who stand in need of Allah, but Allah is Rich (Free of all wants and needs), Worthy of all praise.”
[Surah Al-Fatir [35:15]]
IN THE SUNNAH
O Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) how should we send salah upon you?' He said: 'Say: O Allah, send salah upon Muhammad and upon the family of Muhammad, as You sent salah upon Ibrahim and the family of Ibrahim, and send blessings upon Muhammad and upon the family of Muhammad as You sent blessings upon Ibrahim the family of Ibrahim. You are indeed Worthy of praise, Full of majesty’.
[Sahih An Nasa‘I 1289]