Alhamdulillah means "All praise is due to Allah". It combines al-hamd, praise and gratitude together, with lillah, meaning to Allah or for Allah. Muslims say it to thank Allah in good times, to accept what happens in difficult ones, after eating and sneezing, and in every prayer, since it opens Surah Al-Fatiha.
Key Takeaways
- Alhamdulillah means "All praise is due to Allah", combining praise and thanks in a single phrase.
- It opens Surah Al-Fatiha (1:2), so every Muslim says it many times a day in prayer.
- In Sahih Muslim 223, the Prophet said Alhamdulillah fills the scale.
- In Jami' at-Tirmidhi 3383, graded Hasan, he described it as the best supplication.
- Muslims say it after sneezing (Sahih al-Bukhari 6224), after eating, and in both good and difficult times.
What Alhamdulillah Means
| Part | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Arabic | ٱلْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ |
| Al-hamd | Praise, including gratitude, for what is praiseworthy |
| Li-llah | Belongs to Allah, or is due to Allah |
| Together | "All praise is due to Allah" |
In Arabic, hamd is broader than a simple thank you. It praises Allah both for what He gives and for who He is, which is why many translators render it as "all praise and thanks". The "al" at the start adds the sense of all praise, completely.
Where It Appears in the Quran
Alhamdulillah opens the second verse of the Quran's first surah: "[All] praise is [due] to Allah, Lord of the worlds" (Al-Fatiha, 1:2, Sahih International). Because Al-Fatiha is recited in every unit of prayer, Alhamdulillah is one of the phrases Muslims say most often. Our guide to understanding the Quran word by word breaks down this verse further.
What the Authentic Narrations Say
- It fills the scale. Abu Malik al-Ash'ari reported the Prophet saying: "al-Hamdu Lillah (all praise and gratitude is for Allah alone) fills the scale, and Subhan Allah (Glory be to Allah) and al-Hamdu Lillah fill up what is between the heavens and the earth" (Sahih Muslim 223).
- The best supplication. Jabir bin Abdullah reported the Prophet saying: "The best remembrance is: 'there is none worthy of worship except Allah (La ilaha illallah)' and the best supplication is: 'All praise is due to Allah (Al-hamdulillah)'" (Jami' at-Tirmidhi 3383, graded Hasan by Darussalam).
When Muslims Say Alhamdulillah
| Moment | Why |
|---|---|
| In every prayer | It opens Surah Al-Fatiha |
| After sneezing | As taught in Sahih al-Bukhari 6224, with a set reply from those who hear it |
| After eating | To thank Allah for the meal provided |
| When asked "How are you?" | A common reply, acknowledging Allah's blessings |
| In difficulty | To accept what Allah has decreed with patience |
| When something good happens | To thank Allah first for the good received |
The Sneezing Etiquette
Abu Huraira reported the Prophet saying: "If anyone of you sneezes, he should say 'Al-Hamduli l-lah' (Praise be to Allah), and his (Muslim) brother or companion should say to him, 'Yar-hamuka-l-lah' (May Allah bestow his Mercy on you). When the latter says 'Yar-hamuka-llah', the former should say, 'Yahdikumul-lah wa Yuslih balakum' (May Allah give you guidance and improve your condition)" (Sahih al-Bukhari 6224). It's a lovely habit to teach children early.
For the dua many Muslims say after a meal, which also begins with Alhamdulillah, see our guide to the dua after eating.
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