Tafsir of Surah Al-Fatihah: Verse 2
The second verse of Surah Al-Fatihah, Alhamdulillahi Rabbil-‘Alamin, is one of the most important declarations in the Qur’an. It expresses the universal praise of Allah and affirms His oneness and absolute lordship.
It means: “All praise is due to Allah, the Lord of all the worlds.” This verse clearly highlights Tawhid, the Oneness of Allah, His Rububiyyah (Lordship), and His absolute sovereignty, making it one of the fundamental principles of Islamic belief.
In Tafsir ad-Durr al-Manthur, the renowned mufassir presents a profound explanation of this verse based on various authentic hadiths and narrations from the Companions.
It explains that Alhamdulillah is not merely verbal praise; rather, it reflects gratitude, faith, and obedience in the heart. The expression Rabbil-‘Alamin refers to Allah as the sole Lord and Sustainer of the entire creation, the One who provides sustenance, governs, and manages the affairs of every creature.
This verse teaches believers gratitude, trust, and complete reliance upon Allah. Studying this verse in light of ad-Durr al-Manthur develops a deeper understanding of Tawhid and strengthens a believer’s faith and righteous deeds. Thus, this verse of Surah Al-Fatihah provides fundamental guidance for an Islamic way of life.
Translated from Tafsir ad-Durr al-Manthur by Imam Jalaluddin as-Suyuti (rahimahullah)
Our translation and publication: Darussaadat
الْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ رَبِّ الْعَالَمِينَ (2)
2. All praise is due to Allah, the Lord of all the worlds.
Hamd or Praise: The Foundation of Gratitude
Imam Abd al-Razzaq in Al-Musannaf, al-Hakim al-Tirmidhi in Nawadir al-Usul, al-Khattabi in Al-Gharib, al-Bayhaqi in Al-Adab, al-Daylami in Musnad al-Firdaws, and al-Tha’labi—
Narrated from Abdullah ibn Amr ibn al-‘As (RA), who narrated from the Messenger of Allah (SAW):
{الْحَمْدُ} رَأْسُ الشُّكْرِ فَمَا شَكَرَ اللَّهَ عبد لَا يَحْمَدُهُ
Hamd or praise is the foundation of gratitude. A servant does not truly give thanks to Allah if he does not praise Him.
Expressing Gratitude by Saying Alhamdulillah
Imam al-Tabarani narrates in Al-Awsat through a weak chain from Nawwas ibn Sam’an (RA). He said:
Once, the she-camel of the Messenger of Allah (SAW) was stolen.
The Messenger of Allah (SAW) said, “If Allah returns my she-camel to me, I will express my gratitude to Allah.” The she-camel eventually went to an Arab tribe, where there was a Muslim woman. She decided to take the she-camel away.
One day, she noticed that the people of the tribe were unaware. She mounted the she-camel and drove it away. At dawn, she reached Madinah.
The Companions were very pleased when they saw her and took her to the Messenger of Allah (SAW). When the Messenger of Allah (SAW) saw his she-camel, he said, Alhamdulillah.
The Companions waited to see whether the Messenger of Allah (SAW) would fast or offer prayer as an expression of gratitude. But he did neither.
They asked, “O Messenger of Allah! You said that if Allah returned your she-camel, you would express gratitude to your Lord.”
The Messenger of Allah (SAW) replied, “Did I not say Alhamdulillah?”
A Means of Increasing Blessings
Imam Ibn Jarir, al-Hakim in Tarikh Nishapur, and al-Daylami through a weak chain narrate from Hakam ibn Umayr.
The Messenger of Allah (SAW) said:
إِذَا قُلْتَ {الْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ رَبِّ الْعَالَمِينَ } فَقَدْ شَكَرْتَ اللَّهَ فَزَادَكَ
When you say, “Alhamdulillahi Rabbil-‘Alamin,” you have expressed gratitude to Allah. Therefore, Allah will increase His blessings upon you.
Alhamdulillah: A Phrase of Gratitude
Imam Ibn Jarir, Ibn al-Mundhir, and Ibn Abi Hatim narrate from Ibn Abbas (RA). He said:
Alhamdulillah is a phrase of gratitude.
When a servant says Alhamdulillah, Allah says:
شكرني عَبدِي
“My servant has expressed gratitude to Me.”
The Completion of Blessings
Imam Ibn Jarir and Ibn Abi Hatim narrate from Ibn Abbas (RA). He said:
Alhamdulillah is a phrase of gratitude, the completion of Allah’s blessings, and an acknowledgment of His blessings. It is also an acknowledgment of His guidance and its beginning, and so forth.
Hamd and Alhamdulillah
Imam Ibn Abi Hatim narrates from Ibn Umar (RA). He said:
“We understand the meanings of Subhanallah and La ilaha illallah. But what is Hamd?”
Ali (RA) replied:
It is the phrase that Allah has chosen for Himself, and He loves that it be said.
The Praise of Allah
Imam Ibn Jarir and Ibn Abi Hatim narrate from Ka’b that:
Alhamdulillah is the praise of Allah.
The Cloak of Ar-Rahman
Imam Ibn Jarir and Ibn Abi Hatim narrate from ad-Dahhak (RA):
{الْحَمْدُ} رِدَاءُ الرَّحْمَنِ
Hamd or praise is the cloak of Ar-Rahman.
Gratitude
Imam Ibn al-Mundhir and Ibn Abi Hatim narrate from Abu Abd al-Rahman al-Juba’i.
He said:
Prayer is gratitude, fasting is gratitude, and every righteous deed that you perform for the pleasure of Allah is gratitude. The best form of gratitude is Alhamdulillah.
The Best Dhikr and the Best Supplication
Imam al-Tirmidhi, who classified it as Hasan, as well as an-Nasa’i, Ibn Majah, Ibn Hibban, and al-Bayhaqi in Shu’ab al-Iman, narrate from Jabir ibn Abdullah (RA) that the Messenger of Allah (SAW) said:
أَفْضَلُ الذِّكْرِ لَا إِلَهَ إِلَّا اللَّهُ وَأَفْضَلُ الدُّعَاءِ {الحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ}
The best remembrance is La ilaha illallah, and the best supplication is Alhamdulillah.
Alhamdulillah Is Better Than a Blessing
Imam Ibn Majah and al-Bayhaqi narrate through a Hasan chain from Anas (RA) that the Messenger of Allah (SAW) said:
When Allah grants a servant a blessing and he says Alhamdulillah, then what he has said is better for him than what he has received.
What Is Better Than a Blessing
Imam al-Bayhaqi in Shu’ab al-Iman narrates from Jabir (RA):
Whoever receives a blessing and says Alhamdulillah for it, then his Alhamdulillah is better than the blessing itself.
Praise Is Better Than a Blessing
Imam Abd al-Razzaq and al-Bayhaqi in Shu’ab al-Iman narrate from al-Hasan that the Messenger of Allah (SAW) said:
When Allah grants a servant a blessing and he praises Him for it, that praise becomes better than the blessing itself, regardless of what the blessing may be.
The Virtue of Alhamdulillah
Imam al-Hakim al-Tirmidhi in Nawadir al-Usul narrates from Anas (RA) that the Messenger of Allah (SAW) said:
If all the blessings of this world, even the greatest and most abundant blessings, were placed in one hand of one of my Ummah, and he said Alhamdulillah, his praise would be better than all those blessings.
Alhamdulillah Fills the Scale
Imam Ahmad, Muslim, and an-Nasa’i narrate from Abu Musa al-Ash’ari (RA) that the Messenger of Allah (SAW) said:
Purification is half of faith. Alhamdulillah fills the Scale. Subhanallah fills the heavens and the earth.
Prayer is light, charity is proof, patience is illumination, and the Qur’an is either a proof for you or against you.
Every person sets out in the morning and sells his soul; either he frees it or destroys it.
The Weight of Alhamdulillah
Imam Sa’id ibn Mansur, Ahmad, at-Tirmidhi, and Ibn Marduyah narrate from a man of Banu Salim that the Messenger of Allah (SAW) said:
Subhanallah is half of the Scale. Alhamdulillah fills the Scale. Allahu Akbar fills the heavens and the earth. Purification is half of the Scale, and fasting is half of patience.
Imam at-Tirmidhi narrates from Abdullah ibn Umar (RA) that the Messenger of Allah (SAW) said:
Subhanallah is half of the Scale. Alhamdulillah fills the Scale. La ilaha illallah has no barrier between it and Allah until it reaches Allah.
Allah Loves to Be Praised
Imam Ahmad, al-Bukhari in Al-Adab al-Mufrad, an-Nasa’i, al-Hakim, who declared it authentic, Abu Nu’aym in Hilyat al-Awliya, and al-Bayhaqi in Shu’ab al-Iman narrate from al-Aswad ibn Sari’ at-Tamimi (RA).
He said:
I said, “O Messenger of Allah! Shall I not recite to you the praises with which I have praised my Lord?”
He (SAW) said:
“Indeed, your Lord loves praise.”
His Praise Is Beloved to Allah
Imam Ibn Jarir narrates from al-Aswad ibn Sari’ that the Messenger of Allah (SAW) said:
Nothing is more beloved to Allah than His own praise. Therefore, He has praised Himself by saying, ‘Alhamdulillah.’
Deliberation and Patience
Imam al-Bayhaqi narrates from Anas (RA) that the Messenger of Allah (SAW) said:
التَّأَنِّي مِنَ اللهِ، وَالْعَجَلَةُ مِنَ الشَّيْطَانِ، وَمَا شَيْءٌ أَكْثَرُ مَعَاذِيرَ مِنَ اللهِ وَمَا مِنْ شَيْءٍ أَحَبُّ إِلَى اللهِ مِنَ الْحَمْدِ
Acting with deliberation is from Allah, while haste is from Satan. Nothing is more accepting of excuses than Allah, and nothing is more beloved to Allah than praise.
The Value of a Blessing
Imam Ibn Shahin in his Sunnah and al-Daylami through Aban narrate from Anas (RA) that the Messenger of Allah (SAW) said:
Tawhid, the Oneness of Allah, is the price of Paradise, and Alhamdulillah is the price of every blessing. People will be distributed in Paradise according to their deeds.
The Price of Paradise
Imam al-Khatib in Talqi al-Talkhis narrates through Thabit from Anas (RA) in a marfu’ narration:
التَّوْحِيد ثمن الْجنَّة وَالْحَمْد وَفَاء شكر كل نعْمَة
Tawhid is the price of Paradise, and praise is the fulfillment of gratitude for every blessing.
Beginning Important Matters with the Praise of Allah
Imam Abu Dawud, an-Nasa’i, Ibn Majah, Ibn Hibban, and al-Bayhaqi narrate from Abu Hurairah (RA) that the Messenger of Allah (SAW) said:
كُلُّ أَمْرٍ ذِي بَالٍ، لَا يُبْدَأُ فِيهِ بِحَمْدِ الله فَهُوَ أَقْطَعُ
Every important matter that is not begun with the praise of Allah remains incomplete.
Response to Sneezing
Imam al-Bukhari in Al-Adab al-Mufrad narrates from Ibn Abbas (RA). He said:
When one of you sneezes and says Alhamdulillah, the angels say Rabbil-‘Alamin. When the servant says Rabbil-‘Alamin, the angels say Yarhamukallah.
Protection from Ear Ailments
Imam al-Bukhari in Al-Adab al-Mufrad, Ibn as-Sunni, and Abu Nu’aym in At-Tibb an-Nabawi narrate from Ali (RA), who said:
Whoever says after hearing every sneeze, “Alhamdulillahi Rabbil-‘Alamin ‘ala kulli hal,” will never suffer from ailments of the teeth or ears.
Protection from Stomach Ailments
Imam al-Hakim al-Tirmidhi narrates from Wathilah ibn al-Asqa’ (RA) that the Messenger of Allah (SAW) said:
Whoever sneezes and immediately says Alhamdulillah will not suffer from a persistent stomach ailment.
Remembering Allah When Sneezing
Imam al-Hakim al-Tirmidhi narrates from Musa ibn Talhah. He said:
Allah revealed to Sulayman (AS):
If someone sneezes even behind seven seas and you hear it, then remember Me.
How the Prophet (SAW) Expressed Gratitude to Allah
Imam al-Bayhaqi narrates from Ali (RA) that the Messenger of Allah (SAW) sent an army from among his family members and supplicated:
“O Allah! If You return them safely, I will praise You with a praise that is worthy of You.”
After some time, they returned safely.
The Messenger of Allah (SAW) then said:
الْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ عَلَى سَابِغِ نَعَمِ اللهِ
Alhamdulillah—for the abundant and complete blessings of Allah.
I asked, “O Messenger of Allah! Did you not say that if Allah returned them safely, you would express gratitude as He deserves?”
He (SAW) replied:
“Did I not do so?”
Another Narration
Imam Ibn Abi ad-Dunya in Kitab ash-Shukr, Ibn Marduyah, and al-Bayhaqi narrate from Sa’id ibn Ishaq ibn Ka’b ibn Ujrah, from his father, from his grandfather.
The Messenger of Allah (SAW) sent an army of the Ansar and said:
“If Allah returns them safely and grants them spoils of war, then gratitude to Allah will be obligatory upon me.”
After some time, they returned safely with the spoils of war.
One Companion said, “We heard you say that if they returned safely, gratitude would be obligatory upon you.”
He (SAW) said:
“I have expressed gratitude. I said:”
اللهُمَّ شُكْرًا وَلَكَ الْفَضْل الْمَنُّ فَضْلًا
“O Allah, all gratitude is for You, and all bounty, favor, and generosity belong to You.”
Alhamdulillah: The Best Expression of Gratitude
Imam Abu Nu’aym in Hilyat al-Awliya and al-Bayhaqi narrate from Ja’far ibn Muhammad (RA).
He said:
My father’s mule went missing, and he said, “If I find my mule, I will praise Allah with a praise that He loves.”
After some time, he found his mule with its saddle and reins. When he mounted it and sat upright, he raised his head toward the sky and said:
Alhamdulillah.
He did not say anything more.
When he was asked about this, he said:
“Did I leave anything out or fall short? I have praised Allah with complete praise.”
Alhamdulillah as Dhikr and Gratitude
Imam al-Bayhaqi narrates from Ibrahim (RA) that he said:
Alhamdulillah carries more reward than many other phrases.
Hamd Is Both Dhikr and Gratitude
Imam Abu ash-Shaykh and al-Bayhaqi narrate from Muhammad ibn Harb that Sufyan ath-Thawri (RA) said:
Hamd is both remembrance and gratitude. Nothing else combines remembrance and gratitude in this way.
What a Servant Must Say to Be Grateful
Imam Ibn Abi ad-Dunya and Abu Nu’aym in Hilyat al-Awliya narrate from Abdullah ibn Amr ibn al-‘As (RA).
He said:
When a servant says Subhanallah, it is the prayer of creation. When he says Alhamdulillah, it is the phrase of gratitude. Until the servant says this phrase, he is not truly one who gives thanks.
When he says La ilaha illallah, it is the phrase of sincerity. Until he says this, Allah does not accept his deeds. When the servant says Allahu Akbar, it fills the heavens and the earth. When he says La hawla wa la quwwata illa billah, Allah says, “My servant has surrendered to Me and submitted to Me.”
2 – قَوْله تَعَالَى: (الْحَمد لله) رَبِّ الْعَالَمِينَ
2. The Statement of Allah: “(All praise is due to Allah), the Lord of all the worlds.”
What Is Meant by “The Worlds”?
Imam al-Firyabi, Abd ibn Humayd, Ibn Jarir, Ibn al-Mundhir, and Ibn Abi Hatim—
Narrate from Ibn Abbas (RA) regarding Rabbil-‘Alamin — the Lord of all the worlds that the intended meaning of Al-‘Alamin is:
الْجِنّ والإِنس
The jinn and humankind.
Jinn and Humankind
Imam Abd ibn Humayd and Ibn Jarir also narrate this meaning from Mujahid (RA).
Imam Ibn Jarir similarly narrates it from Sa’id ibn Jubayr (RA).
The Lord and Deity of All Creation
Imam Ibn Jarir and Ibn Abi Hatim narrate from Ibn Abbas (RA) regarding Rabbil-‘Alamin:
He is the Deity of all creation.
This includes all the heavens and everything within them, and all the earth and everything within it—whether known or unknown.
The Incident of the Locusts
Imam al-Hakim al-Tirmidhi in Nawadir al-Usul, Abu Ya’la in Musnad, Ibn Adi in Al-Kamil, Abu ash-Shaykh in Al-‘Azamah, al-Bayhaqi in Shu’ab al-Iman, and al-Khatib in his Tarikh, through a weak chain, narrate from Jabir ibn Abdullah (RA).
He said:
During the caliphate of Umar (RA), the number of locusts decreased. When he asked about the matter, no one could provide an answer.
He became concerned and sent one horseman toward Qada’, another toward Syria, and another toward Iraq to find out whether anyone had seen any locusts.
The horseman who went toward Yemen returned with a handful of locusts and presented them to Umar (RA).
When he saw the locusts, he loudly proclaimed Takbir and said:
The Messenger of Allah (SAW) said:
“Allah created one thousand species, six hundred in the sea and four hundred on land. The first creature of this Ummah that will become extinct will be the locust. When one disappears, the chain of disappearance will continue, just as when something strung on a thread breaks, the pieces fall one after another.”
Tafsir of Rabbil-‘Alamin
Imam Ibn Jarir narrates from Qatadah (RA) regarding the meaning of Rabbil-‘Alamin:
كُلُّ صِنْفٍ عَالَمٌ
Every kind is a world.
Imam Ibn Abi Hatim and Abu ash-Shaykh narrate from Tatabbu’ al-Jahri that he said:
The worlds consist of one thousand species—six hundred in the sea and four hundred on land.
Eighteen Thousand Worlds
Imam Ibn Abi Hatim and Ibn Jarir narrate from Abu al-‘Aliyah (RA):
Humankind is one world, the jinn are one world, and besides them there are eighteen thousand worlds of angels.
The earth has four corners, and each corner contains three thousand worlds. Among them are five hundred worlds that Allah created for His worship.
Imam ath-Tha’labi narrates through Shahr ibn Hawshab from Ubayy ibn Ka’b (RA), who said:
The intended meaning of the worlds is the angels. There are eighteen thousand angels. Four hundred or five hundred of them are in the east, and the same number are in the west. Likewise, there are similar numbers in the third and fourth regions of the world. Each angel has supporting angels with him, whose number is known only to Allah.
Imam Abu ash-Shaykh and Abu Nu’aym in Hilyat al-Awliya narrate from Wahb (RA):
Allah has eighteen thousand worlds, and this world is one of them.
Conclusion
In conclusion, the second verse of Surah Al-Fatihah, Alhamdulillahi Rabbil-‘Alamin, is one of the fundamental foundations of a Muslim’s faith. It acknowledges the Oneness of Allah, His universal Lordship, and His countless blessings. Through this verse, the servant directs all praise and gratitude exclusively to Allah, the Lord and Sustainer of all the worlds.
In light of Tafsir ad-Durr al-Manthur, the explanation of this verse makes it clear that Alhamdulillah is not merely a phrase; rather, it reflects deep faith, gratitude, and obedience in the heart.
This verse teaches the believer to rely upon Allah and place complete trust in Him in every aspect of life. Therefore, studying and reflecting upon this verse strengthens a believer’s faith and contributes to spiritual growth.
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