Abu Sa’id Ar-Rafi bin Al-Mu’alla (May Allah be pleased with him) reported:
The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said, “Shall I teach you the greatest Surah in the Qur’an before you leave the mosque?” Then he (ﷺ) took me by the hand, and when we were about to step out, I reminded him of his promise to teach me the greatest Surah in the Qur’an. He (ﷺ) said, “It is ‘Alhamdu lillahi Rabbil ‘Alamin (i.e., Surat Al-Fatihah) which is As-Sab’ Al-Mathani (i.e., the seven oft-repeated Ayat) and the Great Qur’an which is given to me.”
What is the meaning of Alhamdulillahi Rabbil Alamin?
The literal translation of the phrase “Alhamdulillahi Rabbil Alamin” is “Praise be to Allah, the Lord of the Universe.” This comes from the second verse of Surah Al-Fatihah, the first chapter of the Quran.
This is an important saying for a Muslim and is repeated multiple times every day. It can be said as dhikr for the sake of worshiping Allah, and it is also commonly recited during salat.
Other Common Written Forms
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alhamdu lillahi rabbil alamin
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alhamdulillah rabbil alamin
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alhamdulillahi rabbil alamin
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alhamdulillahirobbil alamin
Alhamdulillahi Rabbil Alamin in Arabic
In Arabic, “Alhamdulillahi Rabbil Alamin” is written as:
الْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ رَبِّ الْعَالَمِينَ
Hadith on Verse 2 of Surah Al-Fatihah
Abu Hurairah reported the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) as saying:
الْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ رَبِّ الْعَالَمِينَ
“All praise be to Allah, the Lord of the Universe” is the epitome or basis of the Qur’an, the epitome or basis of the Book, and the seven oft-repeated verses.
Explanation (Tafsir) of This Ayat
As explained earlier, the character of this surah is that of a prayer. The prayer begins with praise of the One to whom our prayer is addressed—indicating that whenever one prays, one ought to do so in a dignified manner. It does not become a cultivated person to blurt out their petition.
Refinement demands that our requests be preceded by a wholehearted acknowledgment of the unique position, infinite benevolence, and unmatched excellence of the One to Whom we pray. Whenever we praise someone, we do so for two reasons: first, because excellence calls for praise, irrespective of whether that excellence has any direct relevance to us; second, we praise those we consider our benefactors, and in this case, our praise arises from a deep feeling of gratitude.
Allah is worthy of praise on both counts. It is incumbent on us to praise Him not only in recognition of His infinite excellence but also out of gratitude for the countless blessings He has lavished upon us. Notably, the phrase here is not merely “praise be to Allah,” but “all praise be to Allah alone.” Whenever there is beauty, excellence, or perfection—regardless of its form or manifestation—its ultimate source is none other than Allah Himself.
No human beings, angels, demigods, heavenly bodies, or any other created beings possess innate excellence; any excellence that exists is a gift from Allah. Thus, if there is anyone we ought to adore, worship, feel indebted to, and remain humble and obedient toward, it is the Creator of excellence, not its possessor.
In Arabic, the word “Rabb” has three meanings: (i) Lord and Master; (ii) Sustainer, Provider, Supporter, Nourisher, and Guardian; (iii) Sovereign, Ruler, He Who controls and directs. Allah is the Rabb of the universe in all three meanings of the term.
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