Question:
السلام عليكم ورحمة الله وبركاته
Why is a noun used instead of a verb in the verse:
(الحَمْدُ للهِ رَبِّ العَالَِمِيْنَ)
“Praise belongs ti Allāh”
[Sūrah al-Fātihah, 1:1]
Answer:
The use of the noun “الحمد” (praise) instead of a verb like أحمد (I praise) carries a powerful rhetorical benefit. Nouns in Arabic are more timeless and encompassing than verbs. Verbs are bound by tense—past, present, or future—so using a verb like حمدت (I praised), أحمد (I praise), or سأحمد (I will praise) would limit the act of praise to a specific time frame.
By using the noun “الحمد”, the verse conveys the idea of constant, timeless, and absolute praise. It signifies that all praise, at all times and in all situations, belongs to Allāh—not just at one moment but eternally.
To illustrate this, consider the difference between saying “I help,” “I helped,” or “I will help”—each implies a temporary action. But if one says, “I am a helper,” it implies a consistent and ongoing quality. Similarly, “الحمد لله” expresses that praise is always and perpetually due to Allāh, regardless of time.
جملة الحمد لله خبر لكنها استعملت لإنشاء الحمد وفائدة الجملة الاسمية ديمومة الحمد واستمراره وثباته. (إعراب القرآن ١٦/١)
Allah knows best.
Abbas Afzal
17 Muharram / 12 July 2025
