Assalamu 'alaykum,
When we say alhamduli'Llah, we usually have in mind that we are praising God, as though we are saying "ahmaduka" or "I praise You". But the literal translation is "Praise belongs to God", or "Praise is God's". It seems to me that this is testimony to the fact that it is Allah who Praises and not us, for we are not actually capable of praise, because it is a Divine Quality. I also understand verse 43, of Surat al-Ahzab, which begins with: "Huwa alladhi yusalli alaykum" (literally: "It is He who prays upon you") as a similar statement; that in the final analysis, prayer is a Divine Act, which we are not capable of, in the true sense.
I'd appreciate any comments or thoughts.
Abdullah
When we say alhamduli'Llah, we usually have in mind that we are praising God, as though we are saying "ahmaduka" or "I praise You". But the literal translation is "Praise belongs to God", or "Praise is God's". It seems to me that this is testimony to the fact that it is Allah who Praises and not us, for we are not actually capable of praise, because it is a Divine Quality. I also understand verse 43, of Surat al-Ahzab, which begins with: "Huwa alladhi yusalli alaykum" (literally: "It is He who prays upon you") as a similar statement; that in the final analysis, prayer is a Divine Act, which we are not capable of, in the true sense.
I'd appreciate any comments or thoughts.
Abdullah