At a glance
الحمد لله
- Transliteration
- al-ḥamdu lillāh, often written alhamdulillah or alhamdulilah
- Pronunciation
- al-HAM-du-lil-LAH
- Literal meaning
- the praise belongs to God
- Everyday sense
- thank God, thank goodness, I am well
- Said when
- thanking God for a blessing or answering "how are you?"
Where the phrase comes from
Alhamdulillah is a short form of al-hamdu lillah. Al means "the", hamd means "praise", li means "for" or "belongs to", and Allah means "God". Together they read "the praise belongs to God".
The phrase also begins the first chapter of the Qur'an, Surat al-Fatiha, right after the opening bismillah. Muslims recite al-Fatiha in every unit of the daily prayer, so these words are on their lips many times a day.
When Muslims say alhamdulillah
Muslims say alhamdulillah in many everyday moments: after a meal, after sneezing, on hearing good news, after recovering from illness, or when a difficult time has passed. It is also the usual answer to "how are you?", where it means "I am well, thank God".
Many Muslims say it in hard times too, as a sign of patience and acceptance. For that they often use the longer alhamdulillah ala kulli hal, "praise be to God in every situation". Together these uses make it one of the most frequently heard phrases among Muslims of every language. During Ramadan, people often reply with alhamdulillah when a friend greets them with Ramadan Mubarak and asks how the fasting is going. It is also said after eating, to thank Allah for halal food and drink.
Alhamdulillah and saying thank you in Arabic
Alhamdulillah is not the usual way to thank a person. Shukran (شكرا) is the everyday way to say thank you in Arabic and is said to people, while alhamdulillah gives praise and thanks to God. Muslims often thank a person by saying jazakallah khair, "may God reward you with good", which joins thanks with a prayer for them.
To admire something good in someone else's life, Muslims use mashallah instead. To express wonder at something remarkable, they use subhanallah.
Alhamdulillah and related phrases
Alhamdulillah sits alongside several other short phrases. This table shows how they compare.
| Phrase | Arabic | Meaning | When it is used |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alhamdulillah | الحمد لله | Praise be to God | Thanks for a blessing, or "I am well" |
| Alhamdulillah ala kulli hal | الحمد لله على كل حال | Praise be to God in every situation | Said in ease and in hardship |
| Shukran | شكرا | Thank you | Thanking a person |
| Jazakallah khair | جزاك الله خيرا | May God reward you with good | Thanking a person with a prayer; the ending changes for women and groups |
| Mashallah | ما شاء الله | What God has willed | Appreciating something good that exists or has happened |
| Subhanallah | سبحان الله | Glory be to God | Wonder at something remarkable |
Examples of alhamdulillah in a sentence
- Alhamdulillah, I passed my exam.
- Praise be to God, I passed my exam.
- Alhamdulillah, I am well, and you?
- Thank God, I am well, and you?
- Alhamdulillah, we arrived safely.
- Praise be to God, we arrived safely.
Common questions
What does alhamdulillah mean?
Alhamdulillah means "praise be to God" or "all praise belongs to God". Muslims say it to thank God for a blessing, to express relief, or simply to show gratitude in everyday life. It is also the common reply to "how are you?", where it means "I am well, thank God".
How do you write alhamdulillah in Arabic?
In Arabic it is written الحمد لله, from right to left. In English you will see alhamdulillah, al-hamdu lillah, alhamdulilah and alhamdullilah. All of them stand for the same phrase. The spellings differ only because Arabic sounds can be written in Latin letters in several ways.
When do Muslims say alhamdulillah?
Muslims say it after good news, after a meal, after recovering from illness, after finishing a task and when a difficulty has passed. Many also say it in hard times, using the longer alhamdulillah ala kulli hal, "praise be to God in every situation", as a sign of patience and acceptance.
What is the difference between alhamdulillah and shukran?
Shukran is the everyday Arabic word for "thank you" and is said to people. Alhamdulillah gives praise and thanks to God. Muslims often thank a person by saying jazakallah khair, "may God reward you with good", which joins thanks to the person with a prayer for them.
How do you pronounce alhamdulillah?
Say it as al-HAM-du-lil-LAH, in four parts, with the stress on the second and the last. The h is a soft breath from the throat, and the double l in the last part is held a little longer. In fast speech it often sounds like al-HAM-dul-LAH.
Explore more Arabic phrases
- Mashallahما شاء اللهWhat God has willed. When and how Muslims say it.
- Subhanallahسبحان اللهGlory be to God. Said in wonder and as a phrase of remembrance.
- Jazakallah Khairجزاك الله خيراMay God reward you with good. An Islamic way to say thank you.
- Inshallahإن شاء اللهIf God wills. How Muslims talk about plans and hopes for the future.
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This page is a general guide. For your own situation, please consult a qualified scholar.