Why Alhamdulillah Fills the Scale of Good Deeds
Understanding Alhamdulillah: The Affirmation of Allah's Perfection - Al-Nawawi's 40 Narrations
Summary
This lecture discusses a foundational hadith from Imam al-Nawawi's collection of 40 narrations (Arbaeen), specifically focusing on the phrase "Alhamdulillah fills the scale of good deeds." The speaker provides an in-depth linguistic and theological analysis of the term 'Alhamdulillah,' explaining that it means affirming all perfection to Allah with a heart filled with love and exaltation. The lecture also contrasts 'Alhamdulillah' with 'Subhan Allah,' clarifying that while the former affirms Allah's perfection, the latter negates any imperfection from Him. The speaker emphasizes how this narration serves as a core foundation upon which Islamic worship and practice are built.
Note: This transcript was generated using YouTube's automatic captioning, with AI-assisted cleanup for readability. It may contain inaccuracies due to background noise, audio quality, or limitations of the transcription software — particularly during Arabic recitation. Listener discretion is advised; please refer to the original video for precise wording.
One more.
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Alhamdulillah. He was.
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Alhamdulillah. Continuing in the chapter of patience authored by the first narration he mentions is a very critical narration in the sense that it gives us many fundamentals upon which various sciences of Islam are founded. This narration has been cited by many of scholars of Islam as one of the miracles of the prophet sallall.aii which he referred to as he said that one of his miracles that he was given that the prophets before him were not was that he was given the most concise yet most broad and expansive in meaning words of revelation. So, we'll have just a sentence or a few words. Yet, because of the way that those words fit together with the rest of the revelation of the Quran and Sunnah, those few words have an incredibly extensive meaning to them. This narration is one of them. He gives us foundations upon which many of the various forms of worship in Islam are built and a core description for each. he mentions this narration in one of his books that is very well known which is the 40 narrations. That book he wrote which he gathered in it 42 narrations of the prophet sallall.aii wasallam upon which all of the rest of the Quran and Sunnah are built. Those are the 42 core narrations of the sunnah. He's referred to them as the 40 narrations because they're roughly 40. and this narration is one of them because of how expansive its meanings are. Yesterday we discussed the first sentence which was purification is half of eman. The second statement that he makes and third which have to do with the with he says Alhamdulillah fills the scale. The scale of what? The scale of good deeds. The scale of good deeds are filled with alhamdulillah figuratively and literally. alhamdulillah fills the scales meaning that everything a person does it comes from a place of alhamdulillah in their worship of Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala when a person stands to pray that prayer is saying alhamdulillah meaning the state that a person is in the act of worship they give something for the sake of Allah that giving is saying alhamdulillah etc. Alhamdulillah is the basis upon which all acts of worship are built. Why is that? What is alham what is alhamdulillah? Often times we take a translation for instance of a word a common phrase and we stop there and we don't really think beyond that or we take it kind of for granted. What does alhamdulillah mean? Well, many people would say alhamdulillah means praise. Praise. All praise is for Allah. Great. What is praise? What does that mean? What is all praises to Allah? What is it that is to Allah? The scholars of Islam tell us that alhamd and in Arabic often times a person you would say what is alham you might get an answer like.
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And so we see here that what is its exact definition? Alhamdulillah. Alhamd is describing the one being praised with love and exaltation while describing with the tongue with thee descriptions of perfection. Meaning that a person describes. So for instance we say alhamdulillah. What is that? It is describing Allah with all perfection. Ascribing to him all perfection whilst the heart is filled with love and exaltation. This is referred to as alhamdas. Subhan Allah is the opposite. What is Subhan Allah? Often times the translation will say subhan Allah, glory be to Allah. What does that mean? Subhan Allah as alhammed is affirming for Allah. Affirming for Allah all perfection, all aspects of perfection. When I say alhamdulillah, I am saying all perfection, all names, attributes, descriptions of perfection belong to Allah. That's what alhamdulillah means. And this is only considered ham when I have a heart filled with love and exaltation. So when I say alhamdulillah I am saying oh Allah to you belongs all descriptions of perfection. You are complete in every way. What is subhan allah? Subhan Allah is the opposite. It is negating. So whereas alham is affirming for Allah all perfection, subhan is negating all imperfection from Allah. So when I say subhan Allah, I am saying, "Oh Allah, you are free of any imperfection. No matter how minor or slight, no imperfection belongs to you. You are perfect in every way and imperfect in no way. When you say subhan Allah alhamdulillah together and that's why they often come together in the I say subhan Allah subhan Allah I am saying subhan Allah. Oh Allah, there is no sort of imperfection that is ascribed to you. You are free of any imperfection. Then I say alhamdulillah. Then I affirm the second half which is and to you belongs every kind of perfection. The prophet sallall.aii Wasallam said and this is the last narration alkari mentioned in his the first narration he mentioned deeds are bought by intentions. The last narration he mentions in his subhan all subhan allah he says two statements which are very light upon the tongue very heavy in the scales very beloved to alman subhan allah oh Allah You are imperfect in no way and perfect in every way. That is what subhan all he means. Subhanahu wa'talamu.