The Knowledge to Be Grateful

In this verse Allah says that He granted Dawud and Sulaiman (peace be upon them) knowledge, for the verse to then quote their gratitude towards Allah(SWT).
Perhaps this quote is showcasing their knowledge, their knowledge to be grateful to Allah. Because to be grateful, and knowing Who to be grateful to, is a knowledge. 

Sulaiman(AS) then says in the next verse: "...We have been taught the language of birds, and been given everything ˹we need˺..." (27:16). He doesn't say "I know the language of the birds and have everything!" Instead, the way he says it acknowledges that what he has has been given to him as a gift.

Dawud and Sulaiman are aware that what they have is a favor from Allah, and they are thankful to Allah for that. This is a deep knowledge that grants humility, yet a knowledge not many people have. 
This is a knowledge which is very beautiful and profound. Someone can be a genius in engineering, medicine, or anything else...but that knowledge comes only from Allah. If someone does not even acknowledge where their knowledge came from, are they then even knowledgable?

So, perhaps then, this is the greatest knowledge. The knowledge of the One who gave you your knowledge, and the knowledge to be grateful to Him. Because, without Him, you wouldn't have any knowledge at all.

Safiya B​ I like your reflection.
 JazakAllah khyran 

﷽

When I begin the Qur’an with الحمد لله رب العالمين (Al-ḥamdu lillāhi rabbil-ʿālamīn),  Ifeel that I am being taught how to speak to my Creator. These are not ordinary words — they are the very words Allah selected for Himself. Ibn ʿAbbās explained that Allah opened His Book with al-ḥamdu lillāh because He loves it and chose it as the most complete form of praise. Mujāhid said that every type of praise belongs to Allah, no one else shares in it. And Qatādah reminded that Allah began His speech with praise, teaching His servants how to glorify Him. From the very first verse, Allah shows me that praise is not just an act — it is the foundation of my relationship with Him.

There is a narration that if a man were given the entire dunya and then said al-ḥamdu lillāh, his words would be better than all he was given. That makes me pause. If all the treasures of this world were placed in my hands, a single al-ḥamdu lillāh from my heart would outweigh them. It means that true richness does not lie in possessions but in remembering the One who gave them.

And then there is the hadith where a man once prayed: 

اللَّهُمَّ لَكَ الْحَمْدُ كَمَا يَنْبَغِي لِجَلَالِ وَجْهِكَ وَعَظِيمِ سُلْطَانِكَ

'Allāhumma laka al-ḥamdu kamā yanbaghī li-jalāli wajhika wa-ʿaẓīmi sulṭānik' — 'O Allah, to You belongs all praise, as is befitting to the majesty of Your Face and the greatness of Your Authority.' 

The angels did not know how to record it. They went to Allah and said, 'Our Lord, we do not know how to write this praise.' Allah replied: 'Write it as My servant has said it, until he meets Me and I reward him for it.' That hadith moves me deeply, because it shows me that praise is beyond measure. My words may feel weak, but Allah writes them with a weight that only He knows.

And I realize that when I say al-ḥamdu lillāh, I am not alone. These are the same words that prophets spoke before me: Nūḥ (as) said, 'Praise be to Allah who saved us from the wrongdoing people' (23:28). Ibrāhīm (as) said, 'Praise be to Allah who granted me Ismāʿīl and Isḥāq in old age' (14:39). Dāwūd and Sulaymān (as) said, 'Praise be to Allah who has favored us over many of His believing servants' (27:15). The people of Jannah — which will include the prophets — will say, 'Praise be to Allah who has removed all sorrow from us. Indeed, our Lord is All-Forgiving, Most Appreciative' (35:34). Even the angels who carry the Throne and those surrounding it never cease to glorify Allah bi-ḥamdihi (40:7), and on the Day of Judgment the scene will end with the angels surrounding the Throne saying, 'Praise be to Allah, Lord of the worlds' (39:75).

For me, this verse is not just about thanking Allah for blessings I see. It is about acknowledging that every praise, every gratitude, every expression of awe belongs to Him alone. It is about realizing that my small voice is echoing words Allah Himself chose, words that carry more weight than the dunya, words that the angels record even when they cannot measure them. 

And it reminds me that it ties me into a chain of worship that stretches across time — from Adam (as) to the Prophet ﷺ, from the Companions to every believer who has ever whispered it: 

Al-ḥamdu lillāhi rabbil-ʿālamīn.

الحمد لله رب العالمين

Bismillah

As I start reading Quran after Ramadan and I focussed on word Al Hamd where we are praising Allah and acknowledging Allah’s favors . I particularly shared Surah An Naml Ayah 15 where Allah is saying that He bestowed ilm / knowledge to Dawood (as) and Sulayman (as) and in return they both praised Allah and they both humbled themselves  because of this ilm.

If I know a little bit about Allah and if I am given the gift of iman or ilm or a little bit of understanding of the Quran then I should humble myself. It's because of Allah’s special favor I got this and not because of my capability. 

How can I show gratitude ?

By keeping it in action and by teaching it to others around me and by thanking Allah verbally too.

May this hamd echo where ever a momin lives and May this hamd echo like a ray of sunshine in valleys of darkness and May this hamd echo from our hearts when we reach our final home Al Jannah . Āmēn

Assalamu Alaikum,


MashaAllah, your reflection on the word 'Alhamd' and the Ayah from Surah An-Naml is truly inspiring. It is a beautiful reminder of the importance of acknowledging Allah's favors and humbling ourselves in gratitude for the knowledge and understanding we have been blessed with.


You are absolutely correct that any knowledge or understanding we possess is solely due to Allah's special favor and not because of our own capabilities. Recognizing this truth is a sign of humility and a means of showing gratitude to our Creator.


To demonstrate gratitude, you mentioned three important actions. Firstly, keeping the knowledge and understanding in action, meaning implementing it in our daily lives and striving to live in accordance with the teachings of the Quran. This practical application of knowledge is a powerful form of gratitude as it shows our commitment to Allah's guidance.


Secondly, teaching others around us is another way to express gratitude. By sharing the knowledge and understanding we have gained, we can contribute to the growth and enlightenment of those around us, spreading the light of Islam and benefiting others.


Lastly, expressing gratitude verbally by thanking Allah is also important. Taking a moment to praise and thank Allah for His blessings, including the gift of iman and knowledge, is a means of strengthening our relationship with Him and acknowledging His infinite mercy and generosity.


May our hamd, our gratitude and praise for Allah, resonate in our hearts and be a source of light and guidance wherever we go. May it inspire us to continuously seek knowledge and strive to live a life that pleases Allah. And may our hamd echo in the eternal bliss of Jannah, our final abode.


Ameen.


Thank you for sharing this beautiful reflection with the QuranReflect community.

Enlightened Intellect

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'enlightened intellect'. I like that. JAK, Br Amer! Allow me to ponder over it and use it in my discourse and interactions, in shaa Allah.