Al-hamdu lillah
All praise is due to Allah ...
There are basically four words in the Arabic language, which are used in varying degrees to signify thankfulness, adoration and praise. These are shukr, thana' , madh and hamd.
Shukr expresses recognition of benefits, gratitude and thankfulness for favors received. Thana' denotes repetitive public acknowledgements. Madh means adoration. Hamd is neither pure madh (praise) for madh can be false; nor simply shukr (gratitude) but rather more than a combination of both. Hamd implies admiration, sincere adoration and heartfelt gratitude, expressed with humility. Hamd can therefore not be directed to any other than Allah (swt).
The definite article al prefixed to hamd and the preposition li before Allah (swt) emphasizes the fact that all forms of praise, adoration, gratitude and thanks in the true sense is due solely to Allah (swt). The word hamd is thus the most appropriate word to be used here since the reference is to the intrinsic grandeur, goodness and truly merited praise, adoration and glorification of the Supreme Being (Allah (swt))
Al-hamdu lillah implies the magnifying, glorifying, honoring and recognizing the supremacy and majesty of Allah (swt) combined with humility and submissiveness of the person who offers the hamd.
The phrase Al-hamdu lillahis of such great significance that after the basmalah and the shahadah, (attestation to Faith), it is the third most commonly used phrase in the Muslim world. In this surah, Al-hamdu lillahis the complement of basmalah. Al-hamdu lillah ends the act, as the basmalah begins and initiates the act. As the basrnalah develops in one degree of proprietal consciousness, ensuring that the actor's mental and spiritual orientation are good and sound; Al-hamdu lillahintegrates the positive content of the act with consciousness of the fact that whatever the person does that is admirable, (in essence) comes from the blessings and bounty of Allah (swt) – the source of ultimate goodness and perfection.
As it would be ethically improper to invoke Allah's Name on beginning something wrongful and sinful, so too the hamd, for it can not be integrated except after an act that is good, wholesome, beneficial and pleasing to Allah (swt). All this imprints
positively on one's soul the criterion and spiritual value of an act. So, Al-hamdu lillah means that ultimately, all forms and degrees of any expression of praise, together with the very essence and notion of praise, belong solely to Allah (swt).