In the name of Allah the Most Gracious the Most Merciful

Difference between gratitude (shukr) and praise (hamd)

By Shaykh Saalih bin Abdul-Azeez ala shaykh may Allah preserve him

The shaykh says in his explanation of “Usool Thalatha” under the part “So if it is said how do you know your Lord, then say…”:

Hamd حمد: it is praising with the tongue.

Shukr شكر: it is giving thanks with the tongue as well through actions.

It is not said so and so praised Allah with his actions, because praising is only done with the tongue.

Allah says in surah Saba:13

اعلموا ال داوود شكرًا

“Work you, O family of Dawud (David), with thanks”!

(In this ayah we see that shukr is connected to action)

Gratitude (shukr) is more general than praising (hamd), because gratitude consists of both showing thanks through speech and actions. While praising (hamd) can only be through speech.

Translated by: Michael AbdusSalaam Deonarain

الفقير الى الله