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Is there a difference between al-hamd (praise) and al-shukr (gratitude)?

1 min readAlso available in العربية

Scholars have differed on the distinction between al-hamd (praise) and al-shukr (gratitude) based on two views:

The first view: They are synonymous, a position chosen by Ibn Jarir al-Tabari.

The second view: There are differences between them, among which are: Al-hamd is exclusive to the tongue and can be for blessings or other things. As for al-shukr, it involves the tongue, heart, and limbs, and it is only in return for a blessing. Ibn Kathir is of the view that al-hamd is more general than al-shukr in terms of its objects (it includes inherent and transitive attributes), and more specific in terms of its medium (speech only). As for al-shukr, it is more general in terms of its medium (speech, action, and intention), and more specific in terms of its objects (transitive attributes only).

Abu Hilal al-Askari says that al-hamd is praise with the tongue for beauty, while al-shukr is an action that signifies glorification of the Bestower for the blessing, by the tongue, heart, or limbs.

Similarly, Ibn al-Qayyim holds that al-shukr is more general in terms of its types and reasons (it includes the heart, tongue, and limbs), and more specific in terms of its objects (blessings only). Al-hamd is more general in terms of its objects (it includes blessings and inherent attributes), and more specific in terms of its reasons (the heart and tongue).

Summarized from the full answer at Ftawy · reviewed Sep 2, 2026

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