Hamd Allah Dhatihi al-Karima fi Ayat Kitabihi al-Hakima
- Author died
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- Editions
- Islamic University of Madinah
Hamd Allah Dhatihi al-Karima fi Ayat Kitabihi al-Hakima (God's Praise of His Noble Essence in the Verses of His Wise Book) is a thematic Quranic study by the contemporary scholar Imad bin Zuhayr Hafiz, dedicated to examining the verses of the Quran wherein God praises His own Essence.
Background and Purpose
The author undertook this work after completing a prior study on the Quranic instances of God glorifying His own Essence (tasbih), noting that praise (hamd) is the inseparable counterpart of glorification. Hafiz highlights that when God singles out a matter by praising Himself in connection with it, it underscores that matter's supreme significance and majesty. He also notes the theological observation that because human beings are incapable of fulfilling the praise due to God's immense favors, God praised Himself in pre-eternity, signifying that He is inherently praiseworthy regardless of whether creation praises Him and that only His self-praise is truly commensurate with His majesty.
Structure and Content
The book investigates fifteen specific Quranic loci where God praises His Essence across various contexts. It is arranged into an introduction, a preliminary conceptual overview (tamhid), fourteen analytical chapters, and a conclusion:
- Preliminary Overview (Tamhid): Defines the linguistic meaning of hamd, its morphological derivatives, and the conceptual differences between hamd (praise), madh (commendation), and shukr (gratitude). It clarifies that madh is broader than hamd because it applies to both voluntary agents and non-agents, whereas hamd is restricted to voluntary acts of perfection; in turn, hamd is broader than shukr because shukr is given solely in return for bestowed favors, which explains why the Quran mentions God praising Himself but not thanking Himself.
- Chapters: The fourteen chapters treat the fifteen loci according to the traditional sequence of the surahs in the Quran. Each locus is assigned an independent chapter, with the exception of the two occurrences in Surah Saba', which are treated together in one chapter because they appear in the same verse. The discussions cover instances such as the opening of Surah al-Fatihah, the creation of the heavens and the earth at the beginning of Surah al-An'am, the annihilation of unjust nations in Surah al-An'am (6:45), the presentation of proofs and parables in Surah al-Nahl (16:75), the revelation of the scripture in Surah al-Kahf (18:1), and the concluding declarations of praise in Surah al-Saffat and Surah al-Jathiyah.
Methodology and Sources
The author's approach in each chapter centers on uncovering the underlying wisdom (hikmah) and objective behind the occurrence of praise in that specific passage. This entails analyzing the structural and thematic connection (munasabah) between the verse of praise and the preceding and succeeding verses, as well as inter-surah linkages where relevant.
Hafiz relies heavily on classical and later Quranic commentaries, drawing on the works of al-Tabari, al-Zamakhshari, al-Razi, al-Qurtubi, Abu al-Su'ud, al-Alusi, and Ibn Ashur, prioritizing apparent, well-supported interpretations over far-fetched or contrived explanations. He regularly appends subtle rhetorical and theological reflections (lata'if) to each chapter, emphasizing how divine self-praise serves to instruct believers to praise God upon witnessing His signs, blessings, arguments, and judgments.
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