Selected Exegesis

Every praise given for any form of perfection or beauty is, in reality, praise of God, for only He is truly worthy of praise. God, the Glorified, is the Lord (Rabb) of every world (ʿālam), guiding it towards the perfection suitable for it. A world is something by which knowledge is obtained, and since in the universe every existent thing is a sign of God, each existent is a world unto itself, progressing towards its perfection through the lordship of God, the Glorified. This noble verse is the most comprehensive expression of praise for God. By clarifying the exclusive divinity and lordship of God, it conveys the restriction of praise to Him alone. God (Allāh), who possesses all perfections and is the Sustainer of all things (_Rabb al-_ʿĀlamīn), is worthy of praise. And since praise is offered in the face of the bestowal of perfection and beauty, which is the exclusive domain of God, praise is specific to Him and God is the only One deserving of praise.

God, the Glorified, is not only the sole One worthy of praise (maḥmūd), but also the sole Praiser (ḥāmid). This is because true praise (ḥamd) is not possible without knowing the Bestower of blessings and all His perfections and blessings, and none other than God has such knowledge.