Hamd
/hæmd/noun
An Arabic term meaning praise or commendation, especially praise of God in Islam.
Did you know?The Qur’an opens with “al-ḥamdu lillāh,” commonly translated as “praise be to God,” making hamd one of Islam’s most foundational devotional words.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Semitic
Proto-Semitic
*ḥ-m-d
“To be desirable, pleasing, or worthy of praise”
Classical Arabic
Arabic
ḥamida
“He praised or expressed gratitude”
Classical Arabic
Arabic
ḥamd
“Praise or commendation, especially directed toward God”
7th Century
Qur’anic Arabic
al-ḥamdu lillāh
“Praise belongs to God; the opening formula of the Qur’an”
Modern English
English
hamd
“An Islamic loanword for praise of God or devotional praise”