He is the only one deserving in every manner of praise, and He should be exalted by saying ‘al-hamdu lillah, meaning ‘praise be to Allah.’
The first two ayat of the Qur’an – Bismillah hir rahman nir raheem, Alhamdu lillaahi Rabbil ‘aalameen, the word, Al-hamd means, “[All] praise and thanks” and continues lillaahi “be to Allah.” It then goes onto list several reasons why:
(1) Rabbil ‘aalameen – He is the “Lord of the worlds”
(2) Ar-Rahmaan – He is “The Entirely Merciful”
(3) Ar-Raheem – He is “the Especially Merciful”
(4) Maaliki Yawmid-Deen – He is “The Master [Ruling judge] of the Day of Recompense.”
This affirms Allah سُبْحَٰنَهُۥ وَتَعَٰلَىٰ as being Al-Hameed (the praiseworthy one) and the natural response to such a realization would be Iyyaaka na’budu wa lyyaaka nasta’een “It is You we worship and You we ask for help.”
Al-Hameed is mentioned throughout the Qur’an 17 times
ٱلَّذِينَ يَبۡخَلُونَ وَيَأۡمُرُونَ ٱلنَّاسَ بِٱلۡبُخۡلِۗ وَمَن يَتَوَلَّ فَإِنَّ ٱللَّهَ هُوَ ٱلۡغَنِيُّ ٱلۡحَمِيدُ
Allazeeena yabkhaloona wa yaamuroonan naasa bil bukhl; wa many yatawalla fa innal laaha Huwal Ghaniyyul Hameed
“[Those] who are stingy and enjoin upon people stinginess. And whoever turns away – then indeed, Allah is the Free of need, the Praiseworthy.“— (Qur’an 57:24)وَلَقَدۡ ءَاتَيۡنَا لُقۡمَٰنَ ٱلۡحِكۡمَةَ أَنِ ٱشۡكُرۡ لِلَّهِۚ وَمَن يَشۡكُرۡ فَإِنَّمَا يَشۡكُرُ لِنَفۡسِهِۦۖ وَمَن كَفَرَ فَإِنَّ ٱللَّهَ غَنِيٌّ حَمِيدٞ
Wa laqad aatainaa Luqmaanal hikmata anishkur lillaah; wa many yashkur fa innamaa yashkuru linafsihee wa man kafara fa innal laaha Ghaniyyun Hameed
“And We had certainly given Luqman wisdom [and said], “Be grateful to Allah.” And whoever is grateful is grateful for [the benefit of] himself. And whoever denies [His favor] – then indeed, Allah is Free of need and Praiseworthy.”— (Qur’an 31:12)۞يَـٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلنَّاسُ أَنتُمُ ٱلۡفُقَرَآءُ إِلَى ٱللَّهِۖ وَٱللَّهُ هُوَ ٱلۡغَنِيُّ ٱلۡحَمِيدُ
Yaaa ayyunhan naasu antumul fuqaraaa’u ilallaahi wallaahu Huwal Ghaniyyul Hameed
“O mankind, you are those in need of Allah, while Allah is the Free of need, the Praiseworthy.“— (Qur’an 35:15)
لَّا يَأۡتِيهِ ٱلۡبَٰطِلُ مِنۢ بَيۡنِ يَدَيۡهِ وَلَا مِنۡ خَلۡفِهِۦۖ تَنزِيلٞ مِّنۡ حَكِيمٍ حَمِيدٖ
Laa yaateehil baatilu mim baini yadaihi wa laa min khalfihee tanzeelum min Hakeemin Hameed
“Falsehood cannot approach it from before it or from behind it; [it is] a revelation from a [Lord who is] Wise and Praiseworthy.”— Qur’an 41:42
وَهُوَ ٱلَّذِي يُنَزِّلُ ٱلۡغَيۡثَ مِنۢ بَعۡدِ مَا قَنَطُواْ وَيَنشُرُ رَحۡمَتَهُۥۚ وَهُوَ ٱلۡوَلِيُّ ٱلۡحَمِيدُ
Wa Huwal lazee yunazzilul ghaisa min ba’di maa qanatoo wa yanshuru rahmatah; wa Huwal Waliyyul Hameed
“And it is He who sends down the rain after they had despaired and spreads His mercy. And He is the Protector, the Praiseworthy.”— Qur’an 42:28
Exploring Al-Hakeem/Al-Waliyy and Al-Hamid:
myislam.org
In these verses, it mentions Allah سُبْحَٰنَهُۥ وَتَعَٰلَىٰ as Al-Waliyy (The Protecting Associate). Allah سُبْحَٰنَهُۥ وَتَعَٰلَىٰ gives people what they need, when they need it. He “sends down rain after they had despaired and spreads His mercy.” In the ayah, rain is said as symbolic of nourishment or, as other commentators interpret it, spiritual or divine inspiration. We understand whatever is decreed by Allah سُبْحَٰنَهُۥ وَتَعَٰلَىٰ there is wisdom in it. We may not understand it, and we don’t necessarily need to. The veil may be lifted with the passage of time to see the blessings in some of our hardships. But regardless of what happens, remain dutiful to Allah سُبْحَٰنَهُۥ وَتَعَٰلَىٰ, and be patient because whatever He has ordered will ultimately be for their benefit.