Surah Saba (34) — Ayah 1

(Ayah 1) ➊ {اَلْحَمْدُ لِلّٰهِ الَّذِيْ لَهٗ مَا فِي السَّمٰوٰتِ وَ مَا فِي الْاَرْضِ …:} The meaning of "Hamd" is praise due to someone's excellence. This surah is one of the five surahs that begin with {’’ اَلْحَمْدُ لِلّٰهِ ‘‘}, and they are Surah Al-Fatiha, Al-An'am, Al-Kahf, Saba, and Fatir. In all five, a separate reason is mentioned for all praise being for Allah, although all are also related to each other. In saying {’’ اَلْحَمْدُ لِلّٰهِ ‘‘}, it is not only meant that all praise is for Allah, but also that He alone possesses all excellences, because without excellence, what is there to praise? And the proof that all praise and all excellences are for Allah is that whatever is in the heavens or whatever is in the earth, meaning whatever exists in the entire universe, He alone is its owner. He alone created everything, He alone sustains them, and He alone manages their affairs. If there is any excellence in anything, it is granted by Him; then, who else besides Him can be the owner of every excellence and every praise?
➋ There are two interpretations of this verse: one is that in the first phrase {’’ اَلْحَمْدُ لِلّٰهِ الَّذِيْ لَهٗ مَا فِي السَّمٰوٰتِ وَ مَا فِي الْاَرْضِ ‘‘}, it means that in this world, all praise is for Allah, because in the second phrase {’’ وَ لَهُ الْحَمْدُ فِي الْاٰخِرَةِ ‘‘}, it is mentioned that in the Hereafter, all praise will be for Him. The second interpretation is that in the first phrase {’’ اَلْحَمْدُ لِلّٰهِ الَّذِيْ لَهٗ مَا فِي السَّمٰوٰتِ وَ مَا فِي الْاَرْضِ ‘‘}, it means that in both the world and the Hereafter, praise is for Allah. Then, the fact that praise will be for Allah alone in the Hereafter is mentioned again specifically, because in this world, apparently, someone else may also be praised, but in the Hereafter, only Allah will be praised, and the phrase {’’ اَلْحَمْدُ لِلّٰهِ ‘‘} will be on everyone's lips. See Surah Az-Zumar (74), Al-A'raf (43), and Fatir (34, 35). This is just like in Surah Al-Baqarah, verse (98): « مَنْ كَانَ عَدُوًّا لِّلّٰهِ وَ مَلٰٓىِٕكَتِهٖ وَ رُسُلِهٖ وَ جِبْرِيْلَ وَ مِيْكٰىلَ فَاِنَّ اللّٰهَ عَدُوٌّ لِّلْكٰفِرِيْنَ », where in the word { ’’ مَلٰٓىِٕكَتِهٖ ‘‘}, even though all angels are included, Jibreel and Mika'il are also mentioned separately. For more benefits of {’’اَلْحَمْدُ لِلّٰهِ ‘‘}, see the benefits of Surah Al-Fatiha.
➌ { وَ هُوَ الْحَكِيْمُ الْخَبِيْرُ :} That is, He alone is the One whose every action is firm and perfect, and who has complete knowledge of every particle in the universe; therefore, there is no defect or flaw in any of His actions, whereas no one else has complete knowledge or wisdom, so they have nothing but incapacity and poverty—then, what is there to praise?

All praise is due to Allah, to whom belongs everything that is in the heavens and the earth. 1. In the Hereafter as well, all praise is for Him. 2. He is the Most Wise and Fully Aware.

All praise is for Allah, to Whom belongs whatever is in the heavens and whatever is in the earth, and to Him belongs all praise in the Hereafter [1]. And He is the Wise [2], the All-Aware.

[1] ﴿في الآخرة﴾ has two meanings. One is that if any human’s achievements are praised in this world, ultimately that praise belongs to Allah alone, because it is Allah who has granted man every kind of strength, ability, and capacity. That is, the word ﴿في الاخرة﴾ here gives the meaning of “in the end.” And the second meaning is that in this world, some causes are apparent, which everyone can see or feel, but there are also some causes that are hidden. In the Hereafter, all such veils will be lifted, and everyone will see that the only One truly worthy of praise is Allah alone.
[2] And He is 'the Wise' in this sense is that whatever He has created in the universe is not serving just one, but multiple purposes. Then, the interconnectedness and organization of the system of the universe is also a great proof of His wisdom. And “the All-Aware” in this sense is that He is directly overseeing every single part of the universe, and even after long ages have passed, there is never any deficiency, shortcoming, or disorder in any part of the universe.