Praise is the best of Allah’s blessings upon His servants. It is greater than the blessings He bestows upon a servant, such as provision, well-being, health, worldly abundance, and the like. This is supported by the report narrated by Ibn Mājah from Anas (may Allah be pleased with him), who said that the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) said: “Whenever Allah bestows a blessing upon a servant and he says, ‘Praise be to Allah,’ what he gives in return is better than what he received.”1

This was also narrated as a statement of al-Hasan al-Basrī himself by Ibn Abī al-Dunyā in his book Gratitude. Ibn Abī Hātim also narrated in his Quran commentary that one of Umar ibn Abd al-Azīz’s governors wrote to him: “I am in a land where blessings have become so abundant that I fear for its people because of their inadequate gratitude.” Umar wrote back: “I had thought that your knowledge of Allah was greater than it is. Whenever Allah bestows a blessing upon His servant and he praises Allah for it, his praise is better than the blessing bestowed upon him. Even if Allah’s revealed Book were your only source for knowing this, Allah Most High says: ‘We certainly gave David and Solomon knowledge, and they said, “Praise be to Allah, who has favored us above many of His believing servants.”’2 Allah also says: ‘Those who feared their Lord will be led to Paradise in groups until, when they reach it and its gates have been opened, its keepers will say to them, “Peace be upon you! You have done well, so enter it to abide therein forever.” And they will say, “Praise be to Allah, who has fulfilled His promise to us.”’3 What blessing could be greater than entering Paradise?”