praise and glorification (1).

Ibn Hajar al-Haytamī al-Makkī (974) was also asked about al-Sirāj al-Bulqīnī’s statement that the finest formula of praise is “Praise be to Allah, Lord of the worlds.” He listed the scholars’ views on the finest formulas, then commended a formula he had pieced together from the various opinions: “Praise be to Allah, Lord of the worlds—a praise commensurate with His blessings and matching His further bounty, as befits the majesty of His Face and the greatness of His dominion” (2).

Sometimes the question concerns a particular formula, asking whether it is authentically established or what meanings it conveys. Such was the question put to Imam Ibn al-Qayyim (may Allah have mercy on him), which he answered in the fatwa before us.

The substance of the fatwa:

The question put to Imam Ibn al-Qayyim (may Allah have mercy on him) concerns this formula of praise:

“Praise be to Allah—a praise commensurate with His blessings and matching His further bounty.”

It asks whether this formula is established and authentic, and whether the claim made by some that it is the finest and most complete formula is correct.

He answered that this claim was false and denied that the formula was established, examining it from two perspectives: its transmission and its meaning.

Regarding its transmission, he stated that this formula has no chain of transmission, let alone