—al-Hamd, “the House of Praise.” Reported by al-Tirmidhi, who declared it a ḥasan (good) hadith.

1396 – Anas (may Allah be pleased with him) related that the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) said: “Allah is indeed pleased with a servant who, when he eats a mouthful, praises Him for it, and when he drinks a draught, praises Him for it.” Reported by Muslim.

Commentary
The author (may Allah have mercy on him) cites these hadiths in the chapter entitled “Praising and Thanking Allah.” It is evident to all of us that every blessing we enjoy comes from Allah, and that when hardship touches us we have no refuge but in Allah. When a person is afflicted with something he dislikes or anything that harms him, Allah the Exalted uses that to expiate his sins: no pain, anxiety, or grief befalls a believer without Allah thereby erasing some of his sins—even the prick of a thorn. If a thorn were to prick you, Allah would wipe away a sin through it.

Allah’s favors are vast and innumerable; they cannot be counted. For that reason we must praise Allah and thank Him for the blessings He has lavished upon us. Among the benefits of praise is that when a person begins an undertaking with the praise of Allah, Allah places blessing in it. Should he open his endeavor—be it writing a book, delivering a speech, or anything else—with words of praise to Allah, Allah bestows blessing upon it. Every affair that is not begun with the praise of Allah is “cut off,” meaning stripped of blessing. Another expression, however, may stand in place of explicit praise, such as reciting the basmala (saying, “In the name of Allah…”).