al-Ḥamīd

The Praiseworthy

Begin the series ↓

Recited as it sounds in the Qur'an, 14:8.

Heard together with: al-Ghaniyy al-Ḥamīd (35:15)

Start with what we know

Then take away everything it needs. What is left is not a bigger version of us. It is the Name.

Episode 1

In us

Reverse ladder: human praise is earned, given and withdrawn; reputations rise and fall.

But: Praise depends on an audience.

Episode 2

In nature

Dawn chorus: birds sing for territory and mates, not for us; notes songbird and human vocal learning share convergent brain pathways (Pfenning et al., Science 2014).

Episode 3

At our best

NASA sonification: pressure waves in hot gas around the Perseus cluster's black hole, 'some 57 octaves below middle C', scaled up 57–58 octaves to be heard (released 4 May 2022).

But: A sound no ear could hear until we translated it. Wonder only: we do not claim the cluster 'praises'.

Episode 4

The Break

Take away an audience, a reason earned, a change of opinion.

We are praised when people notice. al-Ḥamīd is praiseworthy if no one notices.

Read: 35:15; 14:8 Moses (peace be upon him): (Q 14:8).

From the tradition: Al-Fātiḥa opens 'al-ḥamdu lillāh'. Ghazālī: al-Ḥamīd is the One praised, by His own praise of Himself from eternity and by His servants' praise for ever. Root shared with Muḥammad and Aḥmad.

On screen

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Where it shows up

In scripture: Q 17:44; 35:15; 14:8; 31:26; Ps 145:3; Ps 148:3.
The same thread in Jewish and Christian scripture: Psalm 145:3 'Great is GOD and much acclaimed'; Psalm 148:3 'Give praise, sun and moon'. Moderate.
In the universe: NASA Perseus black-hole sonification (2022).
In nature: Birdsong: BBC Earth lyrebird clip (Attenborough).
In people: Every faith's daily praise: al-ḥamdu lillāh; Baruch atah; Gloria.
In science: Acoustics: sound needs a medium; space is not silent where gas exists (NASA).

Living it

Gratitude (al-ḥamdu lillāh) in good and hard times.

Its kind

Beyond: majesty: what He is not, and how far beyond.

In the Qur'an: 2:267; 14:1; 31:12

Sources for this page

science.nasa.gov/learners/highlights/data-sonifications