Il-hamdullillah. My Arab friends use this phrase in nearly all of their daily interactions. It means “praise God” in Arabic and is the standard response to the question, “How are you?”
I learned to say the phrase on my first day of language class. But it wasn’t until much later that I began to understand more deeply all that is being said with il-hamdullillah.
When Arab Muslims are asked how they are doing, the only appropriate reply is one that above all reveres God. Sometimes this mirrors what we might say in English, as in, “My daughter has been sick, but today she is feeling better, praise God.”
It wasn’t until much later that I began to understand more deeply all that is being said with il-hamdullillah.
Sometimes the effect is more jarring: “I got laid off at work yesterday, praise God.”
This second example feels foreign in my native tongue. I have said things like, “This has been a hard season for our family, but I know God is in control.”
But before living in the Arab world, I would have never added “praise God” to the end of that.
Sometimes this mirrors what we might say in English… Sometimes the effect is more jarring.
I know God is to be worshiped. But usually I pad my praise with supporting evidence, listing ways that God has “come through” for me.
As believers, however, we are charged with praising God in all circumstances.
Until moving to the field, I was not in the practice of saying in the same breath “praise God” and “I am struggling”—without qualifications and without supporting evidence of His goodness. It wasn’t my habit to extol God’s name just because I am to praise Him in all circumstances.
Usually I pad my praise with supporting evidence, listing ways that God has “come through” for me.”
But the Lord is worthy of my worship, and I’m learning to praise Him in all things.
After getting sick with COVID-19 last year, I am still experiencing debilitating fatigue—praise God.
All three of our school-aged daughters have incredible teachers this year—praise God.
Our host country’s border re-openings have again been postponed, further delaying travel plans—praise God.
Despite the weirdness of life these days, we have been able to connect with a local Muslim families—praise God.
Due to the isolating effects of the pandemic, our daughters have struggled with loneliness and disappointment—praise God.
In all circumstances, may we “rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks” to Him who is worthy (1 Thessalonians 5:16–18).
- Give thanks to God who is worthy of our worship no matter what circumstances you face!
- Ask the Lord to encourage Frontiers field workers today with His reminders of His faithful, loving presence.
- Pray that God will bless workers with opportunities to share the unfading hope of the Gospel in their daily interactions with Muslims.
This account comes from a long-term worker.