Duas Before and After Eating and Drinking: Words, Meanings and Sources

The essential mealtime supplications are short: Allah’s name before eating, a phrase for when you forget, and praise when you finish. The table lists them with their sources and the grading displayed on Sunnah.com; reports in Sahih al-Bukhari and Sahih Muslim carry no separate grade there. The Arabic of each is on the linked source page.

Sources: [1] [4] [6] [8] [11] [12]

The dua before eating is simply Bismillah. Umar ibn Abi Salamah, who grew up in the Prophet’s care, recalled that his hand used to wander around the dish, so the Prophet told him: mention Allah’s name, eat with your right hand and eat from what is nearest to you (Sahih al-Bukhari 5376). He said he kept to those instructions from then on.

Sahih Muslim 2018a gives a reason to remember Allah at meals: when a person mentions Allah on entering the home and on eating, Satan says there is no lodging and no supper for them there. Sahih Muslim 2020a instructs eating and drinking with the right hand, since Satan eats and drinks with his left.

• Bismillah — In the name of Allah (Sahih al-Bukhari 5376).
• Eat with your right hand and from what is in front of you (Sahih al-Bukhari 5376; Sahih Muslim 2020a).

Sources: [1] [2] [3]

If you forget Allah’s name at the start of a meal, say it when you remember, using the wording the Prophet taught for that case. Aishah reported it, and it appears in two collections with slightly different wording. Sunnah.com shows Sunan Abi Dawud 3767 as Sahih, attributed to al-Albani, and Jami at-Tirmidhi 1858 as Sahih, attributed to Darussalam.

• Bismillahi awwalahu wa akhirah — In the name of Allah at its beginning and its end (Sunan Abi Dawud 3767).
• Bismillahi fi awwalihi wa akhirih — In the name of Allah in its beginning and its end (Jami at-Tirmidhi 1858).

Sources: [4] [5]

Sahih al-Bukhari records the Prophet’s own words when his meal was cleared away. Translators render the closing phrases differently; the translation on the page for 5459 speaks of a favour that cannot be compensated, left or dispensed with. Sahih Muslim 2734a adds that Allah is pleased with the servant who eats or drinks and praises Him for it.

A shorter praise comes through Mu’adh ibn Anas. Jami at-Tirmidhi 3458 is shown as Hasan (Darussalam) and mentions forgiveness of past sins. Sunan Abi Dawud 4023 has a similar wording with an addition; its grading line, attributed to al-Albani, reads in Arabic hasan without the extra words ‘and what came later’. Treat the forgiveness wording with that care.

• Alhamdu lillahi kathiran tayyiban mubarakan fih, ghayra makfiyyin wa la muwadda'in wa la mustaghnan 'anhu, Rabbana. — Praise be to Allah, abundant, good and blessed praise, never enough, never abandoned and never done without, our Lord (Sahih al-Bukhari 5458).
• Alhamdu lillahil-ladhi kafana wa arwana — Praise be to Allah who has sufficed us and quenched our thirst; the opening of a variant (Sahih al-Bukhari 5459).
• Alhamdu lillahil-ladhi at'amani hadha wa razaqanihi min ghayri hawlin minni wa la quwwah. — Praise be to Allah who fed me this and provided it for me without any might or power on my part (Jami at-Tirmidhi 3458; Hasan, Darussalam).

Sources: [6] [7] [10] [8] [9]

When the Prophet stayed with the father of Abdullah ibn Busr, the family served him food, dates and a drink. The father then took hold of the rein of the Prophet’s mount and asked him to pray for them, and he made the supplication below (Sahih Muslim 2042a). It is a warm way to thank anyone who feeds you.

• Allahumma barik lahum fima razaqtahum, waghfir lahum warhamhum. — O Allah, bless them in what You have provided for them, and forgive them and have mercy on them (Sahih Muslim 2042a).
• Word guide: barik, bless; razaqtahum, You have provided for them; ighfir, forgive; irham, have mercy.

Sources: [11]

Ibn Umar reported that when the Prophet broke his fast he said the words below; Sunnah.com shows Sunan Abi Dawud 2357 as Hasan, attributed to al-Albani. They describe the relief that comes with iftar and express hope in Allah for the reward, conditioned with in sha Allah, if Allah wills.

Another well-known iftar phrase, Allahumma laka sumtu wa 'ala rizqika aftartu, ‘O Allah, for You I fasted and with Your provision I broke my fast’, appears in Sunan Abi Dawud 2358, which Sunnah.com shows as Da'if, attributed to al-Albani. Knowing the gradings helps you choose which wording to learn first.

• Dhahabaz-zama'u wabtallatil-'uruqu wa thabatal-ajru in sha Allah. — Thirst has gone, the veins are moistened, and the reward is confirmed, if Allah wills (Sunan Abi Dawud 2357; Hasan, al-Albani).
• Word guide: dhahaba, has gone; az-zama', thirst; ibtallat, are moistened; al-'uruq, the veins; thabata, is confirmed; al-ajr, the reward.

Sources: [12] [13]

The reports describe drinking with the right hand, pausing to breathe outside the cup rather than into it, and drinking in three breaths. In Sahih Muslim 2028b Anas reported that the Prophet breathed three times while drinking and said it is more thirst-quenching, healthier and more wholesome; the chapter heading on Sunnah.com places the breaths outside the vessel.

• Drink with your right hand (Sahih Muslim 2020a).
• Do not breathe into the vessel (Sahih al-Bukhari 5630).
• Drink in three breaths, taking them outside the vessel (Sahih Muslim 2028b).
• Say Alhamdu lillah after drinking (Sahih Muslim 2734a).

Sources: [3] [15] [14] [10]

Abu Hurairah reported that the Prophet never criticised any food: if he liked it he ate it, and if he disliked it he left it (Sahih al-Bukhari 5409). The habit protects the feelings of whoever prepared the meal and keeps the tongue from ingratitude.

The Quran joins eating with gratitude and moderation. Quran 2:172 tells believers to eat of the good things provided and give thanks to Allah, Quran 7:31 says to eat and drink without excess, and Quran 20:81, addressed in context to the Children of Israel, warns against transgressing in what Allah provides.

Sources: [16] [17] [18] [19]

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