Eating is an essential part of our life. We need enough nutrients to live and for our development and growth. Islam is so holistic that it also addresses matters pertaining to the kinds of food we eat, healthy dietary tips and even how we should eat, as mentioned in the prophetic tradition. In this article we will show you dua for eating , dua before eating , dua after eating , and hadith about eating.

dua for eating

One of the most widely known etiquettes of eating which is taught by our Prophet s.a.w. is to recite the dua before and after eating. Here are some prayers to consider:

dua for eating
dua for eating

Dua before eating

When anyone of you begins eating, say

بِسْمِ الله

Bismillaah.

In the Name of Allah.

And if you forget then, when you remember, say

بِسْمِ اللهِ في أَوَّلِهِ وَآخِـرِه

Bismillaahifee ‘awwalihi wa ‘aakhirihi.

In the Name of Allah, in the beginning and in the end.

Dua after eating

الْحَمْـدُ للهِ الَّذي أَطْعَمَنـي هـذا وَرَزَقَنـيهِ مِنْ غَـيْرِ حَوْلٍ مِنِّي وَلا قُوَّة

Alhamdu lillaahil-lathee ‘at’amanee haathaa, wa razaqaneehi, min ghayri hawlin minnee wa laa quwwatin.

dua before eating

dua before eating
dua before eating

Another Dua that is often recited by many of us is the invocation narrated by Imam Malik that traces back to the Tabi’in (figures that met the companions of the Prophet s.a.w) Urwah Ibn Az-Zubayr:

اللَّهُمَّ بَارِكْ لَنَا فِيمَا رَزَقْتَنَا وَقِنَا عَذَابَ النَّارِ

Allahumma barik lana fima razaqtana waqina azaban-nar

“O Allah! Bless us in what You have provided us with and protect us from the punishment of the Fire.”

(Muwatta’ Malik)

We can also learn from a hadith narrated by Imam At-Tirmizi, that the Prophet s.a.w. taught Ibn Abbas and Khalid Al-Walid a Dua when eating:

 اللَّهُمَّ بَارِكْ لَنَا فِيهِ وَأَطْعِمْنَا خَيْرًا مِنْهُ

“O Allah! Bless it for us and provide us with that which is even better”

(Sunan At-Tirmizi)

dua after eating

Among the practices of the Prophet s.a.w. is praising Allah s.w.t. for the food after eating. The Messenger of Allah s.a.w. said,

“He who has taken food and says at the end: (All praise is due to Allah Who has given me food to eat and provided it without any endeavour on my part or any power), all his past sins will be forgiven.”

اَلْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ الَّذِي أَطْعَمَنِي هَذَا، وَرَزَقَنِيهِ مِنْ غَيْرِ حَوْلٍ مِنِّي وَلَا قُوَّةٍ

Al-hamdu lillahi-llazi at’amani haza, wa razaqaniihi min ghairi haulin minni wa la quwwah

“All praise is due to Allah Who has given me food to eat and provided it without any endeavour on my part or any power.”

(Sunan At-Tirmizi)

In another narration, the Prophet s.a.w. Also taught us the following Dua:

الْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ الَّذِي أَطْعَمَنَا وَسَقَانَا وَجَعَلَنَا مُسْلِمِينَ

Alhamdu-lillahil-lazi at’amana wa saqana wa ja’alana muslimin

“All praise is due to Allah Who have given us food and drinks and ordained us as Muslims”

(Sunan At-Tirmizi)

The Prophet s.a.w. is also narrated to have recited the following Dua after his meal:

الْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ حَمْدًا كَثِيرًا طَيِّبًا مُبَارَكًا فِيهِ غَيْرَ مُوَدَّعٍ وَلاَ مُسْتَغْنًى عَنْهُ رَبُّنَا

ِAlhamdulillahi hamdan kathiran tayyiban mubarakan fihi, ghaira muwadda’in wa-la mustaghnan ‘anhu Rabbuna

“All praise is due to Allah – an abundant, pure and blessed praise; a praise that can neither be forsaken nor dispensed with, our Lord”

(Sunan At-Tirmizi)

hadith about eating

hadith about eating
hadith about eating

Filling The Stomach with Food, Drink and Air Accordingly

Al-Miqdam Ibn Ma’d r.a. reported that the Prophet s.a.w. said:

“The son of Adam cannot fill a vessel worse than his stomach, as it is enough for him to take a few bites to straighten his back. If he cannot do it, then he may fill it with a third of his food, a third of his drink, and a third of his breath.’”

(Sunan Ibn Majah)

Do not criticise food

Abu Hurairah r.a. reported:

“The Messenger of Allah s.a.w. would never complain about food. If he liked something, he would eat it. If he disliked it, he would leave it.”

(Muttafaq ‘Alaih)

Eat with the right hand and that which is nearer to us

Narrated by Umar Ibn Abi Salama r.a:

I was a boy under the care of Rasulullah s.a.w, and my hand used to reach out to all around the platter while I was eating. So Rasulullah s.a.w. said to me,”O boy! Mention the Name of Allah and eat with your right hand, and eat the (part of the) dish that is nearer to you.” Since then I have applied those instructions when eating.

(Sahih Al-Bukhari)