Dua before eating (Bismillah)

Umar bin Abi Salamah, may God be pleased with them both, the son of the wife of the Prophet, may God bless him and grant him peace, Umm Salamah, wife Umm Salamah (may Allah be pleased with her) - and he was under his upbringing and care - narrates that while eating, he used to move his hand all over the platter to pick up food, so the Prophet, (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him), taught him three etiquettes of Eating etiquette:

First: Saying 'bismillāh' (in the name of Allah) when beginning to eat.

Second: Eating with the right hand.

Third: Eating from the side next to one.

Benefits

• One of the etiquettes of eating and drinking is to begin with mentioning the name of Allah.
• Teaching children the proper etiquettes, especially those under one’s care.
• It shows the Prophet's leniency and patience in teaching and educating children.
• One of the etiquettes of eating is that one eats from the nearest side, except if there are various items of food, in which case a person can eat from that place.
• The Companions (may Allah be pleased with them) would comply with the Prophet's teachings, as indicated by 'Umar's statement: Since then, I have been eating that way.

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Some of the Companions asked the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him), saying: We eat, but we do not get satiated.

Thereupon, the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) said to them: Perhaps you eat separately, and each of you eats alone. They said: Yes. He said: Gather together and do not eat separately, and mention the name of Allah when eating by saying: Bismillāh—it will be blessed for you, and you will feel satisfied.

Benefits

• Gathering for food and saying the name of Allah before eating are means of bringing blessings to the food and feeling satisfied with it.
• Division is entirely evil, and unity is entirely good.
• Encouragement to eat together and to mention Allah's name before eating food.
• As-Sindi said: Through gathering (to eat), blessings descend upon the food provisions; and by mentioning the name of Allah Almighty, the devil is prevented from reaching the food.

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Hudhayfah (may Allah be pleased with him) reported that whenever they were present with the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) at a meal, they would not stretch their hands to the food until the Messenger of Allah (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) began and placed his hand first. He said: On one occasion, we were with him at a meal when a young girl came rushing as though she were being pushed, and she went to place her hand in the food. The Messenger of Allah (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) took hold of her hand. Then a Bedouin came as if he too were being pushed, and he (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) took hold of his hand before it touched the food. Then the Messenger of Allah (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) said: Indeed, the devil can eat food when a person begins eating without mentioning Allah's name. He brought this girl to make the food permissible (for himself) through her, so I caught her hand. Then he brought this Bedouin to make it permissible through him, so I caught his hand. By the One in Whose Hand my soul is, the devil's hand is in my hand together with hers. Then he mentioned Allah's name and ate.

Benefits

• The Companions' respect for the Messenger of Allah (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) and their politeness with him.
• Among the etiquettes of eating is that the younger should wait until the elder or more virtuous person begins to eat.
• The devil incites the heedless to acts he approves of, thereby achieving his aim, as seen in this Hadīth.
• An-Nawawi said: The scholars said: It is recommended to say 'Bismillāh' (in the Name of Allah) aloud so that others may hear it and be reminded of it.
• If someone came to eat and you did not hear him mention Allah's name, you can hold his hand until he mentions Allah's name.
• The obligation to change evil through knowledge for the learned, and through physical intervention for those capable.
• This Hadīth is among the signs of prophethood of the Messenger of Allah (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him), as Allah Almighty informed him of what happened in this story.
• The devil cannot partake of the food of the believers unless the name of Allah is not mentioned over it.
• It is recommended to teach people the etiquette of eating and drinking in Islam.
• It is recommended to swear an oath (by Allah) to emphasize a matter to the listener.
• An-Nawawi said: Mentioning Allah's name when drinking water, milk, honey, broth, medicine, and all other beverages, just as mentioning Allah's name when eating food.
• An-Nawawi said: If one intentionally, forgetfully, ignorantly, under compulsion, or due to some other impediment fails to mention Allah's name at the beginning of the meal but is later able to do so during eating, it is recommended to say: Bismillāhi awwaluhu wa ākhiruh (In the Name of Allah at its beginning and its end). This is based on the Prophet's saying: "When any of you eats, let him mention Allah's name. If he forgets to mention Allah's name at the beginning, let him say: In the Name of Allah at its beginning and end." [Narrated by Abu Dāwūd and At-Tirmidhi]

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The Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) was eating with six of his Companions. Meanwhile, a Bedouin entered and ate with them. He ate the rest of the food in two morsels. Thereupon, the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) said: “If only he had mentioned the name of Allah, it would have been enough for all of you.” However, this man did not mention the name of Allah and that is why he consumed the remaining food in just two morsels and did not get satisfied. This indicates that failure to mention the name of Allah before eating renders the food bereft of blessing.

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The Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) commands us to mention Allah upon entering the house and before eating. When one mentions Allah saying: "Bismillāh" (in the Name of Allah) upon entering his house and before eating, the devil says to his companions: You shall not have a night shelter or supper in this house whose owner has sought protection against you by mentioning Allah Almighty. However, if one enters his house without mentioning Allah upon entering and before eating, the devil informs his companions that they will have a night shelter and supper in this house.

Benefits

• It is recommended to mention Allah upon entering the house and before eating as the devil spends the night in the houses and eats from its dwellers' food if they do not mention the name of Allah Almighty.
• The devil is closely observing the son of Adam in his deeds, acts, and all his affairs. So, when one is heedless of Dhikr (remembrance of Allah), the devil achieves what he wants from him.
• Dhikr repels the devil.
• Every devil has followers and allies who rejoice at his words and follow his commands.

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