آدَابُ الطَّعَامِ

Before eating or drinking, we say: بِسْمِ اللَّهِ (bismi llaah): "In the name of Allah".

One day, a little boy, 'Umar ibn Abi Salama, was eating with the Prophet ﷺ and his hand was going all over the dish. The Prophet ﷺ told him gently: "Young boy, say bismillah, eat with your right hand, and eat from what is in front of you." (Bukhari 5376, Muslim 2022). Three good habits in one sentence!

And if you forget? If you realise in the middle of the meal that you did not say bismillah, you say: بِسْمِ اللَّهِ أَوَّلَهُ وَآخِرَهُ (bismi llaahi awwalahu wa aakhirah): "In the name of Allah, at the beginning and at the end." Source: Abu Dawud 3767, Tirmidhi 1858.

After the meal, we thank Allah: الْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ (al-ḥamdu lillaah): "Praise be to Allah". The Prophet ﷺ said that Allah is pleased with His servant who eats something and thanks Him for it, or drinks something and thanks Him for it (Muslim 2734).

For older children, a longer dua after the meal: الْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ الَّذِي أَطْعَمَنِي هٰذَا وَرَزَقَنِيهِ مِنْ غَيْرِ حَوْلٍ مِنِّي وَلَا قُوَّةٍ (al-ḥamdu lillaahi lladhii aṭ'amanii haadhaa wa razaqaniihi min ghayri ḥawlin minnii wa laa quwwa) "Praise be to Allah who fed me this and provided it for me, without any power or strength from me." Source: Abu Dawud 4023, Tirmidhi 3458.

The tip to remember it: "Bismillah at the start, alhamdulillah at the end." A meal is like a sandwich: Allah at the start, Allah at the end! You can also be the "bismillah keeper" at home and gently remind the whole family.

Understanding the lesson

Explanation Why say "bismillah" before eating? Because your food has travelled a long way before reaching your plate: the rain, the soil, the sun, the farmer, the shop, the person who cooked… And behind all of it, it is Allah who gives. When you say "bismillah", you remember this.

The Prophet's ﷺ three pieces of advice to little 'Umar are also good manners: say bismillah, eat with your right hand, and eat what is in front of you without reaching all over the dish. That way, everyone at the table feels comfortable.

Not wasting is part of saying thank you too. Allah says: "Eat and drink, but do not waste" (meaning of part of 7:31). We take what we can eat, and finish our plate when we can.

And after the meal, "al-hamdu lillah" closes the "sandwich": Allah at the beginning, Allah at the end.

Lessons to draw from it • I say bismillah before eating, and al-hamdu lillah afterwards. • I also thank the person who prepared the meal. • I don't waste: I take what I can eat. • I eat with good manners, so that everyone feels comfortable at the table.

Key points to remember • Before: بِسْمِ اللَّهِ; if I forget: بِسْمِ اللَّهِ أَوَّلَهُ وَآخِرَهُ; after: الْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ. • The three pieces of advice: bismillah, right hand, eat what is in front of you (Bukhari 5376, Muslim 2022).

The main message My food is a gift from Allah: I begin with His name, I don't waste, and I finish by thanking Him.