Du'a Before and After Eating
The Sunnah of eating is deliberately light: Allah's name at the start, praise at the end. The Prophet ﷺ taught a short correction for anyone who forgets mid-meal, and a du'a of thanks afterwards that names the food as provision no one earned by their own power.
Updated July 16, 2026
- Abu Dawud 3767
بِسْمِ اللَّهِ
Bismillah.
“In the name of Allah.”
Said before beginning to eat.
Source: Abu Dawud 3767
- Abu Dawud 3767
بِسْمِ اللَّهِ أَوَّلَهُ وَآخِرَهُ
Bismillahi awwalahu wa akhirah.
“In the name of Allah, at its beginning and at its end.”
Said by anyone who forgets to say Bismillah and remembers partway through the meal.
Source: Abu Dawud 3767
- Abu Dawud 4023
الْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ الَّذِي أَطْعَمَنِي هَذَا وَرَزَقَنِيهِ مِنْ غَيْرِ حَوْلٍ مِنِّي وَلَا قُوَّةٍ
Alhamdu lillahil-ladhi at'amani hadha wa razaqanihi min ghayri hawlin minni wa la quwwah.
“All praise is for Allah, who fed me this and provided it for me without any power or strength on my part.”
Said after finishing a meal.
Source: Abu Dawud 4023
Frequently asked questions
What du'a is said before eating?
'Bismillah' — 'in the name of Allah'. The Prophet ﷺ taught it as the opening of a meal (Abu Dawud 3767).
What if you forget to say Bismillah before eating?
Abu Dawud 3767 reports that whoever forgets should say, when he remembers, 'Bismillahi awwalahu wa akhirah' — 'in the name of Allah, at its beginning and its end'.
What du'a is said after eating?
'Alhamdu lillahil-ladhi at'amani hadha wa razaqanihi min ghayri hawlin minni wa la quwwah' — praise for Allah who fed and provided it without any power or strength on the eater's part (Abu Dawud 4023).
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