SUPPLICATIONS FOR BEFORE AND AFTER EATING
Saying "Bismillah" at the start of a meal, or — if forgotten — saying "Bismillahi fi awwalihi wa akhirihi" as soon as one remembers, is a practice reported from the Prophet. After finishing the meal, a short or longer supplication of thanks may be recited. Al-Nahl 16:114 summarizes the general principle behind these recitations: eating from what God has provided as lawful and good, and being grateful for that provision. The supplications on this page are a sourced reading guide, not a list of obligations.
Duas and Verses
The Verse on Provision and Gratitude
فَكُلُوا۟ مِمَّا رَزَقَكُمُ ٱللَّهُ حَلَٰلًۭا طَيِّبًۭا وَٱشْكُرُوا۟ نِعْمَتَ ٱللَّهِ إِن كُنتُمْ إِيَّاهُ تَعْبُدُونَ
Fe kulû mimmâ razaqakumullâhu halâlen tayyiben veşkurû ni'metallâhi in küntüm iyyâhü ta'büdûn.
So eat of what God has provided you as lawful and good, and be grateful for the favor of God, if it is Him alone you worship.
The general principle behind meal-time supplications — lawful, good provision, met with gratitude.
At the Start of a Meal
بِسْمِ اللَّهِ
Bismillâh.
In the name of God.
Said at the start of a meal. According to the report, if forgotten at the start, one may say upon remembering: "Bismillahi fi awwalihi wa akhirihi" (in the name of God, at its beginning and its end).
Supplication After Eating (Short Form)
الْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ الَّذِي أَطْعَمَنِي هَذَا وَرَزَقَنِيهِ مِنْ غَيْرِ حَوْلٍ مِنِّي وَلَا قُوَّةٍ
Elhamdülillâhillezî et'amenî hâzâ ve razakanîhi min ğayri havlin minnî ve lâ kuvveh.
Praise be to God, who fed me this and provided it for me without any might or power on my part.
Can be recited right after finishing a meal. According to the report, it is stated that whoever recites this supplication will have their past sins forgiven — this is a stated hadith formula of glad tidings, and should not be presented as an absolute religious guarantee.
Supplication After Eating (Longer Form)
الْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ حَمْدًا كَثِيرًا طَيِّبًا مُبَارَكًا فِيهِ غَيْرَ مَكْفِيٍّ وَلَا مُوَدَّعٍ وَلَا مُسْتَغْنًى عَنْهُ رَبَّنَا
Elhamdülillâhi hamden kesîran tayyiben mübâraken fîhi ğayra mekfiyyin ve lâ müveddaın ve lâ müstağnen anhü Rabbenâ.
O our Lord, to You be praise — abundant, good, and blessed praise, that is not to be left off, forsaken, or considered unnecessary.
It is reported to have been recited once the meal was entirely cleared away. Presented here as a separate report found in the sources, not as a replacement for the short form.
Frequently Asked Questions
What should I do if I forget to say Bismillah at the start of a meal?
According to the report, you may say "Bismillahi fi awwalihi wa akhirihi" (in the name of God, at its beginning and its end) as soon as you remember. Forgetting is not a sin.
Is it obligatory to recite a supplication after eating?
No. The reported supplications relate to sunnah and etiquette; not reciting them does not affect the validity of the meal or one's worship.
Which of the short and long after-meal supplications should be recited?
Both are found in separate reports, each with its own source; neither replaces the other. One may recite whichever is easier or already memorized.
Sources
- Tanzil Project — Uthmani Mushaf
- QuranEnc — English Translation
- Sahih al-Bukhari, Et'ime 54
- Ebû Dâvûd, Et'ime 15, 53; Tirmizî, Et'ime 47, Deavât 55