The Meal Dua — What to Say Before and After Eating
Quick Answer
Before eating, one says 'Bismillah' (in the name of Allah); if forgotten, upon remembering one says 'Bismillahi awwalahu wa akhirahu'. After eating, one says 'Alhamdulillahi'lladhi at'amana wa saqana wa ja'alana muslimin' (Praise be to Allah who fed us, gave us drink, and made us Muslims). These are among the Prophet's (peace be upon him) daily practices.
Why the Meal Dua Is a Sunnah
Eating is one of the most fundamental blessings Allah has given us. To express gratitude and invite blessing, the Prophet (peace be upon him) consistently made it a sunnah to recite a dua before and after eating. Someone who does this regularly:
- has their provision blessed
- keeps Satan from sharing in their meal
- deepens their appreciation for the blessing
- builds a daily habit of conscious gratitude
The Dua Before Eating
Short (the most common) — a sunnah
Arabic:
بِسْمِ اللَّهِ Bismillah
Meaning: "In the name of Allah"
If You Forget the Basmalah
If you forget to say the basmalah before starting to eat, say the following as soon as you remember:
Transliteration:
Bismillahi awwalahu wa akhirahu
Meaning: "In the name of Allah, at its beginning and at its end"
Hadith:
"When one of you eats, let him mention the name of Allah. If he forgets to mention the name of Allah at the beginning, let him say, 'Bismillahi awwalahu wa akhirahu.'" — Tirmidhi, At'imah, 47
A Fuller Dua Before Eating
Transliteration:
Allahumma barik lana fima razaqtana wa qina 'adhaba'n-nar. Bismillah.
Meaning: "O Allah, bless what You have provided for us, and protect us from the punishment of the Fire. In the name of Allah."
The Dua After Eating
The Full Form (a sunnah)
Transliteration:
Alhamdulillahi'lladhi at'amana wa saqana wa ja'alana muslimin. Alhamdulillahi hamdan kathiran tayyiban mubarakan fih, ghayra makfiyyin wa la muwadda'in wa la mustaghnan 'anhu Rabbana.
Meaning:
"Praise be to Allah who fed us, gave us drink, and made us Muslims. Abundant, pure and blessed praise, O our Lord — praise that is never insufficient, never bid farewell, and never dispensed with."
The Short Form
Simply saying "Alhamdulillah" (praise belongs to Allah) also fulfils the sunnah.
After Eating as a Guest
When you eat at someone else's home, it is a sunnah to respond to your host with a dua:
Arabic:
Allahumma at'im man at'amani, wasqi man saqani.
Meaning: "O Allah, feed the one who fed me, and give drink to the one who gave me drink." (In other words: bless the provision of the person who showed me kindness.)
The Etiquette of Eating (Sunnah Practices)
Sunnah etiquette that accompanies the meal dua:
- Washing the hands (before and after eating)
- Eating with the right hand
- Eating from what is directly in front of you (from your own side of the plate)
- Eating with three fingers (a sunnah)
- Picking up anything that falls (avoiding waste)
- Rising before feeling completely full (filling the stomach to about a third)
- Washing the hands and mouth once finished
The Iftar (Fast-Breaking) Dua
The dua recited at iftar during Ramadan is different:
Transliteration:
Allahumma laka sumtu wa 'ala rizqika aftartu wa bika amantu wa 'alayka tawakkaltu.
Meaning:
"O Allah, I fasted for You, and with Your provision I break my fast. I believe in You, and I place my trust in You."
The Suhoor Dua
Once the pre-dawn meal (suhoor) is finished:
Arabic:
Ya wasi'a'l-maghfirati'ghfir li.
Meaning: "O You whose forgiveness is vast, forgive me."
Frequently Asked Questions
Isn't just the basmalah enough before eating?
Yes, it is enough. Saying "Bismillah" fulfils the sunnah. Longer duas are recommended (mustahabb) but not required.
How should the meal dua be taught to children?
Start by teaching "Bismillah" (before eating) and "Alhamdulillah" (after eating). These words become second nature. You can then gradually teach the meanings and the longer duas.
Should you recite the dua even while eating standing up?
Yes, your posture does not affect the dua. Even standing, saying "Bismillah" beforehand and "Alhamdulillah" afterwards fulfils the sunnah. That said, eating while seated is itself more in keeping with the sunnah.
Is it embarrassing to recite the dua at a restaurant or in a crowded setting?
No — in fact it is a sunnah. You can also recite it silently in your heart; a dua does not need to be spoken aloud. Reciting it mentally, without moving your lips, is equally valid.
The Meal Dua in the Nurlu App
When you enable the meal dua reminder feature in the Nurlu app:
- receive dua reminders at breakfast, lunch and dinner times
- see the Arabic and English text
- choose an audio recitation option
- have the iftar/suhoor dua activate automatically during Ramadan
all free of charge.
Frequently Asked Questions
What dua is recited before eating?
Simply saying 'Bismillah' (in the name of Allah) before eating is a sunnah. The Prophet (peace be upon him) said, 'When one of you eats, let him mention the name of Allah.' A longer dua is not required.
What is the dua recited after eating?
The most commonly recited dua after eating is: 'Alhamdulillahi'lladhi at'amana wa saqana wa ja'alana muslimin' (Praise be to Allah who fed us, gave us drink, and made us Muslims). Simply saying 'Alhamdulillah' is also sufficient.
What should I do if I forget to say the basmalah before starting to eat?
As soon as you remember, it is a sunnah to say 'Bismillahi awwalahu wa akhirahu' (In the name of Allah, at its beginning and at its end). This way, Satan does not get a share of that meal.
Is it enough to say the meal dua in your own language?
Yes. Arabic is not required for the meal dua. Saying 'in the name of Allah' in your own language also serves in place of the basmalah. What matters most is expressing gratitude for the provision.
Are the iftar dua and the meal dua the same thing?
No, they are different. The iftar (fast-breaking) dua is specific to Ramadan: 'Allahumma laka sumtu wa 'ala rizqika aftartu...' The meal dua, by contrast, is a general dua that can be recited at any meal.
Get daily dua reminders with Nurlu
Morning, evening and situational dua reminders — in the app.