The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) taught us many valuable etiquettes to follow in our daily lives. These include duas for various occasions, such as entering and leaving the house, before sleeping and after eating food.
Here is the dua to recite after finishing a meal. Reciting this dua after eating expresses our gratitude to Allah for providing us with food and drink as well as sustaining us and giving us life.
1. Dua After Eating in Arabic
Narrated Abu Umama: Whenever the dining sheet of the Prophet (ﷺ) was taken away (i.e., whenever he finished his meal), he used to say:
الْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ كَثِيرًا طَيِّبًا مُبَارَكًا فِيهِ، غَيْرَ مَكْفِيٍّ، وَلاَ مُوَدَّعٍ وَلاَ مُسْتَغْنًى عَنْهُ، رَبَّنَا
Dua After Eating Transliteration
Al-hamdu li l-lah kathiran taiyiban mubarakan fihi ghaira makfiy wala muWada` wala mustaghna’anhu Rabbana.
Dua After Eating in English
Praise be to Allah, much good and blessed praise. O our Lord, You are not in need of anyone, and we cannot do without Your favour nor dispense with it.
Sahih al-Bukhari 5458
2. Dua
الْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ الَّذِي أَطْعَمَنِي هَذَا وَرَزَقَنِيهِ مِنْ غَيْرِ حَوْلٍ مِنِّي وَلاَ قُوَّةٍ
Transliteration: Al-hamdu Lillahi alladhi at’amani hadha wa razaqnihi min ghayri hawlin minni wa la quwwah.
Meaning: Praise be to Allah Who has fed me this and provided me with it with no power or strength on my part.
Dua After Eating Hadith
Mu’adh ibn Anas narrated that his father said: The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said: “Whoever eats some food then says,
‘Al-hamdu Lillahi alladhi at’amani hadha wa razaqnihi min ghayri hawlin minni wa la quwwah (Praise be to Allah Who has fed me this and provided me with it with no power or strength on my part),’ his previous sins will be forgiven.”.
(Narrated by al-Tirmidhi, 3458)
3. Dua
Abu Ayyub al-Ansari (may Allah be pleased with him) said: “When the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) ate or drank anything, he would say,
الْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ الَّذِي أَطْعَمَ وَسَقَى وَسَوَّغَهُ وَجَعَلَ لَهُ مَخْرَجًا
Transliteration: Al-hamdu Lillah alladhi at’ama wa saqa wa sawwaghahu wa ja’ala lahu makhrajan.
Meaning: Praise be to Allah Who has given food and drink,made it easy to swallow and provided an exit for it.
(Narrated by Abu Dawud, 3851).
READ ALSO: 11 Dua After Attahiyat And Durood (Tashhahud) in Arabic & English
4. Dua
Abd al-Rahman ibn Jubayr narrated that a man who served the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) for eight years told him that he used to hear the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) saying, when food was brought near him, “Bismillah .”
And when he had finished eating he would say,
اللهُمَّ أَطْعَمْتَ وَأَسْقَيْتَ، وَأَغْنَيْتَ وَأَقْنَيْتَ، وَهَدَيْتَ وَأَحْيَيْتَ، فَلَكَ الْحَمْدُ عَلَى مَا أَعْطَيْتَ
Transliteration: Allahumma at’amta wa asqayta wa hadayta wa ahyayta, fa laka’l-hamd ‘ala ma a’tayta.
Meaning: O Allah, You have fed, given to drink, guided and brought to life, so praise be to You for what You have given.
(Narrated by Ahmad, 16159p)
5. Dua
Ibn ‘Abbas (may Allah be pleased with him) narrated that the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said: “Whoever is fed by Allah, let him say,
اللَّهُمَّ بَارِكْ لَنَا فِيهِ وَأَطْعِمْنَا خَيْرًا مِنْهُ
Transliteration: Allahumma barik lana fihi, wa at’imna khayran minhu.
Meaning: O Allah, bless it for us and feed us with better than it.
(Narrated by al-Tirmidhi, 3455)
Note: it is mustahabb to use all the words of praise that have been narrated to be said after finishing eating. So you can say one du’aa’ on one occasion, another du’a on another occasion, and so on, so that you will have followed the Sunnah in all ways and attain the blessing of these du’as, as well as feeling the meanings of these words in your heart when you say them on various occasions, because if you get used to saying a particular du’aa’ all the time, you think less about its meaning, because you have said it so often.
Good Manners Before Eating
- Wash Your Hands: Before eating, wash your hands to keep them clean and avoid any potential harm from dirt or germs.
- Ask About the Food (if needed): If you’re a guest and unsure about the food, ask your host about it. This shows respect and helps you make informed choices.
- Be Quick to Eat: When your host offers you food, be quick to accept and start eating. This shows appreciation for their hospitality and helps put them at ease.
- Say “Bismillah” (In the Name of Allah): Before starting to eat, say “Bismillah” to mention Allah’s name and show gratitude. If you forget, you can say “Bismillahi awwalahu wa akhirahu” (In the name of Allah at the beginning and at the end).
Good Manners While Eating
- Eat with Your Right Hand: Always eat with your right hand, unless you have a valid excuse like an injury or illness.
- Eat from Your Share: Take food from what’s directly in front of you, not from someone else’s portion or the middle of the platter.
- Wash Your Hands After Eating: Rinse your hands with water after eating, even if you already have wudu (ablution).
- Rinse Your Mouth: Rinse your mouth after eating to freshen up.
- Use Three Fingers: When eating with your hand, use three fingers. You can use utensils like a spoon if you prefer.
- Don’t Waste Food: If food falls on the floor, remove any dirt and eat it. Don’t leave it behind, as you never know where the blessing is in your meal.
- Avoid Spitting or Blowing Your Nose: Refrain from spitting or blowing your nose while eating, unless absolutely necessary.