Dua Upon Completing the Meal


The dua upon completing the meal was taught to us by Prophet Muhammad (ï·º). It is sourced from some of the most authentic collections of hadith today, among them being Hisnul 180 [At-Tirmizi, Abu Dawud, Ibn Majah]. Eating is one of the most basic needs of a human. As Muslims, we have been taught the correct manners and spiritually beneficial ways of consuming food. The source of our meals, the types of food, the way we eat it, and the duas recited with it are all important parts of a Muslim’s dietary intake. This is why the dua upon completing the meal is also cited in other authentic collections, including Al-Bukhari [6/214] and At-Tirmizi [5/507]. We do not eat just to nourish our bodies and fill our stomachs but also to gain strength for ibadah.

Hisnul Muslim

Upon completing the meal

Food & Drink Duas

1
الْحَمْدُ للَّهِ الَّذِي أَطْعَمَنِي هَذَا، وَرَزَقَنِيهِ، مِنْ غَيْرِ حَوْلٍ مِنِّي وَلَا قُوَّةٍ

Alhamdu lillaahil-lathee 'at'amanee haathaa, wa razaqaneehi, min ghayri hawlin minnee wa laa quwwatin.

Praise is to Allah Who has given me this food and sustained me with it though I was unable to do it and powerless.

[Hisnul 180] [At-Tirmizi, Abu Dawud, Ibn Majah.]

2
الْحَمْدُ للَّهِ حَمْداً كَثِيراً طَيِّباً مُبارَكاً فِيهِ، غَيْرَ مَكْفِيٍّ وَلِا مُوَدَّعٍ، وَلَا مُسْتَغْنىً عَنْهُ رَبَّنَا

Alhamdu lillaahi hamdan katheeran tayyiban mubaarakan feehi, ghayra makfiyyin wa laa muwadda'in, wa laa mustaghnan 'anhu Rabbanaa.

All praise is to Allah, praise in abundance, good and blessed. It cannot (be compensated for, nor can it) be left, nor can it be done without, our Lord.

[Hisnul 181] [Al-Bukhari 6/214, At-Tirmizi 5/507.]

Benefits of Reciting the Dua Upon Completing the Meal


When Allah (سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَى) mentioned eating in Surah An-Nahl (16:114), He also mentioned being grateful for His favor. This way, Allah (سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَى) guides us that even our dietary habits should revolve around the lessons in the Quran and Hadith. Among these is the dua recited upon completing a meal. Just a few of these benefits include: 
 

  • Gaining more barakah in our meal
  • Past sins are forgiven
  • The reward of following a Sunnah
  • The Shayateen stay away from our food
     

Etiquette of Reciting the Dua Upon Completing the Meal


Making dua after eating should be a mandatory part of our routine. This should include: 
 

  • Learning the correct dua with the right pronunciation
  • Knowing the meaning of the dua 
  • Feeling gratefulness to Allah (سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَى) in our heart 
     

Etiquettes of Eating


There are certain Islamic guidelines to keep in mind for eating. We should follow them to achieve the maximum spiritual and physical benefits of our food. Here are some of the most important eating manners taught by Allah (سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَى) and the Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ):
 

  • Reciting dua before and after eating
  • Washing hands before and after eating
  • Eat with the right hand
  • Not overeating
  • Eating with family, friends, or some other group instead of individually
  • Eat from the nearest side
  • Eating from the corners or sides of a dish instead of the middle
     

FAQs:

We should clean the dish, lick our fingers, recite the dua for after meals, and wash our hands.
According to a Hadith sourced from Muslim in Riyadh-us-Saliheen[749], the (ï·º) commanded the licking of fingers and cleaning the dish. The reason for these actions is that we do not know which part of the food holds the most blessings/barakah.