Fath al-Rabbani

Ibn Abaad says: Sayyiduna Ali bin Abi Talib (may Allah be pleased with him) said to me: O Ibn Abaad, do you know what is the right of food? I said: O Ibn Abi Talib! You tell me what its right is. He said: When you eat food, say: BISMILLAH, ALLAHUMMA BARIK LANA FIMA RAZAQTANA (In the name of Allah! O Allah! Bless for us what You have provided for us). Then Sayyiduna Ali (may Allah be pleased with him) said: Well, do you know what to say when you finish eating so that its gratitude is fulfilled? I said: What should be said for its gratitude? He said: You should say: ALHAMDULILLAHILLADHI AT'AMANA WASAQANA. (All praise is for Allah who fed us and gave us drink.)

Abdur Rahman bin Jubair narrates: The man who served the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) for eight or nine years told me that he heard from the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) that when food was presented before him, he would recite "Bismillah" and when he finished eating, he would recite this supplication: "O Allah! You fed, You gave drink, You enriched, You satisfied, You guided, and You gave life. So all praise is for You for what You have given."

Sayyiduna Hudhayfah (may Allah be pleased with him) narrates that we were present with the Noble Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) at a meal. It was our habit that we would not extend our hands towards the food until the Noble Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) had started eating first. We were sharing a meal with him when a girl came running quickly and was about to put her hand into the food, but the Noble Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) caught her hand. Then a Bedouin came, and he too was about to hastily put his hand into the food, but the Noble Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) caught his hand as well. Then he (peace and blessings be upon him) said: When “Bismillah” is not recited over the food, Satan also eats that food. This girl came so that she could create an opportunity for Satan to eat, but I caught her hand. And this Bedouin also came so that he could become a cause for Satan to eat, but I caught his hand as well. By the One in Whose hand is my soul! Along with the hands of these two, Satan’s hand was also in my hand.

Sayyiduna Jabir bin Abdullah (may Allah be pleased with them both) narrates that the Companions would not begin eating until the Noble Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) started eating.

Jabir bin Subh says: Mathna bin Abdur Rahman Khuza'i narrated to me, I stayed in his company up to Wasit, he would recite Bismillah at the beginning of the meal and at the last morsel he would say: BISMILLAHI FI AWWALIHI WA AKHIRIHI. I said to him: You say Bismillah at the beginning of the meal and at the end you say BISMILLAHI FI AWWALIHI WA AKHIRIHI. He said: I will tell you about this. My grandfather, Sayyiduna Umayyah bin Makhshi (may Allah be pleased with him), who was among the Companions, I heard from him, he said: A man was eating food and the Noble Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) was watching him, he had not recited Bismillah. When it was the last morsel of food, he said BISMILLAHI FI AWWALIHI WA AKHIRIHI. The Noble Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said: Satan kept eating with him, until when he recited Bismillah, whatever was in Satan’s belly, he vomited it out.

Sayyiduna Abu Ayyub Ansari (may Allah be pleased with him) narrates that one day we were with the Noble Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him), and food was presented before him. I have not seen any food that was more blessed at the beginning than it, but at the end, I have not seen any food with less blessing than it. We asked: O Messenger of Allah! How is this? He replied: The reason is that when we began eating it, we mentioned the name of Allah Almighty, but later those who sat down to eat did not say Bismillah, so Satan sat with them.

Lady Aisha (may Allah be pleased with her) narrates that the Noble Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) was eating food with six of his companions when a Bedouin came and finished the food in two bites. The Noble Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said: If he had recited Bismillah before eating, this food would have sufficed for all of you. When any of you eats food, he should recite Bismillah, and if he forgets to recite Bismillah at the beginning, he should say: Bismillahi awwalahu wa akhirahu.