Musnad Ahmad

Ibn Aba’d says that once Sayyiduna Ali (may Allah be pleased with him) said to me: “Ibn Aba’d! Do you know what is the right of food?” I replied: “You tell me, what is its right?” He said: “The right of food is that at its beginning you say: «بِسْمِ اللّٰهِ اَللّٰهُمَّ بَارِكْ لَنَا فِيْمَا رَزَقْتَنَا» ‘In the name of Allah, I begin, O Allah! Bless us in what You have provided for us.’” Then he said to me: “Do you know what is the gratitude after finishing the food?” I replied: “You tell me, what is its gratitude?” He said: “You should say: «اَلْحَمْدُ لِلّٰهِ الَّذِيْ أَطْعَمَنَا وَسَقَانَا» ‘All praise is due to Allah who fed us and gave us drink.’” Then he said: “Shall I not tell you something about myself and Sayyidah Fatimah (may Allah be pleased with her)? Sayyidah Fatimah (may Allah be pleased with her) was also the daughter of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him), the most honorable in the eyes of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) among all children, and she was also my life companion. She ground so much grain that marks appeared on her hands, carried so many water skins that marks appeared on her neck, cleaned the house so much that her clothes became dusty, kindled so much fire under the cooking pot that her clothes became worn out, which caused her severe physical pain. Coincidentally, at that time, some captives or servants had come to the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him). I told her to go and request a servant from the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) so that you may get some relief from this hardship. So she went to the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him), and she saw that there was one or more servants with the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him), but she could not present her request and returned. After this, the narrator mentioned the entire hadith, and at the end, he mentioned this saying of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him): ‘Shall I not tell you something better than a servant? When you lie down on your bed, recite Subhan Allah thirty-three times, Alhamdulillah thirty-three times, and Allahu Akbar thirty-four times.’ Upon this, she uncovered her head from the sheet and said: ‘I am pleased with Allah and His Messenger.’ Then the narrator mentioned the complete hadith.”