Research on Three Post-Drinking Water Supplications and Their Authenticity
Source: Fatawa ‘Ilmiyyah, Vol. 1, Kitab al-Du‘a, Page 502
Is there any specific supplication proven to be recited after drinking water?
What is the authenticity of the following supplication?
"الحمد لله الذي سقاناه عذبا فراتا برحمته ولم يجعله ملحا اجاجا بذنوبنا”
(All praise is due to Allah who gave us sweet and pleasant water to drink through His mercy and did not make it salty and bitter due to our sins)
(Reference unknown)
Alhamdulillah, wa al-salatu wa al-salamu ‘ala Rasulillah, amma ba‘d!
Ibn Abi Hatim al-Razmi said:
"حدثنا ابي: حدثنا عثمان بن سعيد بن مرة: حدثنا فضيل بن مرزوق عن جابر عن ابي جعفر عن النبي صلي الله عليه وسلم انه كان اذا شرب الماء قال: الحمد لله الذي سقاناه عذبا فراتا برحمته ولم يجعله ملحا اجاجا بذنوبنا”
(Tafsir Ibn Kathir 6/105, Al-Waqi‘ah: 70)
❖ Hilyat al-Awliya (8/137 – with textual error in the chain)
❖ Kitab al-Shukr by Ibn Abi al-Dunya (70)
❖ Shu‘ab al-Iman by al-Bayhaqi (4/115, Hadith 447 through Ibn Abi al-Dunya)
❖ Kitab al-Du‘a by al-Tabarani (899 – distorted heavily by the editor)
This narration is severely weak and rejected due to the narrator Jabir al-Ju‘fi, who has been strongly criticized by the majority of Hadith scholars.
✔ Imam Zaydah ibn Qudamah (رحمه الله):
"Jabir al-Ju‘fi was a liar. He believed in the return (raj‘ah) of ‘Ali (رضي الله عنه)."
(Tarikh Ibn Ma‘in, riwayah of al-Duri: 1399 – Authentic chain)
✔ Imam Sufyan ibn ‘Uyaynah al-Makki (رحمه الله):
"I heard some things from Jabir al-Ju‘fi and immediately left. I feared the roof might collapse on us."
(Al-Kamil by Ibn ‘Adi 2/539 – Authentic chain, second edition 2/330)
✔ Imam Abu Hanifah (رحمه الله):
"I have not seen anyone who lies more than Jabir al-Ju‘fi."
(Tarikh Yahya ibn Ma‘in, riwayah of al-Duri: 1398 – Hasan chain)
✔ Hafiz Ibn Hajar al-‘Asqalani (رحمه الله):
"He was declared weak by the majority."
(Tabaqat al-Mudallisin 5/133)
✔ Additional Reference:
Al-Fath al-Mubin fi Tahqiq Tabaqat al-Mudallisin (p. 75)
This narration is severely weak and rejected.
Refer also to:
✔ Ithaf al-Muttaqin by al-Zabidi (5/223)
✔ Al-Da‘ifah by al-Albani (9/217, Hadith 4202)
This supplication is authentically reported from Imam Hasan al-Basri (رحمه الله):
Narration by Ibn Abi al-Dunya:
"Ishaq ibn Isma‘il (al-Talaqani) narrated to us: Jarir ibn ‘Abd al-Hamid narrated to us from ‘Abdullah ibn Shubrumah that Hasan (al-Basri), when he drank water, would recite this (supplication)."
(Kitab al-Shukr: 70 – Authentic chain, see: Mausu‘at al-Imam Ibn Abi al-Dunya 1/487)
✔ Therefore, based on the practice of the Salaf al-Salihin, reciting this supplication is permissible.
The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said:
"Allah is pleased with a servant who praises Him when he eats and when he drinks."
(Sahih Muslim: 2734)
Likewise, it is narrated from Sayyiduna Abu Ayyub al-Ansari (رضي الله عنه):
"Whenever the Messenger of Allah ﷺ would eat or drink, he would say:
الحمد لله الذي اطعم وسقيٰ وسوغه وجعل له مخرجا"
(Sunan Abi Dawud: 3851 – Authentic chain)
Translation:
All praise is due to Allah who fed and gave drink, made it pleasant, and created an exit (digestive system) for it.
➊ The supplication attributed to the Prophet ﷺ through Jabir al-Ju‘fi is weak and rejected.
➋ However, it is authentically reported from Imam Hasan al-Basri (رحمه الله), so it is permissible to recite it following the way of the righteous predecessors.
➌ Nonetheless, it is preferable to recite the authentic supplications proven from the Prophet ﷺ, such as:
"الحمد لله الذي اطعم وسقيٰ وسوغه وجعل له مخرجا"
"Wa ma ‘alayna illa al-balag̱h" (Hadith: 55)
"This is what I have, and Allah knows best what is correct."
Source: Fatawa ‘Ilmiyyah, Vol. 1, Kitab al-Du‘a, Page 502
❖ Supplication After Drinking Water: Research and Evidence
✦ Question:
Is there any specific supplication proven to be recited after drinking water?
What is the authenticity of the following supplication?
"الحمد لله الذي سقاناه عذبا فراتا برحمته ولم يجعله ملحا اجاجا بذنوبنا”
(All praise is due to Allah who gave us sweet and pleasant water to drink through His mercy and did not make it salty and bitter due to our sins)
(Reference unknown)
✦ Answer:
Alhamdulillah, wa al-salatu wa al-salamu ‘ala Rasulillah, amma ba‘d!
◈ Source and Chain of the Narration:
Ibn Abi Hatim al-Razmi said:
"حدثنا ابي: حدثنا عثمان بن سعيد بن مرة: حدثنا فضيل بن مرزوق عن جابر عن ابي جعفر عن النبي صلي الله عليه وسلم انه كان اذا شرب الماء قال: الحمد لله الذي سقاناه عذبا فراتا برحمته ولم يجعله ملحا اجاجا بذنوبنا”
(Tafsir Ibn Kathir 6/105, Al-Waqi‘ah: 70)
This narration from Jabir is found in the following books as well:
❖ Hilyat al-Awliya (8/137 – with textual error in the chain)
❖ Kitab al-Shukr by Ibn Abi al-Dunya (70)
❖ Shu‘ab al-Iman by al-Bayhaqi (4/115, Hadith 447 through Ibn Abi al-Dunya)
❖ Kitab al-Du‘a by al-Tabarani (899 – distorted heavily by the editor)
❖ Chain Analysis: Weakness of the Narration
This narration is severely weak and rejected due to the narrator Jabir al-Ju‘fi, who has been strongly criticized by the majority of Hadith scholars.
✦ Opinions of Hadith Scholars:
✔ Imam Zaydah ibn Qudamah (رحمه الله):
"Jabir al-Ju‘fi was a liar. He believed in the return (raj‘ah) of ‘Ali (رضي الله عنه)."
(Tarikh Ibn Ma‘in, riwayah of al-Duri: 1399 – Authentic chain)
✔ Imam Sufyan ibn ‘Uyaynah al-Makki (رحمه الله):
"I heard some things from Jabir al-Ju‘fi and immediately left. I feared the roof might collapse on us."
(Al-Kamil by Ibn ‘Adi 2/539 – Authentic chain, second edition 2/330)
✔ Imam Abu Hanifah (رحمه الله):
"I have not seen anyone who lies more than Jabir al-Ju‘fi."
(Tarikh Yahya ibn Ma‘in, riwayah of al-Duri: 1398 – Hasan chain)
✔ Hafiz Ibn Hajar al-‘Asqalani (رحمه الله):
"He was declared weak by the majority."
(Tabaqat al-Mudallisin 5/133)
✔ Additional Reference:
Al-Fath al-Mubin fi Tahqiq Tabaqat al-Mudallisin (p. 75)
❖ Summary of Research:
This narration is severely weak and rejected.
Refer also to:
✔ Ithaf al-Muttaqin by al-Zabidi (5/223)
✔ Al-Da‘ifah by al-Albani (9/217, Hadith 4202)
❖ Source of the Supplication: Athar of the Salaf al-Salihin
This supplication is authentically reported from Imam Hasan al-Basri (رحمه الله):
Narration by Ibn Abi al-Dunya:
"Ishaq ibn Isma‘il (al-Talaqani) narrated to us: Jarir ibn ‘Abd al-Hamid narrated to us from ‘Abdullah ibn Shubrumah that Hasan (al-Basri), when he drank water, would recite this (supplication)."
(Kitab al-Shukr: 70 – Authentic chain, see: Mausu‘at al-Imam Ibn Abi al-Dunya 1/487)
✔ Therefore, based on the practice of the Salaf al-Salihin, reciting this supplication is permissible.
❖ General Guidance: Praising Allah After Eating and Drinking
The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said:
"Allah is pleased with a servant who praises Him when he eats and when he drinks."
(Sahih Muslim: 2734)
Likewise, it is narrated from Sayyiduna Abu Ayyub al-Ansari (رضي الله عنه):
"Whenever the Messenger of Allah ﷺ would eat or drink, he would say:
الحمد لله الذي اطعم وسقيٰ وسوغه وجعل له مخرجا"
(Sunan Abi Dawud: 3851 – Authentic chain)
Translation:
All praise is due to Allah who fed and gave drink, made it pleasant, and created an exit (digestive system) for it.
❖ Conclusion:
➊ The supplication attributed to the Prophet ﷺ through Jabir al-Ju‘fi is weak and rejected.
➋ However, it is authentically reported from Imam Hasan al-Basri (رحمه الله), so it is permissible to recite it following the way of the righteous predecessors.
➌ Nonetheless, it is preferable to recite the authentic supplications proven from the Prophet ﷺ, such as:
"الحمد لله الذي اطعم وسقيٰ وسوغه وجعل له مخرجا"
"Wa ma ‘alayna illa al-balag̱h" (Hadith: 55)
"This is what I have, and Allah knows best what is correct."
