Ruling on Stretching After Eating in Islamic Perspective
❖ Question:
What is the ruling on stretching after eating? Is it true that stretching causes food to go into the mouth of Shayṭān?
Offering gratitude to Allah after eating is a recommended and Sunnah practice. Several supplications have been reported in different Ahadith regarding this:
① Narration of Abu Umamah (رضي الله عنه):
The Messenger of Allah ﷺ would say after eating:
"الْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ حَمْدًا كَثِيرًا طَيِّبًا مُبَارَكًا فِيهِ غَيْرَ مَكْفِيٍّ وَلَا مُوَدَّعٍ وَلَا مُسْتَغْنًى عَنْهُ رَبَّنَا"
(Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī: 5458)
“Praise be to Allah — an abundant, pure, and blessed praise. One that neither can suffice, nor be abandoned, nor be dispensed with, O our Lord.”
② Narration of Anas (رضي الله عنه):
The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said:
“Whoever says after eating:
‘الحمد لله الذي أطعمني هذا ورزقنيه من غير حولٍ مني ولا قوة’
his previous sins are forgiven.”
(Sunan al-Tirmidhī: 3458, Sunan Ibn Mājah: 3285, Ṣaḥīḥ al-Tirmidhī: 3348)
③ Narration of Abu Ayyub al-Ansari (رضي الله عنه):
The Prophet ﷺ would say after eating:
“الحمد لله الذي أطعم وسقى وسوغه وجعل له مخرجاً”
(Sunan Abū Dāwūd: 3851, authenticated by al-Albānī)
“All praise is for Allah who fed and gave drink, made it pleasant to swallow, and provided an exit for it.”
④ Narration of ‘Abd al-Raḥmān ibn Jubayr:
The Prophet ﷺ would say:
“اللَّهُمَّ أَطْعَمْتَ وَأَسقَيْتَ، وَهَدَيْتَ، وَأَحْيَيْتَ، فَلَكَ الْحَمْدُ عَلَى مَا أَعْطَيْتَ”
(Musnad Aḥmad: 16159, Ṣaḥīḥ al-Silsilah al-Ṣaḥīḥah)
“O Allah, You alone have fed, given drink, guided, and given life; so for what You have granted, to You belongs all praise.”
✔ Stretching is a natural and instinctive act, and there is no Shar‘ī prohibition regarding its occurrence either during or after meals.
✔ If stretching occurs due to bodily disposition after eating, there is no harm from an Islamic legal perspective.
The belief that “stretching after eating causes the food to go into the mouth of Shayṭān” is not proven from any authentic Hadith or reliable narration.
The teachings of the Prophet ﷺ emphasize moderation in eating to avoid lethargy and conditions like yawning or excessive stretching.
The Prophet ﷺ said:
“It is sufficient for a person to eat a few morsels to keep his back straight. If he must eat more, then let him fill one-third of his stomach with food, one-third with drink, and one-third with air.”
(Sunan al-Tirmidhī: 2380)
① Yawning should be suppressed as much as possible.
② Placing a hand over the mouth is recommended, as open yawning is considered improper in front of others.
③ Making strange sounds while yawning is disliked both religiously and ethically.
Stretching is a natural act and there is no Shar‘ī objection to it. However, it is important to maintain moderation in eating and to observe proper etiquette when yawning, especially after meals.
❖ Question:
What is the ruling on stretching after eating? Is it true that stretching causes food to go into the mouth of Shayṭān?
✿ Expressing Gratitude After Eating
Offering gratitude to Allah after eating is a recommended and Sunnah practice. Several supplications have been reported in different Ahadith regarding this:
① Narration of Abu Umamah (رضي الله عنه):
The Messenger of Allah ﷺ would say after eating:
"الْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ حَمْدًا كَثِيرًا طَيِّبًا مُبَارَكًا فِيهِ غَيْرَ مَكْفِيٍّ وَلَا مُوَدَّعٍ وَلَا مُسْتَغْنًى عَنْهُ رَبَّنَا"
(Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī: 5458)
“Praise be to Allah — an abundant, pure, and blessed praise. One that neither can suffice, nor be abandoned, nor be dispensed with, O our Lord.”
② Narration of Anas (رضي الله عنه):
The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said:
“Whoever says after eating:
‘الحمد لله الذي أطعمني هذا ورزقنيه من غير حولٍ مني ولا قوة’
his previous sins are forgiven.”
(Sunan al-Tirmidhī: 3458, Sunan Ibn Mājah: 3285, Ṣaḥīḥ al-Tirmidhī: 3348)
③ Narration of Abu Ayyub al-Ansari (رضي الله عنه):
The Prophet ﷺ would say after eating:
“الحمد لله الذي أطعم وسقى وسوغه وجعل له مخرجاً”
(Sunan Abū Dāwūd: 3851, authenticated by al-Albānī)
“All praise is for Allah who fed and gave drink, made it pleasant to swallow, and provided an exit for it.”
④ Narration of ‘Abd al-Raḥmān ibn Jubayr:
The Prophet ﷺ would say:
“اللَّهُمَّ أَطْعَمْتَ وَأَسقَيْتَ، وَهَدَيْتَ، وَأَحْيَيْتَ، فَلَكَ الْحَمْدُ عَلَى مَا أَعْطَيْتَ”
(Musnad Aḥmad: 16159, Ṣaḥīḥ al-Silsilah al-Ṣaḥīḥah)
“O Allah, You alone have fed, given drink, guided, and given life; so for what You have granted, to You belongs all praise.”
❖ Ruling on Stretching (Ingiṛā’ī) After Eating
✔ Stretching is a natural and instinctive act, and there is no Shar‘ī prohibition regarding its occurrence either during or after meals.
✔ If stretching occurs due to bodily disposition after eating, there is no harm from an Islamic legal perspective.
The belief that “stretching after eating causes the food to go into the mouth of Shayṭān” is not proven from any authentic Hadith or reliable narration.✿ Moderation in Eating
The teachings of the Prophet ﷺ emphasize moderation in eating to avoid lethargy and conditions like yawning or excessive stretching.
The Prophet ﷺ said:
“It is sufficient for a person to eat a few morsels to keep his back straight. If he must eat more, then let him fill one-third of his stomach with food, one-third with drink, and one-third with air.”
(Sunan al-Tirmidhī: 2380)
✿ Etiquette of Yawning
① Yawning should be suppressed as much as possible.
② Placing a hand over the mouth is recommended, as open yawning is considered improper in front of others.
③ Making strange sounds while yawning is disliked both religiously and ethically.
❖ Conclusion
Stretching is a natural act and there is no Shar‘ī objection to it. However, it is important to maintain moderation in eating and to observe proper etiquette when yawning, especially after meals.
