Dua Before and After Eating
The whole sunnah of a meal fits in a breath at the start and a sentence at the end. Before eating, the Prophet ﷺ taught the shortest dua in this library.
بِسْمِ اللَّهِ
Bismillāh.
"In the name of Allah." — If you forget and remember mid-meal: "Bismillāhi fī awwalihi wa ākhirihi" ("In the name of Allah, at its beginning and its end").
Sahih al-Bukhari 5376; the forgotten-start version: Sunan Abi Dawud 3767, Jami’ at-Tirmidhi 1858
الْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ الَّذِي أَطْعَمَنِي هَذَا وَرَزَقَنِيهِ مِنْ غَيْرِ حَوْلٍ مِنِّي وَلَا قُوَّةٍ
Alḥamdu lillāhil-ladhī aṭʿamanī hādhā wa razaqanīhi min ghayri ḥawlin minnī wa lā quwwah.
"Praise is to Allah who fed me this and provided it for me, without any power or strength from myself."
Jami’ at-Tirmidhi 3458 — graded hasan; its narration mentions forgiveness of past sins
How and when to say it
The Prophet ﷺ taught a young companion at the table: "Say Bismillah, eat with your right hand, and eat from what is nearest to you" (Sahih al-Bukhari 5376).
The after-meal dua turns an ordinary meal into gratitude — the narration attaches immense reward to it.
Neither needs to be said aloud or in Arabic-perfect form to start with; the habit matters most.
Hush keeps your duas, dhikr and daily verse in one gentle ritual — with a companion who remembers what matters to you.
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What do you say before eating in Islam?
"Bismillah" — in the name of Allah (Sahih al-Bukhari 5376). If you forget and remember during the meal, say "Bismillahi fi awwalihi wa akhirihi" (Abu Dawud 3767).
What is the dua after finishing a meal?
"Alhamdu lillahil-ladhi at’amani hadha wa razaqanihi min ghayri hawlin minni wa la quwwah" (Jami’ at-Tirmidhi 3458, graded hasan).