Dua Before Eating
بِسْمِ اللَّهِ
Transliteration: Bismillah.
Translation: In the name of Allah.
Source: Sahih al-Bukhari 5376
When to recite: Before you start eating or drinking.
Mentioning the name of Allah before eating and praising Him afterwards are among the most practised Sunnahs. These duas are short enough for children to learn first.
بِسْمِ اللَّهِ
Transliteration: Bismillah.
Translation: In the name of Allah.
Source: Sahih al-Bukhari 5376
When to recite: Before you start eating or drinking.
بِسْمِ اللَّهِ أَوَّلَهُ وَآخِرَهُ
Transliteration: Bismillahi awwalahu wa akhirah.
Translation: In the name of Allah, at its beginning and at its end.
Source: Sunan Abi Dawud 3767
When to recite: When you remember during a meal that you did not say Bismillah at the start.
الْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ الَّذِي أَطْعَمَنِي هَذَا، وَرَزَقَنِيهِ مِنْ غَيْرِ حَوْلٍ مِنِّي وَلَا قُوَّةٍ
Transliteration: Alhamdu lillahil-ladhi at'amani hadha, wa razaqanihi min ghayri hawlin minni wa la quwwah.
Translation: All praise is for Allah who fed me this and provided it for me without any might or power on my part.
Source: Jami at-Tirmidhi 3458; Sunan Abi Dawud 4023
When to recite: After finishing a meal.
اللَّهُمَّ بَارِكْ لَهُمْ فِيمَا رَزَقْتَهُمْ، وَاغْفِرْ لَهُمْ وَارْحَمْهُمْ
Transliteration: Allahumma barik lahum fima razaqtahum, waghfir lahum warhamhum.
Translation: O Allah, bless them in what You have provided for them, and forgive them and have mercy on them.
Source: Sahih Muslim 2042
When to recite: When you have eaten as a guest at someone’s home.
ذَهَبَ الظَّمَأُ، وَابْتَلَّتِ الْعُرُوقُ، وَثَبَتَ الْأَجْرُ إِنْ شَاءَ اللَّهُ
Transliteration: Dhahabaz-zama'u, wabtallatil-'uruqu, wa thabatal-ajru in sha' Allah.
Translation: The thirst has gone, the veins are moistened, and the reward is confirmed, if Allah wills.
Source: Sunan Abi Dawud 2357
When to recite: When breaking the fast at sunset (Maghrib), after starting to eat or drink.
أَفْطَرَ عِنْدَكُمُ الصَّائِمُونَ، وَأَكَلَ طَعَامَكُمُ الْأَبْرَارُ، وَصَلَّتْ عَلَيْكُمُ الْمَلَائِكَةُ
Transliteration: Aftara 'indakumus-sa'imun, wa akala ta'amakumul-abrar, wa sallat 'alaykumul-mala'ikah.
Translation: May fasting people break their fast with you, may the righteous eat your food, and may the angels send prayers upon you.
Source: Sunan Abi Dawud 3854
When to recite: When you are invited to eat — especially to break your fast — at someone’s home.
Hadith references follow the standard numbering on sunnah.com. Quranic Arabic is the Uthmani text with the Pickthall (1930, public domain) translation; other translations are our own.