Dua Before Eating
“Bismillah” is an authentic dua from the Sunnah of the Prophet ﷺ, recorded in Sahih al-Bukhari 5376. Read it below in Arabic with transliteration and an English translation, and learn when to say it.
بِسْمِ اللَّهِ
Transliteration: Bismillah.
Translation: In the name of Allah.
Source: Sahih al-Bukhari 5376
When to recite
Before you start eating or drinking.
About this dua
Umar ibn Abi Salamah, who grew up in the Prophet’s household, said that as a boy his hand used to wander all over the plate. The Prophet ﷺ told him: “Young man, mention the name of Allah, eat with your right hand, and eat from what is in front of you.” Saying Bismillah is the Sunnah way to begin every meal.
Notes
If you forget to say Bismillah at the start, there is a specific dua to say when you remember — see “Dua If You Forget Bismillah”.
Source and authenticity
- Reference: Sahih al-Bukhari 5376
- Grading: Recorded in the Sahih collections of al-Bukhari and/or Muslim, the most authentic books of hadith.
- Read the source: Sahih al-Bukhari 5376
The English translation is our own, kept close to the Arabic. Hadith numbers follow the standard numbering used on sunnah.com.
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