Duas for meals: before, after and for the host
Allah’s name before the first bite, praise at the end, and a prayer for the one who fed us.
Before eating, you say Allah’s name; at the end of the meal, you praise Him for feeding you. The Sunnah adds a supplication for the person who offered you food or drink, and another on seeing the first fruits of the season. Each dua on this page carries its source and grade.
The duas
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Before eating
بِسْمِ اللَّهِ
Bismillâh
In the name of Allah.
Sunan Abi Dawud 3767 · grade: sahih (authentic), graded by al-Albani -
If you forgot to say Bismillah at the start
In the name of Allah, at its beginning and at its end.
Arabic text awaiting verification: we show it only once it is found word for word in the cited hadith. -
After finishing the meal
الْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ الَّذِي أَطْعَمَنِي هَذَا وَرَزَقَنِيهِ مِنْ غَيْرِ حَوْلٍ مِنِّي وَلَا قُوَّةٍ
Al-hamdu lillâhi l-ladhî at'amanî hâdhâ wa razaqanîhi min ghayri hawlin minnî wa lâ quwwah
Praise be to Allah who has fed me this and provided it for me, without any strength or power on my part.
Jami' at-Tirmidhi 3458 · grade: hasan (good), graded by al-Albani -
Guest's prayer for the host
O Allah, bless them in what You have provided them, forgive them and have mercy on them.
Arabic text awaiting verification: we show it only once it is found word for word in the cited hadith. -
When Allah provides you with food
اللَّهُمَّ بَارِكْ لَنَا فِيهِ وَأَطْعِمْنَا خَيْرًا مِنْهُ
Allâhumma bârik lanâ fîhi wa at'imnâ khayran minh
O Allah, bless it for us and feed us with better than it.
Jami' at-Tirmidhi 3455 · grade: hasan (good), graded by al-Albani -
When the table is cleared
الْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ كَثِيرًا طَيِّبًا مُبَارَكًا فِيهِ، غَيْرَ مَكْفِيٍّ وَلَا مُوَدَّعٍ وَلَا مُسْتَغْنًى عَنْهُ رَبَّنَا
Al-hamdu lillâhi kathîran tayyiban mubârakan fîh, ghayra makfiyyin wa lâ muwadda'in wa lâ mustaghnan 'anhu Rabbanâ
Praise be to Allah, abundant, good and blessed praise — a praise of which we never have enough, which we never leave off and which we can never do without, our Lord.
Sahih al-Bukhari 5458 · grade: sahih (authentic), graded by al-Bukhari -
For the person who gave you food or drink
اللَّهُمَّ أَطْعِمْ مَنْ أَطْعَمَنِي، وَأَسْقِ مَنْ أَسْقَانِي
Allâhumma at'im man at'amanî, wa asqi man asqânî
O Allah, feed the one who fed me, and give drink to the one who gave me drink.
Sahih Muslim 2055 · grade: sahih (authentic), graded by Muslim -
When you see the first fruit of the season
اللَّهُمَّ بَارِكْ لَنَا فِي ثَمَرِنَا، وَبَارِكْ لَنَا فِي مَدِينَتِنَا، وَبَارِكْ لَنَا فِي صَاعِنَا، وَبَارِكْ لَنَا فِي مُدِّنَا
Allâhumma bârik lanâ fî thamarinâ, wa bârik lanâ fî madînatinâ, wa bârik lanâ fî sâ'inâ, wa bârik lanâ fî muddinâ
O Allah, bless our fruit for us, bless our city for us, bless our sa' for us and bless our mudd for us (our measures).
Sahih Muslim 1373 · grade: sahih (authentic), graded by Muslim
| Collection | Duas | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Sunan Abi Dawud | 1 | sahih (authentic) · al-Albani |
| Jami' at-Tirmidhi | 2 | hasan (good) · al-Albani |
| Sahih al-Bukhari | 1 | sahih (authentic) · al-Bukhari |
| Sahih Muslim | 2 | sahih (authentic) · Muslim |
When to say them
Allah’s name is said at the first bite; the praise, when you have finished or when the table is cleared.
The supplication for the host is said when leaving their home, or as they serve you: it is meant to be heard.
Frequently asked questions
What if I forgot to say bismillah at the start of the meal?
The Sunnah has a formula for this case. We have not yet checked its text word for word in the cited hadith: the page gives its meaning.
Which dua should I say for someone who invites me?
The dua “for the person who offered you food or drink” on this page, from Sahih Muslim. It asks Allah to feed in turn the one who fed us.
Tilawa editorial team · Updated 2026-10-24 · Report an error