The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said: When one of you eats, he should mention Allah's name; if he forgets to mention Allah's name at the beginning, he should say: "In the name of Allah at the beginning and at the end of it."
Hadith Text & Reference
The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said: "When one of you eats, he should mention Allah's name; if he forgets to mention Allah's name at the beginning, he should say: 'In the name of Allah at the beginning and at the end of it.'"
Reference: Sunan Abi Dawud 3767 from the Book "Foods (Kitab Al-At'imah)"
Primary Ruling & Wisdom
This hadith establishes the obligation of mentioning Allah's name (saying "Bismillah") before commencing to eat. The wisdom behind this injunction is to seek blessings in the sustenance, acknowledge Allah as the true Provider, and distinguish the act of eating from that of non-believers who do not invoke Allah.
The meal becomes a means of drawing closer to Allah and gaining reward, transforming a mundane act into an act of worship when accompanied by the remembrance of Allah.
Remedy for Forgetfulness
The hadith provides a comprehensive solution for one who forgets to recite "Bismillah" at the start of eating. The prescribed phrase "Bismillahi awwalahu wa akhirahu" (In the name of Allah at its beginning and its end) serves to rectify the omission.
Scholars explain that this invocation covers the entire act of eating - what has passed and what remains - thereby seeking Allah's blessings for the entire meal and compensating for the initial forgetfulness.
Scholarly Commentary
Imam Al-Nawawi states that mentioning Allah's name at the beginning of eating is strongly emphasized (mu'akkadah), and neglecting it without excuse is disapproved. The remedy mentioned demonstrates Allah's mercy upon the believers.
Ibn Al-Qayyim elaborates that mentioning Allah's name drives away Satan and allows the blessings to descend upon the food. The compensatory invocation when forgotten shows the completeness of Islamic guidance, leaving no situation without a proper remedy.
Practical Implementation
The Sunnah practice is to say "Bismillah" audibly at the beginning of the meal. If one remembers during the meal that they forgot to begin with Allah's name, they should immediately say the compensatory phrase and continue eating.
This teaching instills constant Allah-consciousness (taqwa) in the believer's daily life, making every action, no matter how small, connected to the remembrance of the Creator.