Duaas before Eating

One should say ‘bismillah’ before commencing the meal. Similarly, one should eat with his right hand and eat from the side of the plate which is before him.

عن عمر بن أبي سلمة، قال: كنت غلاما في حجر رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم، وكانت يدي تطيش في الصحفة، فقال لي رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم: يا غلام، سم الله، وكل بيمينك، وكل مما يليك. فما زالت تلك طعمتي بعد  (البخاري رقم 5376)

Hazrat Umar bin Abi Salamah (Radhiyallahu Anhu) relates: “I grew up in the care of Rasulullah (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam). On one occasion, while eating with Rasulullah (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam), my hand began moving around the plate. Rasulullah (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam) (lovingly) addressed me saying: “O young boy, take the name of Allah Ta’ala (upon the commencement of the meal), and eat with your right hand and eat from the side that is before you.” Hazrat Umar bin Abi Salamah (Radhiyallahu Anhu) further says: “This remained my habit of eating thereafter.”

One should recite the following duaa before eating:

بِسْمِ اللهِ وَبَرَكَةِ اللهِ

In the name of Allah Ta’ala, and with the blessings of Allah Ta’ala.

عن ابن عباس رضي الله عنهما أن النبي صلى الله عليه وسلم وأبا بكر وعمر رضي الله عنهما أتوا بيت أبي أيوب فلما أكلوا وشبعوا قال النبي صلى الله عليه وسلم خبز ولحم وتمر وبسر ورطب إذا أصبتم مثل هذا فضربتم بأيديكم فكلوا بسم الله وبركة الله (المستدرك للحاكم  رقم 7084)

Hazrat ibn Abbaas (Radhiyallahu Anhuma) reports that on one occasion Rasulullah (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam), Hazrat Abu Bakr and Hazrat Umar (Radhiyallahu Anhuma) went to the house of Hazrat Abu Ayyoob (Radhiyallahu Anhu). After they ate and were satisfied, Rasulullah (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam) said: “When you obtain foods such as bread, meat, dry dates, semi-ripe dates and fresh dates, and you intend partaking of it, then commence eating by taking the name of Allah Ta’ala saying:  

بِسْمِ اللهِ وَبَرَكَةِ اللهِ