Let Me Remind You...

6. Invocations for before meals and after finishing meals.

If you are grateful,
I shall certainly give you increase. ❤
Qur'an 14:7

In the last chapter we learned about the supplications to recite before we go to sleep and it's benefits.
In this chapter we shall be looking at the invocations/ duãs to be used before eating meal and after finishing it , In Shaa Allah. :)

Humans work hard day and night to earn money , why?
To fulfill their most basic needs which are food , clothing and shelter.
Food is the most basic and important element of our lives to survive.
Without food undoubtedly, we human beings would have certainly died of starvation.
Hence, food is one of the most important blessing to us by Allah Āzzawajal so say Alhamdullilah for it.

In the following hadith,
Ibn Abbas reported: The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, said, “Whoever is provided food from Allah, then let him say: O Allah, bless us in it and feed us with what is even better. Whoever is provided a drink of milk from Allah, then let him say: O Allah, bless us in it and provide us with more."
Sunan al-Tirmidhī 3455

Alhamdullilah for food.
Don't complain about it.
Be grateful that you atleast have something.
There are so many out there who don't have anything, neither to eat nor to drink. :(
Be grateful to Allah SWT that He blessed us with the blessings we didn't even ask for, that He blessed us with food to eat and water to drink and a home to live in ya people of Ummah, be grateful.

As mentioned above,
Allah SWT said in Qur'an:
"Be grateful and I certainly shall give you increase."

Hence, be grateful and Allah will certainly give rise in whatever blessings you are being grateful about such as food. He will give barakah in it , if He wills!
Subhan'allah, All Glory is to Him.❤

Let's proceed to the invocations to recite before eating then, shall we? :)

Let's begin with,
بِسْمِ اللهِ الرَّحۡمٰنِ الرَّحِيۡمِ
بِسْمِ اللَّهِ وَعَلَى بَرَكَةِ اللَّهِ

Bismillahi Ar-Rahman nir-Rahim
Bismillahi wa āla barkatillahi.

Translation: In the name of Allah the Most Beneficent , the Most Merciful.
In the name of Allah and with the blessings of Allah I begin. (Eating)

Whenever you start eating ya Akhis and Ukhtis, start with the name of Allah SWT, start with the name of your Creator in order for you to benefit from it and be grateful to Him.
However , if you forget to recite this du'a you can recite this one instead:

بِسْمِ اللَّهِ أَوَّلِه ِِ وَآخِرِهِ
Bismillahi awwalihi wa aakhirihi.
Translation: In the name of Allah in the beginning and in the end.

Now let's proceed to the next invocation,the one to recite once you finish your meal then.

Alhamdullilahi ladhī atāmanii
hadha wa razaqneehi min gayri haulim-minnee wala quwwatin.

Translation: All praise and thanks is to Allah who has given me this food and sustained me with it though I was unable to do it and powerless.

Allah says in the Quran: “And whatever of blessings and good things you have, it is from Allah”
[al-Nahl 16:53].
He also says, “And He found you poor and made you rich (self sufficient with self contentment)” 
[al-Duha 93:8].

Let’s therefore constantly remind ourselves of Allah’s bounties by expressing our gratitude to Him in prayers and at other times. :)
Gratitude helps in warding off punishment from Allah SWT.
Not recognizing Allah's blessings and not being grateful to Him can prevent us from gaining His pleasure.
We know that if Allah were to punish us for our ignorance He'd have been done it long ago.
So thank Him for whatever He has blessed us with my brothers and sisters.

Now that we know about the invocations, let's look at some of the etiquettes to eat according to Sunnah.

Ettiquettes to eat according to Sunnāh:
1.Wash your hands before eating.
2.Think that you are eating this food to do good deeds and for that you need strength.
3.Sit on the floor while eating.
4.Eat with your right hand.
5.If food falls from your plate, pick it up, clean it, and eat it.
6.Wash your hands after you are done eating.
7.Never criticize what you eat.
8. Never waste food.

Let's make a short dua:
O Allah, We are believers so please by your mercy make things easy for us and help us to do the things that please to you.
O Allah have mercy on those who are dying of hunger and starvation out there.
O Allah , you are most merciful please bless them with food to eat and water to drink.
O Allah you are the forgiver so please forgive our sins and ease the pain of starving people out there.
O Allah have mercy on your slaves, O Allah ease all the difficulties of people of ummah of your beloved Prophet Muhammad (pbuh).
Please Ya Ar-Rahman Ya Ar-Rahim, accept our dua's.
Say , Aamin ya Rabbîl Aälamin.

How are you my dear readers?
Hope I made sense above.
Tell me what you think in the comment section below.
Remember each and every needy out there in your dua my brothers and sisters. :(

UNTIL NEXT CHAPTER,
ASSALAMUALAIKUM WA RAHEMATULLAHI WA BARKATAHU.
TAKE CARE,
ALLAH HAFIZ. ❤