This chapter frames the meal between two acts of remembrance: Bismillah at the start and al-hamdu lillah at the end. Saying the Name of Allah, the tasmiyah, turns eating from a mere appetite into an act bracketed by God-consciousness, and praising Him afterwards keeps the heart awake to the One who provided.
A striking thread runs through several hadith: where Allah's Name is left out, Satan draws near and shares in the food and the home, and where it is mentioned, he is shut out. The point is not fear but presence. As you read, notice how a few sincere words at the table guard the believer, dignify a simple provision, and even, in one report, become a cause for the forgiveness of past sins.
Hadith 727
'Umar bin Abu Salamah (May Allah be pleased with him) reported:
عن عمر بن أبى سلمة رضى الله عنهما قال: قال لي رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم: "سم الله وكل بيمينك، وكل مما يليك" . ((متفق عليه))
Messenger of Allah (ﷺ), said to me, "Mention Allah's Name (i.e., say Bismillah before starting eating), eat with your right hand, and eat from what is near you." [Al-Bukhari and Muslim].
In plain words
He taught a young boy three simple table manners: say Allah's Name first, eat with the right hand, and take from the food nearest you. Gentle, practical guidance for everyone.
Reference : Riyad as-Salihin 727 In-book reference : Book 2, Hadith 1
Hadith 728
'Aishah (May Allah be pleased with her) reported:
وعن عائشة رضى الله عنها قالت : قال رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم: "إذا أكل أحدكم فليذكر اسم الله تعالى، فإذا نسى أن يذكر اسم الله تعالى في أوله، فليقل، بسم الله أوله وآخره" . ((رواه أبو داود والترمذي))
Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said, "When any of you wants to eat, he should mention the Name of Allah in the begining, (i.e., say Bismillah). If he forgets to do it in the beginning, he should say Bismillah awwalahu wa akhirahu (I begin with the Name of Allah at the beginning and at the end)." [At-Tirmidhi and Abu Dawud].
In plain words
Begin a meal by saying Bismillah. If you forget at the start, say it when you remember, naming Allah for both the beginning and the end.
Reference : Riyad as-Salihin 728 In-book reference : Book 2, Hadith 2
Hadith 729
Jabir (May Allah be pleased with him) reported:
وعن جابر، رضى الله عنه قال: سمعت رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم يقول: "إذا دخل الرجل بيته، فذكر الله تعالى عند دخوله وعند طعامه، قال الشيطان لأصحابه: لا مبيت لكم ولا عشاء، وإذا دخل ، فلم يذكر الله تعالى عند دخوله، قال الشيطان: أدركتم المبيت؛ وإذا لم يذكر الله تعالى عند طعامه قال: أدركتم المبيت والعشاء" . ((رواه مسلم))
I heard Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) saying, "If a person mentions the Name of Allah upon entering his house or eating, Satan says, addressing his followers: 'You will find no where to spend the night and no dinner.' But if he enters without mentioning the Name of Allah, Satan says (to his followers); 'You have found (a place) to spend the night in, and if he does not mention the Name of Allah at the time of eating, Satan says: 'You have found (a place) to spend the night in as well as food."' [Muslim].
In plain words
Naming Allah when entering the home or eating shuts the door on Satan, while leaving it out lets him share in your shelter and food. A few words keep the heart present and protected.
Reference : Riyad as-Salihin 729 In-book reference : Book 2, Hadith 3
Hadith 730
Hudhaifah (May Allah be pleased with him) reported:
وعن حذيفة رضى الله عنه قال: كنا إذا حضرنا مع رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم طعاماً، لم نضع أيدينا حتى يبدأ رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم فيضع يده. وإنا حضرنا معه مرةً طعاماً، فجاءت جارية كأنها تدفع، فذهبت لتضع يدها في الطعام، فأخذ رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم بيدها، ثم جاء أعرابي كأنما يدفع فأخذ بيده، فقال رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم: "إن الشيطان يستحل الطعام أن لا يذكر اسم الله تعالى عليه، وإنه جاء بهذه الجارية ليستحل بها، فأخذت بيدها، فجاء بهذا الأعرابي ليستحل به، فأخذت بيده، والذي نفسي بيده إن يده في يدي مع يديهما" ثم ذكر اسم الله تعالى وأكل. ((رواه مسلم))
When we attended a meal with the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ), we would not stretch forth our hands towards the food until he (ﷺ) would start eating first. Once, we were with him when a little girl rushed in as if someone was impelling her. She was about to lay her hand on the food when the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) caught her hand. Then a bedouin came in rushing as if someone were pushing him. He (ﷺ) caught his hand also and said, "Satan considers that food lawful for himself on which the Name of Allah is not mentioned. He (Satan) brought this girl to make the food lawful through her but I caught her hand. Then he brought the bedouin to make it lawful through him but I caught his hand too. By Him in Whose Hand my soul is, now Satan's hand is in my grasp along with their hands." Then he mentioned the Name of Allah and began to eat. [Muslim].
In plain words
Satan tries to share in food where Allah's Name is left out. The Prophet showed that mentioning Allah's Name over the meal keeps that intrusion away.
Reference : Riyad as-Salihin 730 In-book reference : Book 2, Hadith 4
Hadith 731
Umaiyyah bin Makhshi (May Allah be pleased with him) reported:
وعن أمية بن مخشى الصحابي رضى الله عنه قال: كان رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم جالساً ، ورجل يأكل، فلم يسم الله حتى لم يبق من طعامه إلا لقمة، فلما رفعها إلى فيه، قال: بسم الله أوله وآخره، فضحك النبي صلى الله عليه وسلم، ثم قال: "ما زال الشيطان يأكل معه، فلما ذكر اسم الله استقاء ما فيه بطنه" . ((رواه أبو داود والنسائي))
Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) was sitting while a man was eating food. That man did not mention the Name of Allah (before commencing to eat) till only a morsel of food was left. When he raised it to his mouth, he said: "Bismillah awwalahu wa akhirahu (With the Name of Allah, in the beginning and in the end)." Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) smiled at this and said, "Satan had been eating with him but when he mentioned the Name of Allah, Satan vomited all that was in his stomach." [Abu Dawud and An-Nasa'i].
In plain words
A man ate without naming Allah until his last bite, then said Bismillah for its beginning and end. The Prophet said Satan had been sharing the food until that Name was spoken.
Reference : Riyad as-Salihin 731 In-book reference : Book 2, Hadith 5
Hadith 732
'Aishah (May Allah be pleased with her) reported:
وعن عائشة رضى الله عنها قالت: كان رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم يأكل طعاماً في ستة من أصحابه، فجاء أعرابى، فأكله بلقمتين. فقال رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم "أما إنه لو سمى لكفاكم" .((رواه الترمذي))
The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) was eating with his six Companions when a desert Arab came and ate up the food in two mouthfuls. Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said, "Had he mentioned the Name of Allah, it would have sufficed for all of you." [At-Tirmidhi].
In plain words
When Allah's Name is mentioned, blessing settles in the food so that even a small amount goes further. Leaving it out drains that blessing away.
Reference : Riyad as-Salihin 732 In-book reference : Book 2, Hadith 6
Hadith 733
Abu Umamah (May Allah be pleased with him) reported:
وعن أبى أمامة رضى الله عنه أن النبي صلى الله عليه وسلم كان إذا رفع مائدته قال: "الحمد لله حمداً كثيراً طَيِّباً مباركاً فيه، غير مكفى ولامودع، ولا مستغنى عنه ربنا" .((رواه البخارى))
Whenever the Prophet (ﷺ) finished a meal, he would say: "Al-hamdu lillahi hamdan kathiran taiyyiban mubarakan fihi, ghaira makfiyyin wa la muwadda`in, wa la mustaghnan `anhu, Rabbuna. (All praise is due to Allah, praise which is abundant, pure, and full of blessings, which is indispensable and to which one cannot be indifferent).'' [Al-Bukhari].
In plain words
After eating, he would praise Allah warmly, calling the food abundant, pure, and blessed, and acknowledging that we always remain in need of our Lord. Gratitude that keeps the heart awake.
Reference : Riyad as-Salihin 733 In-book reference : Book 2, Hadith 7
Hadith 734
Mu'adh bin Anas (May Allah be pleased with him) reported:
وعن معاذ بن أنس رضى الله عنه قال: قال رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم: "من أكل طعاماً فقال: الحمد الله الذي أطعمني هذا، ورزقنيه من غير حول منى ولا قوةٍ، غفر له ما تقدم من ذنبه" .((رواه أبو داود والترمذي))
Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said, "He who has taken food and says at the end: 'Al- hamdu lillahi-lladhi at'amani hadha, wa razaqanihi min ghairi haulin minni wa la quwwatin (All praise is due to Allah Who has given me food to eat and provided it without any endeavour on my part or any power),' all his past sins will be forgiven." [Abu Dawud and At- Tirmidhi].
In plain words
Whoever finishes a meal and praises Allah for feeding and providing it through no effort of his own is promised forgiveness for past sins. Gratitude that lifts a heavy burden.
Reference : Riyad as-Salihin 734 In-book reference : Book 2, Hadith 8