The 365 · Sunnah · Day 69 · Food
Reciting the Prophetic Duʿāʾ for the Host After Being Fed
The hadith
اللَّهُمَّ أَطْعِمْ مَنْ أَطْعَمَنِي وَاسْقِ مَنْ سَقَانِي
The Prophet ﷺ used to say to the host who fed him: 'Allāhumma aṭʿim man aṭʿamanī wa-sqi man saqānī (O Allah, feed the one who fed me, and give drink to the one who gave me drink).' (Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim 2055, narrated by al-Miqdād ibn al-Aswad.) Cross-ref: 'Aftara ʿindakum aṣ-ṣāʾimūn, wa-akala ṭaʿāmakum al-abrār, wa-ṣallat ʿalaykum al-malāʾikah (May the fasting break their fast with you, may the righteous eat your food, and may the angels invoke blessings upon you).' (Sunan Abū Dāwūd 3854, classed ṣaḥīḥ.)
Svenska: Profeten ﷺ brukade säga till värden som matade honom: 'Allahumma at'im man at'amani wa-sqi man saqani.'
The story
Al-Miqdād ibn al-Aswad ra. preserved the foundational duʿāʾ. The longer version (Abū Dāwūd 3854) was the Prophet's ﷺ response when a host fed him during Ramaḍān: he prayed for the host with the threefold duʿāʾ (the fasting break their fast with you, the righteous eat your food, the angels invoke blessings on you). The Companions used both versions: the short for everyday meals, the long for hosting in Ramaḍān or other notable occasions.
Why it's here
The Prophet ﷺ established the structural courtesy of duʿāʾ for the host. The host has fed you; the believer's response is to invoke Allah's reciprocal feeding for the host. The duʿāʾ is operationally simple (under 10 seconds) and structurally beautiful: it transfers the act of generosity into the divine economy where Allah is the named source of provision.
Try it today
1. When a host feeds you, recite the short duʿāʾ before leaving the gathering. 2. In Ramaḍān, when an iftar host feeds you, recite the longer duʿāʾ. 3. Make the duʿāʾ silently if speaking it would seem performative. 4. Teach children: when someone feeds you, the Prophetic adab is to make duʿāʾ for them.
In your day
Modern hospitality often goes unmarked: the host feeds, the guest eats, the guest leaves. The Prophetic adab installs structural recognition: the host's generosity is named; Allah's reciprocal feeding is invoked. Build the habit. The 10-second duʿāʾ honors every host.
A reflection to carry
The duʿāʾ for the host who feeds you: 'Allāhumma bārik lahum fīmā razaqtahum, wa-ghfir lahum wa-rḥamhum.' (Muslim 2042.) The Prophet's ﷺ structural conversion of the guest-experience into a duʿāʾ-act for the host.
Read the longer reflection
The host invests time, money, effort; the believer's response is to convert this material gift into a divine duʿāʾ for the host's barakah, forgiveness, and mercy. Cure: memorize the duʿāʾ (15 seconds); recite at the conclusion of any meal at someone else's home; it can be silent or audible. Add the additional Prophetic phrase when appropriate: 'Aftara ʿindakumu aṣ-ṣāʾimūn, wa-akala ṭaʿāmakumu al-abrār, wa-ṣallat ʿalaykumu al-malāʾikah.' (Abū Dāwūd 3854.) Modern guest-etiquette (thank-you note, return invitation) is operationally insufficient compared to the Prophetic duʿāʾ which invokes structural divine blessing on the host.
Sources: Sahih Muslim, Abu Dawud. The Qur'an and its translation are verified; the scholarship is retold faithfully in our own words and credited to its sources, never reproduced verbatim.
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