أَحْمَدُ اللهَ حَمْدًا كَثِيرًا طَيِّبًا مُبَارَكًا فِيهِ، غَيْرَ مَدْفُوعٍ وَلاَ مُوَدَّعٍ وَلاَ مُسْتَغْنًى عَنْهُ رَبُّنَا
I praise Allah with abundant, good, and blessed praise, praise that is not rejected, nor bid farewell, nor is it unnecessary for our Lord.
Alhamdu lillahi hamdan katheeran tayyiban mubarakan feehi, ghaira madfoo'in wa la mowadda'in wa la mustaghnan 'anhu Rabbuna
When to Read
This beautiful expression of gratitude is recited after finishing a meal, ideally after cleaning one's plate and licking one's fingers, as taught by the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ.
How to Read
Recite this dua with sincerity and a heart full of thankfulness. The Sunnah also encourages licking one's fingers after eating, starting with the middle finger and then the others, to ensure no food is wasted and to express complete satisfaction with the meal. This is a practical Sunnah that also embodies gratitude.
Virtues & Benefits
Expressing this praise after a meal is a sign of profound gratitude to Allah for His immense blessings. It acknowledges that all sustenance is from Him. By cleaning the plate and licking the fingers, we also embody the Sunnah of not wasting Allah's provisions, which itself is a form of worship and gratitude. The Prophet Muhammad ﷺ said: 'When any one of you eats, he should lick his fingers, for he does not know which of his food is blessed.' (Sahih Muslim 2033)
Source & Authentication
Narrated Abu Umamah: The Prophet (ﷺ) said: 'If any one of you finishes his meal, he should say: Alhamdu lillahi hamdan katheeran tayyiban mubarakan feehi, ghaira madfoo'in wa la mowadda'in wa la mustaghnan 'anhu Rabbuna.' (I praise Allah with abundant, good, and blessed praise, praise that is not rejected, nor bid farewell, nor is it unnecessary for our Lord). And if he has eaten something, he should lick his fingers; and if he has drunk, he should sip it, and should not drink it in one gulp. And he should not drink it while standing.' [Sahih al-Bukhari 6017]. Another related narration emphasizes the etiquette of eating and the importance of licking fingers: Narrated Jabir bin Abdullah: The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) forbade us to eat while standing and to drink while standing and to sleep on a roof or on a plastered (house). [Sahih Muslim 2023]. And as mentioned earlier, Sahih Muslim 2033 highlights the wisdom behind licking fingers.