أَحْمَدُ اللَّهَ حَمْدًا كَثِيرًا طَيِّبًا مُبَارَكًا فِيهِ, غَيْرَ مَدْفُوعٍ وَلَا مُوَدَّعٍ وَلَا مُسْتَغْنًى عَنْهُ رَبَّنَا. وَكُلُوا وَاشْرَبُوا وَلَا تُسْرِفُوا ۚ إِنَّهُ لَا يُحِبُّ الْمُسْرِفِينَ.
Praise be to Allah, much praise, good and blessed praise. We will not turn away from it, nor leave it, nor feel that we can do without it, O our Lord. And eat and drink, but be not excessive. Indeed, He likes not those who commit excess.
Alhamdu lillahi hamdan kathiran tayyiban mubarakan fihi, ghayra madfu'in wa la mawadda'in wa la mustaghnan 'anhu Rabbana. Wa kuloo washraboo wa la tusrifoo; innahoo la yuhibbul musrifeen.
When to Read
This dua is recited after finishing a meal, expressing gratitude for the sustenance provided. It's a beautiful way to acknowledge Allah's blessings and to remind ourselves of the importance of moderation in eating and drinking.
How to Read
After finishing your meal, pause and reflect on the blessings you've received. Recite the Arabic words, focusing on their meaning of sincere praise and contentment. If you've eaten with your hands, the Sunnah is to lick your fingers clean, ensuring no food is wasted and showing appreciation for every bit. Then, recite the Quranic ayah about not being excessive.
Virtues & Benefits
This practice embodies several virtues: 1. **Gratitude (Shukr):** The dua itself is a powerful expression of thanks to Allah for nourishment. 2. **Avoiding Waste:** Licking fingers is a Sunnah that teaches us not to be wasteful, making sure even small amounts of food are appreciated. The Prophet Muhammad ﷺ himself emphasized this. 3. **Moderation:** The accompanying Quranic verse (Al-A'raf 7:31) reminds us of Allah's dislike for extravagance, encouraging a balanced approach to consumption.
Source & Authentication
Narrated 'Abdullah bin Busr Al-Mazini: The Prophet (ﷺ) did not use to eat from a dish and did not have it raised until the people had finished with it. And he used to eat the remnant from what was around it. And he said: 'If a morsel of food falls, let him pick it up and remove any dirt from it and eat it, and not leave it for the Satan. And he should not wipe his hand until he has licked it, for he does not know in which of his food the blessings are.' Narrated Abu Hurairah: The Prophet (ﷺ) used to say when he finished his food: 'All praise is due to Allah, much praise, blessed and well-provided praise, [but not enough].' And he said: 'The gathering of you all here has been blessed, and the cause of the blessing is you, and we ate and drank.' And the Prophet (ﷺ) said: 'O Allah, for You is all praise, and You are the Giver of food, and the Provider, and we shall not be able to dispense with You.'