اللَّهُمَّ أَطْعِمْ مَنْ أَطْعَمَنِي وَاسْقِ مَنْ سَقَانِي
O Allah, feed those who fed me and give drink to those who gave me drink.
Allahumma at'im man at'amani wasqi man saqani
When to Read
This beautiful supplication is specifically for when you have been hosted and served food by someone else. It's a beautiful way to express gratitude not just to your host, but to Allah, by asking Him to bless your host with sustenance. While the dua focuses on the host, the principle of asking for blessings and nourishment extends to our own families and especially our children. After reciting this, you can follow up with your own personal duas for your children's well-being, righteousness, and sustenance, making the intention that Allah blesses you with righteous offspring and provides for them.
How to Read
Recite this dua with sincerity and a grateful heart after finishing a meal that was provided by someone else. You can say it quietly to yourself or, if appropriate and your host is comfortable, say it aloud with the intention of making dua for them. It's a practice rooted in the Prophet Muhammad's ﷺ own supplications, showing deep appreciation and invoking Allah's blessings upon those who have shown you kindness.
Virtues & Benefits
This dua encompasses several beautiful aspects: 1. **Gratitude:** It's a direct expression of thanks to your host, recognizing their effort and kindness. 2. **Invocation of Allah's Blessings:** By asking Allah to 'feed' and 'give drink' to your host, you are invoking His boundless blessings upon them. 3. **Spiritual Nourishment for Offspring:** While not directly for children, the principle of asking for nourishment and blessings for others can be extended. You can make this dua for your host and then follow up with personal supplications for your own children, asking Allah to grant them righteous character, good health, and lawful sustenance, mirroring the blessing you sought for your host. The act of making dua itself is a way of spiritually nurturing your connection with your children and seeking Allah's protection and guidance for them.
Source & Authentication
Anas b. Malik (Allah be pleased with him) reported: The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) came to Sa'd b. Ubadah (Allah be pleased with him) and he spread a mat for him. The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) sat on it. Then some dates and butter were brought. Sa'd began to serve him with wet dates. The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said: The one who has abstained from food has taken his way, and you have taken yours. You should bring melted butter and bread. They brought him melted butter and bread. Then the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) ate, and Sa'd began to serve him with wet dates. The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said: I have seen the food of Paradise. Then he said: I have seen you taking [dry] dates. You should have brought fresh dates. Then the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said: May Allah the Exalted grant you abundant blessings in your food and in your drink, and may He not give you cause to wish for anything until you die. Sa'd said: Messenger of Allah, what do you think of us if we keep this (fresh dates) in our possession and do not eat it? The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said: Do you not hear? The one who abstains from food has taken his way, and you have taken yours. You should bring melted butter and bread. Then the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said: O Allah, forgive Sa'd b. Ubadah. And he supplicated for him. And when Sa'd died, the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) would not mention him but would say: O Allah, forgive Abdu Rahman b. Awf and forgive Sa'd b. Ubadah, and forgive Abu Bakr, and forgive Umar. And he would say: Allah has forgiven you. Sa'd b. Ubadah (Allah be pleased with him) died in the time of Umar (Allah be pleased with him), and it was Umar (Allah be pleased with him) who prayed over him. This is the version of Muslim. The following addition is in the version of Abu Dawud: Sa'd said: Messenger of Allah, if you are given food, and you eat it, then all praise is due to Allah, and if you are given food and you are not able to eat it, then you should say: > **Arabic:** اللَّهُمَّ أَطْعِمْ مَنْ أَطْعَمَنِي وَاسْقِ مَنْ سَقَانِي > **Translation:** O Allah, feed those who fed me and give drink to those who gave me drink. > **Transliteration:** *Allahumma at'im man at'amani wasqi man saqani* — Sahih Muslim 2055 (Abu Dawud also narrated a similar version, authenticated by Al-Albani).