Dua & Sunnah

Dua for Seeking Allah's Help to Benefit from Food and Gain Strength for Worship

Before Eating
Hasan HadithSunan Ibn Majah 3271

اللَّهُمَّ بَارِكْ لَنَا فِيهِ وَأَطْعِمْنَا خَيْرًا مِنْهُ

O Allah, bless for us in it, and feed us better than it.

Allahumma barik lana fihi wa at'imna khayran minhu

When to Read

This dua is recited before eating or when being served food. It's a beautiful way to begin a meal, acknowledging that the nourishment we receive comes from Allah and asking Him to make it beneficial.

How to Read

Recite this sincerely before taking your first bite. Imagine the food as a trust from Allah, and your body as a vessel for His worship. Let the words fill your heart with gratitude and reliance on Him.

Virtues & Benefits

This dua, though short, encapsulates a profound request. By asking for Allah's blessing (barakah) in the food, we seek an increase in its goodness, not just in quantity but in its ability to nourish and strengthen us. Furthermore, asking to be fed better than it implies a hope for sustenance in this life and the next, and for the strength that allows us to fulfill our obligations to Allah. It turns a simple act of eating into an act of worship, connecting our physical needs to our spiritual goals.

Source & Authentication

Narrated by Anas bin Malik (may Allah be pleased with him): The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said: 'If a person eats something, then he should say: Allahumma barik lana fihi wa at'imna khayran minhu. And if he drinks milk, then he should say: Allahumma barik lana fihi wa zidna minhu. For no one can compete with food and drink except the tongue.' (Sunan Ibn Majah 3271). While this hadith primarily mentions milk, the principle of seeking blessing in food is universal. A more general dua for before eating is 'Bismillah' and after eating is 'Alhamdulillah allathi at'amana wa saqana wa ja'alana Muslimin' (Praise be to Allah Who fed us and gave us drink and made us Muslims). However, the specific wording for seeking greater benefit and better sustenance is highly relevant.
Hasan HadithSunan Ibn Majah 3271
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