What is the decree about saying "Bismillah" in the middle of a meal?
- Is there a hadith stating that Satan vomited when bismillah was uttered in the middle of a meal?
Dear Brother / Sister,
Umayya Ibn Makhshiyy narrates:
"The Messenger of Allah (pbuh) was sitting and somebody was eating. He did not mention Allah's name until there remained the last morsel. When he raised it to his mouth, he said,
'Bismillahi awwalahu wa akhirahu (In the name of Allah at the beginning and at the end of it).' Thereupon, the Messenger of Allah (pbuh) laughed and said,
'Satan kept eating along with him, but when he mentioned Allah's name, Satan vomited what was in his belly.'" [Abu Dawud, At'ima 16, (3786)]
When one starts to eat, he should say bismillah; if he forgets, he should say bismillah when he remembers. It is mustahab to say, "Bismillahi awwalahu wa akhirahu" when one utters it late.
Bismillah adds blessing to food with divine privilege and enables those who eat to feel full. When one does not say bismillah, Satan eats with him and eliminates the blessing of the food.
The meaning of Satan’s vomiting is that the share of Satan is removed from him with bismillah and it is transformed into a sin against him.
What is meant by Satan’s eating is to eliminate the blessing of the food and what is meant by his vomiting is to return the blessing.
Questions on Islam
- Does praying before eating a meal exist in our religion? Did the Messenger of Allah (pbuh) pray before eating a meal?
- If you forgot to say "Bismi-llahi ar-Rahmani ar-Rahimi" when you start eating, what should you say?
- What was the eating method and sitting style of the Prophet like?
- What is the criterion for dua (supplication) in prostration? Is it permissible to pray for something worldly in prostration or to say something other than "subhana rabbiyal a'la"? Is prayer invalidated if something else is said?
- Does Vomiting Invalidate the fast?
- What should our attitude be toward junk food?
- One Supplication Every Week- 16th Week
- Is it enough to say bismillah before reading a chapter in prayer or is it necessary to say audhu billahi…?
- Are there any supplications (duas) to read when one becomes ill?
- Does Vomiting Invalidate the fast?

