Little Minarets

Mealtimes · 2 lines · Abu Dawud 3767

Dua before eating

When: Before the first bite (and the second line if you forgot at the start)

Say it together

  1. Before you eat

    بِسْمِ اللَّهِ

    Line 1Bismillah

    In the name of Allah.

  2. If you forgot at the start

    بِسْمِ اللَّهِ أَوَّلَهُ وَآخِرَهُ

    Line 2Bismillahi awwalahu wa akhirahu

    In the name of Allah, at its beginning and at its end.

Sing it

Sing it

Before I Eat

A catchy Bismillah song for mealtimes: say Bismillah before every bite! Tips for watching together · Watch on YouTube (opens in a new tab)

For parents & teachers

Teaching this dua

The Prophet Muhammad ﷺ taught a boy at his table to say Bismillah, eat with his right hand and eat from what was in front of him (Sahih al-Bukhari 5376). Bismillah is the first dua many children learn, because it comes three times a day. Make it a family signal: nobody starts until someone says Bismillah, and let your child be the one who says it. The longer line is for the moment someone remembers halfway through the meal, which is a lovely chance to show that it is never too late to remember Allah.

By age: Toddlers: "Bismillah". Ages 4 and up: add the second line for when they forget.

Word by word
Bismillahiin the name of Allah

بِسْمِ اللَّهِ

awwalahuits beginning

أَوَّلَهُ

wa akhirahuand its end

وَآخِرَهُ

Where it comes from

Learn next

Duas that go with it

  • الْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ الَّذِي أَطْعَمَنِي هَذَا

    Dua after eating

    Alhamdu lillahil-ladhi at'amani hadha

    3 linesTirmidhi 3458

  • بِاسْمِكَ اللَّهُمَّ أَمُوتُ وَأَحْيَا

    Dua before sleeping

    Bismika Allahumma amutu wa ahya

    Video1 lineBukhari 6324

  • الْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ الَّذِي أَحْيَانَا

    Dua for waking up

    Alhamdu lillahil-ladhi ahyana

    3 linesBukhari 6312

Color while you learn

Coloring pages to go with it