Islam is a perfect religion that regulates all lines of human life including things that are very privacy like qadha hajat or matters of conjugal relations. So, it’s only natural that in eating and drinking there are also good manners and procedures. Then it is a form of our efforts to maintain a healthy body as well as taste the favors that God has given us.
So, in this case we are recommended to say du’a meal. Before eating and after eating there are two separate du’a that we must memorize and we read in every time we want to eat. It is not mandatory, but it is very good if it is practiced and done.
By practicing du’a after eating, we will get blessing on the food we eat. Blessing is everything in the life of Muslims. This blessing on food is something that can make someone more obedient in carrying out religious teachings. Unlike the case if the food we eat is not a blessing, this will tend to make us lazy in worshiping Allah.
So, du’a before eating is something that we must read when eating, whether breakfast, lunch, dinner or when eating whatever snack is permitted (mubah). Familiarizing du’a after eating is very good because it can be an example for children, so they know the du’a from an early age.
Du’a After Eating
Ok, let’s just see how the two are recommended for us to do.
الْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ الَّذِي أَطْعَمَنَا وَسَقَانَا وَجَعَلَنَا مِنَ الْمُسْلِمِينَ
In Latin Arabic
Alhamdulillahilladhii ath’amanaa wa saqaanaa wa ja’alanaa minalmuslimiin.
Meaning:
“All praise and gratitude is due to Allah Who has fed us and given us drink, and Who has made us Muslims.”
Also see: The Best Dua After Salah
The meaning of du’a after eating
What exactly is the meaning contained in the du’a. Below we see the review
1. Thanks for God’s grace
This is our form of gratitude to God, because only God can give us food and sustenance and everything. Without God’s will, none of this will happen.
2. Get to know the giver of favors
When eating we say du’a, which means “give eating”. Everything we eat is a gift from God, so we know more about who gives the food. Then after getting to know, then we should never do brash or sinful sins. We are strong not because of the food, but because God has strengthened us. Food is only a cause made by God.
3. Pray that we will always be in Islam
Every time we eat, we recite du’a which implies the request of Allah that we are Muslims. This means that we always set our faith in Islam.