Save the food from satan

**shaikh_samee** · 27-05-2011, 04:53 PM

WHICH FOOD IS ILLNESS?

Sayyiduna Uqbah bin �Amir rehmatullah alaih has narrated that the Noble Prophet Rasulullah sallalahu alaihi wasallam ‑ has stated, �The food upon which Allah�s azwajal is not recited is an illness and there is no blessing in that food. The atonement (for not having started in Allah�s name) is to recite Bismillah and eat something if the dining-mat has not been yet picked up. If the food mat has been picked up then recite Bismillah and lick the fingers clean.� (Al- Jami�us-Dagir, pp. 294, adi�. 6327)

THE FOOD BECOMES HALAL FOR THE SATAN

Sayyiduna Huzayfah radiallahu anhu has narrated that the Immaculate, Noble Prophet Rasulullah sallalahu alaihi wasallam ‑ has stated, �Food upon which Bismillah is not recited; becomes Halal for Satan (Sahih Muslim, pp. 1116, Hadis. 2017).� (In other words, by not Bismillah, Satan also joins in on the consumption of food.)

SAVE THE FOOD FROM SATAN

There is no blessing in food which has not had Bismillah recited over it before eating. Sayyiduna Abu Ayyub Ansari radiallahu anhu has narrated, �We were in the blessed company of the Holy Prophet Rasulullah sallalahu alaihi wasallam ‑ when the Food was served; in the beginning of the meal there was so much blessing that we had never seen the likes of this blessing before, but near the end we observed the deprivation of blessing. We asked the Noble Prophet of Allah Rasulullah sallalahu alaihi wasallam ‑ �Ya Rasoolullah [O Prophet of Allah], what is the reason behind this?� He answered, �All of us had recited Bismillah prior to eating, then a person who had not recited Bismillah sat down to eat, that is when Satan also ate with him.� (Sharah-us Sunnah, pp. 62, vol. 6, Hadis. 2818)

PROTECTION FROM SATAN

Sayyiduna Salman Farsi radiallahu anhu narrated that The Mercy for the Universe, Leader of the Sons of Adam, His Eminence, The Noble Prophet Rasulullah sallalahu alaihi wasallam ‑ said, �Whoever desires that Satan does not eat with him, does not join him in his siesta (noon nap), nor does he spend the night with him should say salam when entering his house and recite Bismillah prior to eating.� (Mu�jam Kabir, pp. 240, vol. 6, Hadis. 6102)

SOLUTION TO ARGUMENTS AT HOME

The Renowned Exegitist of the Quran, Hakim-ul-Ummah, Mufti Ahmad Yar Khan Na�iimi stated, �When entering the house, one should recite Bismillah and enter with the right foot first, then say Salam to everyone in the house. If no one is present in the house, one should say �Assalamu alayka ayyuhan nabi yu warahmatullahi wabarkatuhu� Some saints have been observed to recite Bismillah and Surah-Ikhlas as they entered their homes in the beginning of the day. This creates harmony in the household and augments blessing in sustenance [rizq].� (Mirat-ul Manajih, pp. 9, vol.6)

WHAT IF ONE FORGETS TO RECITE BISMILLAH?

The Mother of the Faithfuls, Sayyidatuna �Ayesha Siddiqah radiallahu anha has narrated that the Holy Prophet Rasulullah sallalahu alaihi wasallam has stated, �When a person eats, he should take the name of Allah azwajal that is recite Bismillah. If he forgets to recite Bismillah in the beginning, he should recite Bismillahi awwalahu wa-akhirahu (Sunan Abi Dawud, pp. 487,vol. 3, Hadis. 3767)

SATAN THREW UP!

Sayyiduna Umayyah bin Makhshi radiallahu anhu stated,� there was a person who began to eat without reciting Bismillah. There was only a single morsel left when he recited Bismillahi awwalahu wa-akhirahu. The Holy Prophet Rasulullah sallalahu alaihi wasallam began to smile and said, �Satan was also eating with this person. When he mentioned the name of Allah azwajal, Satan spewed the contents of his stomach.� (Sunan Abi Dawud, pp. 356, vol. 3, Hadis. 3768)

NOTHING IS HIDDEN FROM THE BLESSED VISION OF THE PROPHET

One should recite Bismillah, whenever one eats food. Whosoever eats without reciting this, a Satan named �Qarin� also joins him in the meal. It is evident from the Hadis (Prophetic Narration) narrated by Sayyiduna Umayya bin Makhshi radiallahu anhu that the eyes of the Holy Prophet Rasulullah sallalahu alaihi wasallam ‑ saw everything, which is why He Rasulullah sallalahu alaihi wasallam ‑ smiled upon seeing Satan�s dismay.

The Renowned Exegetist of the Quran, Hakeem-ul-Ummah, Mufti Ahmad Yar Khan Na�iimi has stated, �The Holy Prophet Rasulullah sallalahu alaihi wasallam is able to see even the most hidden creation. The Hadis is very explicit in its meaning and does not require elaboration or interpretation. For example, we would not eat a meal in which a fly has fallen (we would be disgusted). Similarly, Satan cannot digest food on which the name of Allah azwajal has been taken. Even though the food thrown up by Satan is of no value to us, but Satan (the accursed) falls sick, remains deprived of food, and the departed blessing from our food returns. Thus, there is an advantage for us and two disadvantages for Satan. It is also possible that Satan may not even eat with us in the future with the apprehension that perhaps we might recite Bismillah and he would have to again vomit the food he has eaten. [I would like to point out one thing here] The person mentioned in the Hadis may have been eating alone. Had he been eating in the company of the Holy Prophet Rasulullah sallalahu alaihi wasallam ‑ he would not have forgotten to recite Bismillah because the people present there used to recite Bismillah aloud and would instruct others to do the same.� (Mirat-ul Manajih, pp. 30, vol. 6)