What to Say if You Forget Bismillah
Every Muslim is taught to begin a meal by saying Bismillah — “In the name of Allah.” But everyday life is full of small distractions, and it’s common to sit down, take the first bite, and only then remember that you forgot to say it. The good news is that the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ taught a specific dua for exactly this moment, so nothing about your meal is lost. Dua in the middle of eating.
The Dua for the Middle of Eating
بِسْمِ اللَّهِ أَوَّلَهُ وَآخِرَهُ
Transliteration: Bismillahi awwalahu wa akhirahu
Translation: “In the name of Allah, at its beginning and at its end.”
You can say this the moment you remember — whether that’s a few seconds in, halfway through the plate, or right before the last bite. It isn’t tied to a specific point in the meal; it’s tied to the moment of remembering.
Where This Dua Comes From
This dua is not something scholars invented out of caution — it’s a direct instruction from the Prophet ﷺ, reported in more than one collection of hadith, including Sunan Abu Dawood, Jami’ at-Tirmidhi, Sunan Ibn Majah, and Musnad Ahmad. The narration explains that when a person sits to eat, they should mention Allah’s name at the start; and if they forget to do so, they should say “Bismillahi awwalahu wa akhirahu” as soon as they remember. Several scholars, including Imam Tirmidhi, graded the hadith as authentic (sahih), and others graded it hasan (good) — either way, it’s on solid ground to act upon and dua for middle of eating
You may also come across a slightly different wording of the same Middle of eating dua:
بِسْمِ اللَّهِ فِي أَوَّلِهِ وَآخِرِهِ
Bismillahi fi awwalihi wa akhirihi — “In the name of Allah, in its beginning and its end”
Both versions carry the same meaning and are used interchangeably in different regions and schools of thought — you can say either one with confidence.
Why This Dua Matters
- It’s an act of mercy, not correction. Islam doesn’t ask you to redo the meal or feel guilty — it simply gives you a way to bring Allah’s remembrance back into the moment.
- It protects the barakah (blessing) of the food. Scholars explain that mentioning Allah’s name at a meal keeps shaytan from sharing in what you eat; this dua restores that protection even after a forgetful start.
- It’s easy to teach children. Because it’s short and rhymes naturally in Arabic, it’s one of the easiest duas for kids to memorize early, right alongside the dua before and after eating. Trustpilot Reviews
A Simple Way to Remember It
If you’re teaching this to children or new Muslims, try this sequence:
- Before eating: say Bismillah.
- If you forget and only remember partway through: say Bismillahi awwalahu wa akhirahu.
- After finishing: say the dua after eating (Alhamdulillahil-ladhi at’amana wa saqana wa ja’alana muslimin).
Practicing all three together turns an ordinary meal into a small, consistent habit of remembrance — which is really the whole point of Islamic table manners (adab al-ta’am).
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I say this dua at any point during the meal, not just the beginning? Yes. It’s specifically for the moment you remember you forgot Bismillah, wherever that falls in the meal.
Does this dua replace saying Bismillah normally? No — it’s specifically for when Bismillah was missed at the start. If you remember before taking the first bite, simply say the regular Bismillah instead.
Is it authentic, or just a common practice? It’s authentically reported in hadith, not a cultural addition — see the sources above.
Can children learn this dua? Yes, and it’s a great one to start with, since it’s short, memorable, and reinforces the habit of always saying Bismillah first.
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