Revised power of prayers by Mustafa Hajji Ahmed Khaki

DUAA WHILE DRINKING
WATER & AT MEALS

It is an undeniable fact that The All-Merciful Allaah (S.W.T.) has provided for his creations abundant provision of foods in the form of corns, fruits, cereals, vegetables, etc. And water, milk, juices, etc. in the form of drinks; ofcourse water being the foremost and best drinks amongst the all. All of these are being consumed everyday by one and all. We should be really grateful for this Mercy of Allaah (S.W.T.) which He has fixed for all without discimination. And therefore there are some attiquettes which should be followed at the time of eating and drinking.

The foremost is that a human being should not ever think that we are living for eating, but that we are eating for living, and therefore as per the law of ‘Live & Let Live’ we should be mindful of the deprived ones also, not only be mindful for ourselves and doing nothing for them! But we should be seriously active to see that the hungry does not remain with hunger anymore. If one strives to find out the deprived people there are in billions all around the world, there is no scarcity of such people even at our footsteps and around the town we live in ! And ofcourse Allaah is more pleased when we take care of His creation. Nabii Moosa (A.S.) once asked Allaah (S.W.T.) that what was the best deed in His sight and the answer was that it was a service to His creation.

As for the timings of taking meals it is related that it is Sunnat to eat breakfast early in the morning, then don’t eat anything until at Ishaa; eat slowly while masticating the food properly; don’t blow on food to cool it but wait until it cools itself; don’t cut the bread with knife; don’t finish completely the flesh on a bone (because there is a portion of Jinnaat in it) ; don’t eat anything when you are in the state of Janaabat (it causes white-spots on the body) except when you have performed Wudhoo or washed your mouth and nose; it is not allowed to use utensils made of gold or silver; don’t drink water from a cracked glass or mug; don’t over-eat because it causes white-spot diseases and takes away radience from the face; don’t abandon food at Ishaa because that will cause early aging; don’t sit for a meal until you have relieved your stomach; don’t look at others’ faces while eating; eat with the right hand ; sit with bent legs; sitting coss-leggd (Palaanthi) is Makrroh ; don’t eat while walking on roads ; wash hand before and after meals ; don’t dry the hands that you wash before meals ; it is Haraam to sit for eating food at such a place where Haraam is served or done .

Following are mentioned some Duaas to be recited while drinking water and eating:

• 
  (i) Imaam Ali (A.S.) has said that drink rain water because it purifies your body and expels diseases.
  
• 
  (ii) It is narrated that the Aadaab of drinking water is that when you drink water in the day time drink it standing while at night you should sit.
  
• 
  (iii) Say Bismillaahir-Rahmaanir-Raheem while starting to drink water and Al-Hamdulillaahi Rabbil Aalameen when you finish.
  
• 
  (iv) And it is also narrated that when you drink water at night you should say Alaykas-Salaamu Min-Maa’i Zamzam Wa Maa’il Furaat.
  

• 
  (v) And whenever you drink water remember Imaam Husayn (A.S.) by reciting this: Swalawaatullaahi Alal Husayn Wa Ahli Baytihee Wa Aswhaabihee, Wa La’anatullaahi Alaa Qatalatil Husayn Wa A’adaa’ihee.
  
• 
  Whenever the Holy Prophet (S.A.W.W.) saw a new fruit he would kiss it, touch it to both eyes and say: Allaahumma Kamaa Araytanaa Awwalaha Fee Aafiyatin Fa Arinaa Aakhirahaa Fee Aafiyatin.
  
• 
  When consuming fish Imaam Jaa’far Saadiq A.S used to say: Allaahumma Baarik Lanaa Feehi Wa Abdilnaa Khayran Minhu.
  
• 
  Imaam Jaa’far Saadiq (A.S.) said whoever sits for a meal and recites this every time while taking the morsel, his sins shall be forgiven: Bismillaahi Wal Hamdu Lillaahi Rabbil Aalameen.
  
• 
  Ameerul Mu’mineen Imaam Ali (A.S.) said that while eating food don’t talk too much, remember Allaah (S.W.T.), food is a bounty from Him and it is Waajib to remember Him while utilizing His favours.Whenever the food was made ready to be served (table-cloth was spread) the Holy Prophet (S.A.W.W.) recited this Duaa: Sub’haanaka Allaahumma Maa Ahsana Maa Tubleena, Sub’haanaka Maa Akthara Maa Tu’atweena, Sub’haanaka Maa Akthara Maa Tu’aafeena, Allaahumma Wassi’a Alayna Alaa Fuqaraa’il Mu’mineena Wal Mu’minaati Wal Muslimeena Wal Muslimaati.
  
• 
  When food was served in front of Imaam Zaynul Aabideen (A.S.) he used to recite this Duaa: Allaahumma Haadhaa Minka Wa Min Fadhlika Wa Atwaaika Fa Baarigh Lanaa Feehi Wa Sawwighnaahu Warzuqnaahu Khalaqna Idhaa Aqalnaahu Wa Rubba Muhtaajin Ilayhi Razaqta Fa Ahsanta, Allaahumaaj’alnaa Minash-Shaakireen.
  
• 
  Imaam Jaa’far Saadiq (A.S.) said that eating the left-over food or water of a Mu’min is the cure for seventy types of diseases. (ii) When the meal was over (table-cloth being cleared-away) the Imaam used to recite this Duaa: Alhamdu Lillaahil-Ladhee Hamalnaa Fil Barri Wal Bahri Wa Razaqnaa Minat-Twayyibaati Wa Fadh-Dhalnaa Alaa Katheerin Min Khalqihi Mimman Khalaqa Tafdheela.
  
• 
  Ameerul Mu’mineen (A.S.) said that pick up the food particles fallen on the table-cloth because according to Allaah (S.W.T.) they are Shafaa (cure) for every sickness.(ii) If you sit to eat food in a jungle then the left-overs and fallen food particles should be left there for the birds, insects and animals. (iii) After the meal lie down face upwards and place your right leg over the left. (iv) After finishing eating the food recite: Allaahumma Haadhaa Minka Wa Muhammadin Rasoolika Swallallaahu Alayhi Wa Aalihi Wasallam. Allaahumma Lakal Hamdu Swalli Alaa Muhammadin Wa Aali Muhammad.
  
• 
  Imaam Zaynul Aabideen (A.S.) said that whoever recites the following Duaa while eating, that food shall do no harm to him/her: Allaahumma Innee As’aluka Bismika Khayril Asmaai Mil’al Ardhi Was-Samaair-Rahmaanir-Raheemil-Ladhee Laa Yadhurru Ma’ahoo Daa’a.
  
• 
  The Holy Prophet (S.A.W.W.) said that whoever sits to eat a meal should start taking a little salt, and after finishing eating should again take a little salt, this will keep 70 problems far away from him/her. (ii) If you have a problem of indigestion, recite this Duaa of Imaam Jaa’far Saadiq A.S after meals, putting your hand over the stomach: Alaahumma Hanee’ihee, Alaahumma Sawwighneehi, Allaahumma Amri’aneehi.
  
• 
  Mufadh-dhal Bin Umar complained of pain in the eyes for which Imam Jaa’far Saadiq A.S told him to recite this Duaa after meals, placing the wet hand over the eye-brows and eye-lashes: Wal Hamdu Lillaahil Muhsinil Mujmilil Mun’imin Mufadh-dhil.