omit it, for if he does, Satan will share his food—the deadliest enemy a person has will sit at his table whenever he fails to say Bismillah. Should he add, “ar-Rahman ar-Raheem” (the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful), there is no harm, for the Messenger of Allah ﷺ merely said, “Bismillah,” meaning: pronounce the name of Allah.

The complete formula is to say, “Bismillahi ar-Rahmani ar-Raheemi,” just as Allah opened His Book with it and as Solomon, peace be upon him, wrote in his letter: “Indeed, it is from Solomon, and it reads: In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful” ⦗al-Naml: 30⦘. If one limits himself to simply saying “Bismillah,” there is no sin; if he adds “ar-Rahman ar-Raheem,” there is likewise no sin. The matter is flexible.

As for mentioning Allah’s name over an animal being slaughtered, that is a prerequisite for lawful slaughter: if you fail to pronounce it, the meat is forbidden carrion, as though the animal had died without being slaughtered.

Some scholars nevertheless say that, at the moment of slaughter, one should not say “Bismillahi ar-Rahmani ar-Raheemi,” because the impending act of killing clashes with invoking mercy upon the very animal that is about to be slain. That is their rationale, yet even if a person were to utter the full phrase, no transgression is incurred.

The second etiquette lies in his words: “and eat with your right hand.” This is a command that carries the weight of obligation. A person must eat and drink with his right hand, for the Prophet ﷺ forbade eating or drinking with the left and said, “When any one of you eats, let him eat with his right hand; and when he drinks, let him drink with his right hand, for Satan eats with his left hand and drinks with his left.” We have been forbidden to follow in Satan’s footsteps. Allah the Exalted says, “O you who believe, do not follow in the footsteps of Satan. Whoever follows in the footsteps of Satan—he only commands …” ⦗al-Nur: 21⦘.