Book of the Etiquette of Eating
Chapter: Saying the basmala at the beginning and praising Allah at the end

728 – ʿUmar ibn Abī Salamah, may Allah be pleased with him, reported that the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, said, “Say ‘Bismillah,’ eat with your right hand, and eat from what is directly in front of you.” Agreed upon.

729 – ʿĀʾishah, may Allah be pleased with her, reported that the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, said, “When any one of you eats, let him mention the name of Allah Most High. If he forgets to mention the name of Allah at the beginning, let him say, ‘Bismillah—at its beginning and its end.’” Reported by Abū Dāwūd and al-Tirmidhī, who graded it “good and sound.”

[Commentary]
The author—may Allah have mercy on him—states: “Book of the Etiquette of Eating.” Food (ṭaʿām) is whatever a person consumes; that is, whatever he tastes, whether it be a drink or solid nourishment. The proof that a drink may also be called ṭaʿām is the Exalted One’s words: “Whoever drinks from it is not of me, but whoever does not taste it is indeed of me—except the one who scoops up a handful with his hand” (Q 2:249). He then says: “Chapter on pronouncing the basmala at the start and praising Allah at the end,” after which he cites the ḥadith.