730 – Jābir (may Allah be pleased with him) said: I heard the Messenger of Allah ﷺ say, “When a man enters his house and remembers Allah as he enters and over his food, Satan says to his followers, ‘You will find neither lodging nor supper here.’ But if he enters without mentioning Allah’s name at the door, Satan says, ‘You have secured lodging.’ And if he neglects to mention Allah over his meal, he says, ‘You have secured lodging and supper.’” Reported by Muslim.
[Explanation]
The author—may Allah have mercy on him—includes, within the discussion of table etiquette, the narration of Jābir (may Allah be pleased with him) in which the Prophet ﷺ said: “When a man enters his house and remembers Allah as he enters and over his food, Satan says to his followers, ‘You will find neither lodging nor supper.’” This is because the person has mentioned Allah. The remembrance prescribed upon entering one’s home is to say: “Bismillah, we enter, and in the name of Allah we depart; upon our Lord we rely. O Allah, I ask You for the best of entrances and the best of exits.” This supplication is to be uttered whenever one enters the house, whether by night or by day. As for the remembrance said at dinner, one simply says, “Bismillah.”