So when a person remembers Allah as he enters his house and remembers Him over his dinner, Satan says to his cohorts, “You have no place to spend the night and no supper,” for that house and that meal have been protected by the remembrance of Allah—His remembrance is a shield Allah places against the devils. If, however, he enters without mentioning Allah’s name, Satan announces, “Now you have secured lodging,” and if he omits Allah’s name over his food, Satan adds, “And you have secured both lodging and supper.” In other words, the devil takes part in his night’s rest and in his food because he failed to fortify himself with the remembrance of Allah.

The ḥadith, therefore, urges anyone entering his home to mention the name of Allah. The wording narrated for this occasion is: “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.” After saying this, he should use the tooth-stick, for when the Prophet ﷺ entered his house the first thing he would do was to clean his teeth, and then he would greet his family with peace. When sitting down to supper, one should simply say, “Bismillah.” In this way he is safeguarded from the accursed Satan in both lodging and supper.

If he mentions Allah’s name at the door but not over the meal, Satan shares his food with him; if he mentions Allah over the meal but not at the door, Satan shares his lodging but not his food. Only when he remembers Allah both upon entering and at mealtime does Satan gain neither lodging nor supper.