The word aklah—pronouncing the hamzah clearly—refers to the morning or the evening meal.

[Commentary]
The author—may Allah have mercy on him—relates from Anas ibn Malik (may Allah be pleased with him) that the Prophet ﷺ said: “Allah is truly pleased with a servant who, when he eats a morsel of food, praises Him for it, or when he drinks a draught of water, praises Him for it.” The author explains that aklah here means the morning or evening meal, that is, lunch or dinner.

This ḥadith shows that Allah’s good pleasure can be won by the slightest of causes. All praise is due to Allah: He is pleased with a person who, upon finishing his food, says al-ḥamdu lillāh (all praise is for Allah), or upon finishing his drink, says al-ḥamdu lillāh.

Eating and drinking have both practical and verbal manners.

1. Practical manners: one must eat and drink with the right hand. It is not permissible to do so with the left; according to the stronger opinion this is forbidden. The Prophet ﷺ prohibited a man from eating or drinking with his left hand and informed us that Satan eats and drinks with his left hand. When a man once ate with his left hand in the Prophet’s presence, he said, “Eat with your right hand.” The man replied, “I cannot.” The Prophet ﷺ then said, “May you never be able.” After that the man could no longer raise his right hand to his mouth—may Allah protect us.

2. Verbal manners: one should pronounce the name of Allah when beginning to eat, saying: bismillāh (in the name of Allah).