I have cited its routes, tracing them to their sources, in al-Irwāʾ (2028). I have included it here through al-Ṭabarānī’s route with this wording because of its rarity and its limited presence in the commonly circulated books of the Sunnah. The eminent scholar Ibn al-Qayyim likewise cited it with this wording in Zād al-Maʿād, without attributing it to anyone, as was generally his practice.

The hadith indicates that the sunnah formula for invoking Allah’s name before eating is simply: “In the name of Allah.” The same is indicated by the hadith of ʿĀʾishah, attributed to the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him:

“When one of you eats food, let him say, ‘In the name of Allah.’ If he forgets at the beginning, let him say, ‘In the name of Allah, at its beginning and its end.’”

Al-Tirmidhī recorded it and graded it authentic. It also has a supporting narration from Ibn Masʿūd, which was previously cited with its sourcing under no. 196.

Al-Ḥāfiẓ strengthened the hadith of ʿĀʾishah in al-Fatḥ (9/455) and said:

“It is the most explicit report transmitted concerning the formula for invoking Allah’s name.”

He then said:

“As for al-Nawawī’s statement in the section on the etiquette of eating in al-Adhkār: ‘The formula for invoking Allah’s name is among the most important matters that should be known. It is preferable to say, “In the name of Allah, the Most Merciful, the Bestower of Mercy”; but if he says, “In the name of Allah,” that suffices and the sunnah is fulfilled’—I have found no specific evidence for the preference he claims.”

I say: There is nothing better than his sunnah, peace and blessings be upon him: “The best guidance is the guidance of Muhammad, peace and blessings be upon him.” Therefore, if nothing other than “In the name of Allah” has been authentically established for invoking Allah’s name before eating, it is not permissible to add to it—let alone regard the addition as better than it—for to say so contradicts what we have indicated from the hadith: “The best guidance is the guidance of Muhammad, peace and blessings be upon him.”