FatwaFederal TerritoriesEthics, Remembrance & Supplication
IRSYAD HUKUM SIRI KE-381 : MEMADAIKAH MEMBACA BASMALAH TANPA AL-RAHMAN AL-RAHIM SEBELUM MAKAN?
Is it sufficient to say only Bismillah, without al-Rahman al-Rahim, before eating?
Short answer
Reciting the basmalah before eating is recommended (sunnah), and the wording in the hadith is Bismillah.
A reference, not a fatwa. First sentence of the summary below — read the original fatwa and consult your state authority before acting.
- Authority
- Federal Territories Mufti Office
- Date
- Status
- Opinion (irsyad)
- Series
- Irsyad al-Hukum (Umum)
- Topic
- Ethics, Remembrance & Supplication
No evidence of gazettement in the source — this is not a gazetted fatwa.
Summary
Reciting the basmalah before eating is recommended (sunnah), and the wording in the hadith is Bismillah. The jurists mention both forms, Bismillah and Bismillah al-Rahman al-Rahim. Imam al-Nawawi states the more virtuous wording includes al-Rahman al-Rahim, but saying only Bismillah is sufficient and the sunnah is still fulfilled. If one forgets at the start of the meal, one says Bismillahi awwaluhu wa akhirahu.
Written in our own words from the original fatwa — check the source before acting on it.
Mengenai perkara ini para fuqaha telah berpendapat bahawa bacaan basmalah sebelum makan hukumnya adalah sunat.
Read the full fatwa on the Federal Territories website (new tab)
How to cite
Cite the original fatwa and its authority. Rujuk Fatwa is only where you found it.
Federal Territories Mufti Office. “IRSYAD HUKUM SIRI KE-381 : MEMADAIKAH MEMBACA BASMALAH TANPA AL-RAHMAN AL-RAHIM SEBELUM MAKAN?”, 28 January 2020. https://muftiwp.gov.my/ms/artikel/irsyad-hukum/umum/4067-irsyad-al-fatwa-siri-ke-381-memadaikah-membaca-basmalah-tanpa-al-rahman-al-rahim-sebelum-makan. Found via Rujuk Fatwa: https://rujukfatwa.com/en/fatwa/is-bismillah-alone-sufficient-before-eating/