Why should a person say bismillah before eating when he/she has already said before entering the home?

As salaamu ’alaykum,

My children are asking why they have to say Bismillah before they eat to prevent shaytaan for eating with them when they already said Bismillah before entering the house (which prevents shaytaan from entering the house in the first place).

 بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم

الجواب حامدا ومصليا ومسلما

In reference to your question, reciting the name of Allah before entering the home and before eating are two separate sunnahs and have separate virtues. Consider the following hadith:

Jabir (may Allah be pleased with him ) reports that he heard Messenger of Allah (may Allah bless him and give him peace) saying, “If a person mentions the name of Allah upon entering his house and eating, Shaytan (addressing his followers) says, “You will find nowhere to spend the night here nor will you find dinner (here).” But if he enters without mentioning the name of Allah, Shaytan says (to his followers), “You have found (a place) to spend the night.”  And if he does not mention the name of Allah at the time of eating, Shaytan says: “You have now found (a place) to spend the night in as well as food.”

(Muslim)

It is evident from the aforementioned hadith that reciting the name of Allah in both instances are two separate sunnahs. Furthermore, from this hadith we understand that reciting the name of Allah before entering the house prevents Shaytan from being able to stay in the house throughout the night. However, it is still possible for him to enter.

والله اعلم

And Allah subhanahu wa ta’ala knows best.

AbdurRahman Islam

Approved by Mufti Husain Ahmad Madani