Prayer After Eating Thanksgiving Food

One of the primary human needs is eating and drinking. Good food according to the A-Qur'an is halal food that is good.

يا أيها الناس كلوا مما في الأرض حلالا طيبا ولا تتبعوا خطوات الشيطان إنه لكم عدو مبين (168)

"O people! Eat what is lawful again from what is on earth, and do not follow the steps of the devil; for indeed Satan is a real enemy to you "(QS al-Baqarah: 168). As a form of human endeavor in avoiding illicit food is to be careful in obtaining food. The negative effects of illicit food are not only felt in the world but to the hereafter. Even illicit food is one of the barriers to heaven. Abu Bakr Ash-Siddiq heard the Prophet sallallaahu alayhi wasallam said,

لَا يَدْخُلُ الْجَنَّةَ جَسَدٌ غُذِيَ بِحَرَامٍ. (رواه أبويعلى وغيره)

"It will not enter paradise the human body that is raised (fed) from illicit food" (Reported by Abu Ya'la and others). In addition to halal and haram food, between them there is law doubtful, namely the unclear between halal and haram. Referring to the hadith of the Holy Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be on him) that if someone finds food thankful, then it is better to be shunned.

مَنْ وَقَعَ فِي الشُّبُهَاتِ وَقَعَ فِي الْحَرَامِ ... (رواه البخارى ومسلم)

"Whoever is in the case of doubt, just as he is in the forbidden." (Reported by al-Bukhari Muslim).

Doubts about the halal food are often felt when in a Muslim minority. Likewise when in food stalls that are still unfamiliar, in the homes of relatives, relatives, friends and so on. In connection with this, Sheikh Afdhaluddin al-Azhari suggested praying after finishing eating at the place of others whose halal status could not be ascertained, as follows:

اللهم إن كان هذا الطعام حلالا فوسع على صاحبه واجزه خيرا وإن كان حراما أوشبهة فاغفرلي وله وأرض عني أصحاب التبعات يوم القيامة برحمتك يا أرحم الراحمين

"O God, if the food I eat is halal, then broaden the sustenance (of those who feed it) and repay with kindness. And if this food is haram or thankfulness then forgive me and him, and keep the recipients of the consequences (of their own sins) from me someday on the Day of Judgment with Your love, O Allah the Most Merciful among the merciful. " Likewise Shaykh Shayrani, he suggested reading the prayer:

اللهم احمني من الأكل من هذه الطعام الذي دعيت اليه فان لم تحمني منه فلا تدعه يقيم في بطني وان جعلته يقيم في بطني فاحمني من الوقوع في المعاصى التي تنشأ منه عادة فان لم تحمني من الوقوع في المعاصي فاقبل استغفاري وارض عني أصحاب التبعات فإن لم تقبل استغفاري وَلَمْ تَرْضَهُمْ عَنِّيْ فَصَبِّرْنِيْ عَلَى الْعَذَابِ يَا أَرْحَمَ الرَّاحِمِيْنَ

"O God, take care of me from this food. If you don't take care of me then don't leave this food in my stomach. If you keep food in my stomach, then my failure from disobedience that arises because of it. If you do not protect me from immorality, accept my repentance, and keep the recipients of the consequences (of their own sins) from me. If you do not accept my repentance and keep them away from me, then give me patience to face torture, O Allah, the Most Merciful among the merciful "(Shaykh Nawawi al-Bantani, Qami ath-Thughyan, Indonesia: Haramain, p. 12).

These are two examples of prayers from Shaykh al-Azhar and Shaykh Shayrani. May we all be guarded by God from eating thanksgiving food especially forbidden. So that it is always in the pleasure and mercy of Allah subhanahu wata’ala, ameen.

Jaenuri, Lecturer at the Faculty of Islamic Studies, UNU Surakarta

Source: https://islam.nu.or.id