What is the ruling on making supplication and reciting Surat al-Fatiha after finishing a meal for all those contributed toward it? In practice, breakfast, dinner, or supper is served to people, after which supplications are made for those who ate and those who contributed to the food, and gave charity. Surat al-Fatiha is also generally recited after eating at all times.

Offering food to others is one of the most beloved deeds to Allah Almighty. It is recommended to supplicate for the person who provided the food after eating, based on the narration of ʿAbdullah ibn Busr (may Allah be pleased with them both) who said, “The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him and his family) was a guest of my father. He said, ‘We presented him with some food and a dish of dates, dried curd, and clarified butter which he ate from. Then dates were brought to him, and he began eating them, placing the pits between his fingers and bringing together his index and middle finger. Then a drink was brought to him, and he drank it, after which he passed it to the person to his right. My father then took hold of the reins of the Prophet’s mount and said, “Supplicate to Allah for us.” The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him and his family) said, ‘O Allah, bless them in what You have provided for them, forgive them, and have mercy on them’” (recorded by Muslim in his Sahih).[1]

 

Reciting al-Fatiha after meals

The recitation of al-Fatiha in any place, at any time, and in any circumstance is recommended for the purpose of seeking blessing and good fortune through it, in accordance with the consensus of Muslim scholars, both past and present. They have recommended it for the fulfillment of needs, the attainment of objectives, facilitation of affairs, the answering of supplications, and for other benefits related to this world and the next. This has been the practice of Muslims throughout the ages. Textual evidence indicates that it has special virtues not found in other surahs of the Quran. Allah Almighty says,
“And We have certainly given you the seven oft-repeated verses and the great Quran” (Quran, 15:87). In addition, the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him and his family) said,
“The Mother of the Quran compensates for others, but nothing compensates for it” (recorded by al-Daraqutni in Al-Sunan and al-Hakim in Al-Mustadrak). In another narration, he said, “O Jabir, shall I inform not you of the best Surah revealed in the Quran?” He said, ‘Yes, O Messenger of Allah.’ The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him and his family) said, ‘It is the Opening of the Book (al-Fatiha).’” The narrator added, “And I think he said, ‘There is healing in it for every disease’” (recorded by Ibn Majah in Al-Sunan and Al-Baihaqi in Shu’ab al-Iman). For this reason, Hanafi jurists have stated that it is recommended to recite al-Fatiha during and after meals.[2]

And Allah Almighty knows best.