Can I say "Bismillah at its beginning and end" in the middle of an action if I didn't say Bismillah at its start?
If a Muslim forgets to say "Bismillah" (In the name of Allah) at the beginning of eating or drinking, they should say, upon remembering, "Bismillah awwalahu wa akhirahu" (In the name of Allah, at its beginning and its end). This prevents Satan from getting a share of what he would have otherwise obtained. As for matters other than eating and drinking, such as studying, cleaning, or dressing, if one forgets to say "Bismillah" at the beginning but remembers it during the act, they should say it without adding "awwalahu wa akhirahu." Their ablution (wudu') remains valid if they remember it during or after the act.
Summarized from the full answer at Ftawy · reviewed Sep 2, 2026
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