Parenting Perspective 

When families aim to cultivate gratitude before meals, the practice can sometimes become performative. Children might recite words quickly without any real thought, or parents may find themselves prompting in a way that feels forced. To ensure gratitude is genuine, the language used should be simple, natural, and connected to a deeper meaning. Children learn by imitation, making a parent’s sincere example far more powerful than any lecture. 

Use Simple and Familiar Phrases 

Rather than using lengthy or overly formal statements, opt for natural and simple lines such as, ‘Alhamdulillah for this food’ or ‘We thank Allah for today’s meal’. These short, accessible phrases are easier for children to absorb and repeat with genuine feeling. 

Link Gratitude to Real Experiences 

Connect the expression of gratitude to daily life and specific experiences. For example, you could say, ‘Alhamdulillah, Allah gave us this fruit today from His beautiful creation’ or ‘We thank Allah for giving us strength through this food’. This approach grounds the words in reality, preventing them from becoming a hollow ritual. 

Lead with a Sincere Tone 

Express your gratitude with warmth, gentle eye contact, and a smile. Children are very perceptive and can sense when an emotion is authentic. If parents say their thanks as a rushed or robotic chant, children will inevitably do the same. 

Encourage Gently, Without Pressure 

It is important not to correct children harshly if they forget to say it. A better approach is to gently remind them by simply saying the phrase yourself, allowing them to join in when they are ready. Consistent and patient modelling is what builds the habit, not pressure. 

Over time, this consistent and gentle approach helps shift mealtimes from an exercise in mechanical recitation to moments of heartfelt remembrance. 

Spiritual Insight 

Expressing gratitude at mealtimes is a fundamental practice in Islam. Saying ‘Bismillah’ before eating and ‘Alhamdulillah’ after is more than simple etiquette; it is a profound act of remembering Allah as the Provider of every blessing. When parents use language that feels natural and sincere, they teach their children that gratitude is an integral part of daily life, not a performance. 

Allah Almighty states in the noble Quran at Surah Ibraheem (14), Verses 7: 

‘And (remember) when your Sustainer made this declaration; (saying that): “If you show gratitude, I (Allah Almighty) will indeed, amplify them for you (provisions and sustenance); however, if you become ungrateful, then indeed, My punishment is Meticulous (in execution)”.’ 

This verse reminds us that sincere gratitude brings an increase in blessings. This is a spiritual truth that children can begin to understand and feel through the simple, consistent words of thanks shared at the family table. 

It is recorded in Jami Tirmidhi, Hadith 1816, that the holy Prophet Muhammad ﷺ said: 

‘Allah is pleased with His servant when he eats food and praises Him for it, or drinks a drink and praises Him for it.’ 

This hadith beautifully illustrates that genuine praise after eating or drinking, even when expressed in the simplest of terms, is an act that is beloved to Allah Almighty. 

By choosing short, heartfelt phrases of gratitude for your mealtimes, you can nurture a family habit that is sincere, joyful, and deeply rooted in faith. Your children will learn that saying ‘Alhamdulillah’ is not a performance, but a daily, loving reminder of the mercy of Allah Almighty.