Explanation

Insani fitrat hai ki kabhi-kabhi hum kaam shuru karte waqt bhool jate hain, aur khana khane ke dauran bhi aisa ho sakta hai. Islam mein iska bhi hal (solution) majood hai. Agar aap khana shuru karte waqt Bismillah kehna bhool gaye hain aur beech mein yaad aa jaye, toh yeh dua parh lene se us galti ki talafi ho jati hai. Yeh dua parhne se aap khane par Allah ka naam lete hain, jisse us khane mein wahi barkat aur rehmat wapas a jati hai jo shuru mein Bismillah kehne se milti.

Is there a Quranic Or Hadith reference?

Yeh dua Sunnah se sabit hai aur iska zikr mukhtalif Hadith ki kitabon mein milta hai, jaise Sunan Tirmidhi (Hadith no. 1858) aur Sunan Abu Dawud (Hadith no. 3767). Hazrat Aisha (RA) se riwayat hai ki Nabi-e-Kareem (PBUH) ne farmaya:

"Jab tum mein se koi khaye, toh Allah ka naam le. Agar woh shuru mein Allah ka naam lena bhool jaye, toh usey chahiye ki kahe: Bismillahi awwalahu wa akhirahu (Allah ke naam se, iske shuru mein aur iske aakhir mein)."

Summary

(English) Forgetting to say Bismillah before eating is common human nature. This supplication acts as a corrective measure, allowing one to invoke Allah's name even after starting the meal. By reciting it, you ensure that the barakah (blessing) is restored to the food from the beginning to the end, regardless of when you remembered to mention Allah's name.

(Hinglish) Khana khane se pehle agar aap Bismillah kehna bhool gaye hain, toh pareshan hone ki zaroorat nahi hai. Yeh dua parh kar aap Allah ka naam le sakte hain, jisse khane mein barkat wapas aajati hai. Yeh ek pyaari Sunnat hai jo hamein sikhati hai ki Allah har haal mein apne bando ki bhool ko maaf karne wala hai aur har pal barkat dene par Qadir hai.

Agar hum khana khatam karne ke baad yaad karein ki Bismillah nahi kahi, toh kya tab bhi yeh dua padhni chahiye?