Is it permissible in Islam to perform Fatiha of food or blow on food by saying Al Fatiha ?

Question:
Is it permissible in Islam to perform Fatiha of food or blow on food by saying Al Fatiha ? It would be nice if you could quote the reference of some Hadith/Quran so that I can convince others.

Answer:
Performing Fatiha of food is the Sunna of the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him). The great scholar Mulla Ali Qari writes:

‘It was on the third day after the death of Ibrahim, son of the Messenger of Allah, when Abu Zarr came to the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) with dry dates, milk and some wheat bread. He placed it in front of the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him). He recited Surah Fatiha and Surah Ikhlas thrice and then raised his hands in Dua and wiped his face. The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) then ordered Abu Zarr to divide the food amongst the people.’ 
(Tashih al-Aqa’id, p. 127).

There is no evidence to suggest that after such recitation, blowing on the food is forbidden. In fact, there is ample evidence to suggest that it is the Sunna to seek the Baraka of the recitation by blowing thereafter. 
Aisha (may Allah be pleased with her) reports that when the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) felt ill, he would recite Surah Falaq and Surah Naas, and then blow upon himself using his hands (Sahih Bukhari, Book of Maghazi, Hadith no. 4085).
He would also blow upon himself before going to sleep, after reciting Surah Ikhlas, Surah Naas and Surah Falaq.


Muslim :: Book 7 : Hadith 3170 

Abu Huraira (Allah be pleased with him) reported that when the people saw the first fruit (of the season or of plantation) 
they brought it to Allah's Apostle (Peace be upon him). When he received it 
he said: O Allah, bless us in our fruits; and bless us in our city; and bless us in our sa's and bless us in our mudd.
O Allah, Ibrahim was Thy servant, Thy friend, and Thy apostle; and I am Thy servant and Thy apostle. 
He (Ibrahim) made supplication to Thee for (the showering of blessings upon) Mecca, 
and I am making supplication to Thee for Medina just as he made supplication to Thee for Mecca, 
and the like of it in addition. 
He would then call to him the youngest child and give him these fruits.


Muslim :: Book 7 : Hadith 3171

Abu Huraira (Allah be pleased with him) reported that Allah's Messenger (Peace be upon him) was given 
the first fruit and he said: O Allah, shower blessings upon us in our city, and in our fruits, in our mudd and in our sa's, blessings upon blessings, and he would then give that to the youngest of the children present there.

There is no evidence to suggest that after such recitation, blowing on the food is forbidden. In fact, there is ample evidence to suggest that it is the Sunna to seek the Baraka of the recitation by blowing thereafter. Aisha (may Allah be pleased with her) reports that when the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) felt ill, he would recite Surah Falaq and Surah Naas, and then blow upon himself using his hands (Sahih Bukhari, Book of Maghazi, Hadith no. 4085). He would also blow upon himself before going to sleep, after reciting Surah Ikhlas, Surah Naas and Surah Falaq.

It is recorded in Mishkaat Sharif, Chapter of Miracles (Al-Mu’jizaat). It is reported by Hadrat Abu Huraira that once he brought some dates in the presence of the Holy Prophet (Peace Be Upon Him) and requested him to pray for its abundant growth
فضمهن ثم دعا لي فيهن بالبرکة
The Holy Prophet (Peace Be Upon Him) mixed these dates together and prayed for increased growth of the dates (dry fruit). (Tirmidhi, Bab al-Manaqib, Vol 12, Page 327, Hadith 3774)
It is recorded in the Mishkaat, Babul Mujizat that in the Battle of Tabuk, at one stage of the battle a shortage of food was felt in the Islamic army. The Holy Prophet (Peace Be Upon Him) asked every man present there to bring whatever was with him. Every one brangnt whatever was with him and presented it to the Holy Prophet (Peace Be Upon Him). The tablecloth was spread. The Holy Prophet (Peace Be Upon Him) prayed for the blessing over the food so spread. After this he asked the men to put back the food in the utensils (pots) as a reserve for eating at the food time.
In the same Mishkaat, it is also recorded that on the wedding of the Holy Prophet (peace be upno him) with Hadrat Zainab, Hadrat Umm-e-Saleem prepared a small quantity of valima in celebration of the wedding. But the Holy Prophet (Peace Be Upon Him) invited a large number of Companions to attend the Valima. The food was obviously short. The Holy Prophet (Peace Be Upon Him) recited some prayer on the food and passed his Holy hand over the food.
There is yet another incident of praying over the food for the blessing in the food which is recorded in the same Mishkaat and it is that on the occasion of the battle of Trench (Ghazwa-e-Khandaq), the Companion Hadrat Jabir prepared some small quantity of food for the Holy Prophet (Peace Be Upon Him). When the Holy Prophet (Peace Be Upon Him) came to Hadrat Jabir brought some kneaded flour with intent for prayer for its sufficiency to feed the number of guest-companions whom the Holy Prophet (Peace Be Upon Him) had brought with them to participate in taking the food. The Holy Prophet (Peace Be Upon Him) offered Dua for the increase in the food and mixed his mouth-water (luab) as a token of blessing.



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