Being a mother, my family is at the centre of everything I do. The choices for how I plan my day, where I choose to work, if I choose to work, how I shop, what we do as a family and especially what we eat. What we put into our bodies has a direct impact on our well-being both physically and spiritually. It’s a responsibility that I take seriously.

In Islam every beneficial act can be a form of Ibadah (Worship). Cleaning, cooking, taking out the trash, and so on, are all acts of ibadah as long as we have the right intention.

The Prophet (SAW) said, “The most beloved of deeds to Allah are those that are most consistent, even if it is small”.

[Bukhaari and Muslim]

The act of cooking is a consistent way that we can be making Ibadah all the time. Imagine consuming food everyday that is blessed and infused with the remembrance of the most high and the benefits of that to your body and well-being. What greater gift can we give to the ones we love than the good intentions we put into our efforts…

Here are some ways we can make the act of cooking an Ibadah.

• Start with BISMILLAH, when beginning your cooking.
• Have Wudhu (ablution) whilst cooking – a person in wudhu is safe from Shaitaan. Wudhu not only cleanses one externally but it purifies us internally as well by washing off our sins. 
• Have the intention of cooking food solely for the pleasure of Allah (SAW) and not for people’s praises n compliments.
• Keep your head & hair covered – not only to save oneself from the embarrassment of having someone pull out a hair from the food but to keep the angels of mercy present too. 
• Always check the ingredients for halaal & haraam – the one who consumes haram food, his/her ibadat is not accepted for 40 days.
• Recite Surah Fatiha and blow over the food. Surah Fatiha is known as “ruqya” (remedy). which means it can cure sickness and ward off evil.
• Do lots of dhikr & recite durood while cooking – the love of Rasulullah (SAW) will enter in the hearts of those who eat the food… 
• recite the beautiful names of *ﷲ͜عَزَّوَجَــــل* while cooking and it will stop arguments and fights of husband and wife and family or anyone that eats of the food.
• Have the pious people partake of the food where possible – because the pious are the friends of Allah, and their duas on your behalf can be readily accepted.
• Do not waste anything, not even a few grains.

“But waste not by excess: for Allah loveth not the wasters.”

(Quran 6:141)

• When eating any sunnah food that was liked by Rasulullah SAW e.g dates, meat, thareed, etc, make a niyyat of sunnat and gain the rewards of following the sunnat.
• Offer the same food to your servants.
• Say Alhamdulillah after cooking as Allah SW has made you the instrument of satiating hunger and all blessings are from him.

Adapted from Sunnah of Cooking by MsFlawlessKhan