Blessings through the day

In a minute

Allah is the Arabic word for God, used by Muslims and by Arabic-speaking Christians and Jews. Each faith teaches that God gives every breath, every meal and every sunrise, and each has short words for noticing it. A blessing takes seconds. Its work is to stop the day running past unthanked. For the longer story of remembering God, see Remembering God.

On waking

Judaism. Before getting out of bed, many Jews say Modeh ani: "I thank You, living and eternal King, for mercifully returning my soul to me. Your faithfulness is great." Another verse is often on Jewish lips at the start of the day:

They are new every morning; Great is Thy faithfulness.

Lamentations 3:23 · JPS 1917

Christianity. Anglican morning prayer begins: "Blessed are you, Lord God of our salvation, to you be praise and glory for ever." Orthodox Christians begin their morning prayers with the sign of the cross, and many then say the Jesus Prayer. Christians also read: "This is the day which the LORD hath made; We will rejoice and be glad in it" (Psalm 118:24, JPS 1917).

Islam. The Prophet Muhammad ﷺ (peace be upon him) said, on waking: "Al-hamdu lil-lahil-ladhi ahyana ba'da ma amatana wa ilaihin-nushur", "All the praises are for Allah, who made us alive after He made us die (sleep), and to Him is the resurrection" (Sahih al-Bukhari 6312). He also taught a morning prayer that asks for the good of the day and refuge from its harm (Sunan Abi Dawud 5084).

Before and after eating

Judaism. The Talmud teaches that to enjoy this world without a blessing is to take what belongs to God, for "The earth is the LORD'S, and the fulness thereof" (Psalm 24:1, JPS 1917; Berakhot 35a). There is a different blessing for each kind of food. Over bread: "Who brings forth bread from the earth" (Mishnah Berakhot 6:1). Over wine: "Who creates the fruit of the vine". After a meal with bread, Jews say the Birkat HaMazon, grace after meals, from Deuteronomy 8:10.

Christianity. Jesus (peace be upon him) "took the bread and gave thanks" (Luke 24:30, WEB). Paul writes that "nothing is to be rejected if it is received with thanksgiving. For it is sanctified through the word of God and prayer" (1 Timothy 4:4-5, WEB). Wording varies. Many Catholics say "Bless us, O Lord, and these thy gifts". Many Anglicans say "Bless, O Father, Thy gifts to our use and us to Thy service". Orthodox Christians say "O Christ our God, bless the food and drink of thy servants", often after "The eyes of all look to thee, O Lord, and thou givest them their food in due season".

Islam. The Prophet ﷺ told a boy: "Mention the Name of Allah and eat with your right hand, and eat of the dish what is nearer to you" (Sahih al-Bukhari 5376). So Muslims say "Bismillah" (in the name of Allah) before eating. After the meal the Prophet ﷺ would say, "Al-hamdu lillah kathiran tayyiban mubarakan fihi", "Praise be to Allah, abundant, good and blessed praise" (Sahih al-Bukhari 5458). The Qur'an invites: "Let man consider his food" (80:24, Pickthall). See Bismillah and Alhamdulillah.

On the road

Judaism. Psalm 121 is the psalm of journeys: "The LORD shall guard thy going out and thy coming in, from this time forth and for ever" (Psalm 121:8, JPS 1917). Jews also have a traveller's prayer, Tefilat HaDerech.

Christianity. Jesus tells his disciples, on entering a house: "Peace be to this house" (Luke 10:5, WEB). Christians read the same psalm, and many keep it for journeys.

Islam. The Prophet ﷺ, mounting his camel to set out, said "Allahu akbar" three times, then: "Glory be to Him Who has made subservient to us, for we had not the strength for it, and to our Lord do we return" (Sunan Abi Dawud 2599). The words follow the Qur'an:

Glorified be He Who hath subdued these unto us, and we were not capable (of subduing them); And lo! unto our Lord we surely are returning.

Qur'an 43:13-14 · Pickthall

Many Muslims say it today on boarding a car or plane. For "peace" at the door, see Salam and shalom.

Wonders of nature

Judaism. The Mishnah says that on seeing lightning, thunder or strong winds one says a blessing, "Whose strength and power fill the world", and on seeing extraordinary mountains, hills, seas, rivers or deserts, "Author of creation" (Mishnah Berakhot 9:2). Today Jews also bless God on seeing a rainbow, remembering the covenant with Noah (peace be upon him) (Genesis 9:13, 16), and over a strikingly beautiful tree or creature: "Who has such in His world". Once every 28 years Jews say the Birkat HaChamah, a blessing for the sun.

Christianity. Jesus points to nature as a teacher: "See the birds of the sky... Your heavenly Father feeds them" (Matthew 6:26, WEB) and "Consider the lilies, how they grow" (Luke 12:27, WEB). Christians also take up the Psalms: "The heavens declare the glory of God, and the firmament showeth His handiwork" (Psalm 19:2, JPS 1917). Many churches keep a harvest thanksgiving each autumn. See Harvest and thanksgiving.

Islam. The Qur'an calls believers to reflect on creation while remembering God:

Such as remember Allah, standing, sitting, and reclining, and consider the creation of the heavens and the earth, (and say): Our Lord! Thou createdst not this in vain. Glory be to Thee!

Qur'an 3:191 · Pickthall

The Prophet ﷺ taught short prayers for the weather. On seeing rain he said, "O Allah, let it be a strong fruitful rain" (Sahih al-Bukhari 1032). On seeing the new moon: "O Allah, bring it over us with blessing and faith, and security and Islam. My Lord and your Lord is Allah" (Jami' at-Tirmidhi 3451).

At night

Judaism. "In peace will I both lay me down and sleep; for Thou, LORD, makest me dwell alone in safety" (Psalm 4:9, JPS 1917). Many Jews say the Shema before sleep.

Christianity. In evening prayer many churches use the old man Simeon's words: "Now you are releasing your servant, Master, according to your word, in peace" (Luke 2:29, WEB).

Islam. On lying down the Prophet ﷺ would say "Bismika Allahumma amutu wa ahya", "With Your name, O Allah, I die and I live" (Sahih al-Bukhari 6324). The hadith on this page come from the Sunni collections. Shia Muslims draw on their own collections for supplications, and all Muslims share the words of the Qur'an.

Common ground

• Blessing before enjoying, thanks after.
• Words for the first moment of the day and the last.
• Nature as a reminder of the One who made it.

Back to Remembering God, or start the set at Prayer and worship.