The Favorite Foods of Prophet Mohammad (PBUH) and Their Many Benefits (Part 1)
(Source: Pinterest- art and illustration) (The characters depicted are NOT the Prophet or any one of his wives)
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After surviving a Tumblr scam attempt and given my local religious institutions and masajid are sharing a lot of Prophet stories regarding the hijrah (migration) and beginning to celebrate the return of the Islamic month of 'Muharram', I figured I too would join in and share some fun facts about the prophet Mohammad (PBUH). I admit, I am quite the foodie. I love food. It was well-known that the purpose of food was to nourish and strengthen oneself for the worship of God. The guidance of the Prophet Mohammad in his food was the most balanced and excellent, as he was moderate in his consumption and diversified his diet without extravagance or excess. His supplication was often, "Oh Allah, provide Mohammad's family with sustenance". The sustenance here refers to the amount of food that sustains their condition, improves their affairs, and is sufficient for their efforts without any surplus that might lead to temptation or excess.
Ibn al-Qayyim eloquently described the Prophet's guidance regarding food: "His guidance in food was neither refusing what was available nor demanding what was unavailable. He would eat whatever good was presented to him unless his soul disliked it, without it being forbidden. He never criticized any food. If he desired it, he would eat it; otherwise, he would leave it. His guidance was to eat whatever was available".
It wasn't the Prophet's habit to limit himself to only one type of food, not extending beyond it. Doing so would greatly harm one's nature and could sometimes be impossible. If he didn't consume other foods, he would weaken or perish, and if he consumed them, his nature wouldn't accept them, causing distress. Limiting oneself to one type of food, even if it's the best, poses a harmful risk.
The Prophet Mohammad (peace be upon him) used to eat the customary foods of his people, including meat, fruits, bread, dates, and others, as mentioned in his dietary habits. Thus, it is recommended that we refer to his practices for guidance in our diets.
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1. Dates: Sa'd ibn Abi Waqqas reported that the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said, "Whoever starts his day with seven dates of Ajwa variety will not suffer harm that day from poison or magic". (Al Bukhari 5445)
He also said: "Oh Aisha! There is no house in which dates are not present, but hunger will enter it. Oh Aisha! There is no house in which dates are present, but hunger and poverty will depart from it". (Sahih Muslim, Hadith: 2046)
“A house in which there are no dates is like a house in which there is no food” (Sunan Ibn Majah, Hadith: 3328)
Dates were a significant portion of the Prophet's diet. The fruits of a date palm tree (النخلة) are called dates( تمر). Dates are rich in vitamins and minerals and are free from cholesterol and contain very low fat. They are a good source of dietary fiber, vitamin-A, iron, potassium, calcium, manganese, and copper. Other than these healthy benefits our beloved Prophet (PBUH) used to plant date trees himself. Fresh dates are recommended to be eaten at the time of childbirth. Dates are sometimes eaten with different things to annul any adverse effects. Prophet Mohammad himself would often eat dates with cucumbers as they’re both the opposite of each other in terms of the effect they have on the body so this helps avoid any harmful effects while strengthening the body.
Abdullah Ibn Basr narrated "The Messenger of Allah (PBUH) came to visit us and we offered him butter and dates, for he liked butter and dates" (Abu Dawud 3837)
Abdullah Ibn Ja'far reported "I saw the Messenger of Allah (PBUH) eating dates with with cucumbers" (Muslim 2043)
(Source: Pinterest- Visage Artistique
Nabeez: The Messenger of Allah (PBUH) often consumed a drink called “Nabeez”- prepared from soaked raisins or dates. Nabeez should be consumed within twelve hours of soaking to prevent fermentation.
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2. Vinegar: Vinegar (خل) also known as THE SEASONING OF PROPHETS. Vinegar has been mentioned in a number of Hadiths. Vinegar was a part of the diet of all Prophets before Prophet Mohammad (PBUH).
Umm Sa’d had once said said:
“The Messenger of Allah (PBUH) entered upon ‘Aisha, when I was with her, and said: ‘Is there any food?’ She said: ‘We have bread, dates and vinegar.’ The Messenger of Allah (PBUH) said: ‘What a blessed condiment vinegar is. O Allah, bless vinegar, for it was the condiment of the Prophets before me, and no house will ever be poor in which there is vinegar.’ (Sunan Ibn Majah Hadith: 3318)
Vinegar cannot be used in its original state it has to be diluted with water, continual use in its concentrated state will lead to increased heartburn and damage the enamel of the teeth. To have vinegar with bread is Sunnah. Vinegar offers multiple health benefits, including blood sugar regulation, weight management, heart health support, antimicrobial effects, and improved digestion.
"A household which has vinegar will never suffer from poverty" (Tirmidhi)
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3. Black Seed: The black seed, also known as Nigella sativa or black cumin, is mentioned in several authentic Hadiths. In Sahih al-Bukhari, it is narrated that the Prophet (PBUH) said: “This black cumin is healing for all diseases except As-Sam.” When asked what As-Sam meant, it was explained as death (Sahih al-Bukhari 5687)
Scholars have discussed the meaning of “healing for every disease.” Some interpret it broadly, indicating that black seed has general medicinal benefits, particularly for ailments like colds or moisture-related illnesses. Others clarify that it does not literally cure every disease, as no plant-based remedy can treat all illnesses. Al-Hafidh Ibn Hajar noted that it is beneficial for cold diseases, while Al-Khattabi emphasized that the phrase is general in wording but specific in meaning.
Furthermore, Black seeds are rich in essential fatty acids, vitamins (B-complex), minerals like calcium, iron, zinc, and copper, and fiber. Research suggests black seed may support immune function, cardiovascular and metabolic health, and respiratory health. Some studies indicate benefits for blood sugar control, high blood pressure, liver health, asthma, and allergy symptoms.
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4. Honey: Honey (عسل) is a sweet liquid made by bees from the nectar of flowers. It is a highly nutritious food. It has been considered as the medicine of medicines, food of foods, and drink of drinks. It is a natural cure for most types of illness. The Prophet (PBUH) used to drink a glass of water mixed with honey every single morning. Honey is deemed as a cure for all ailments.
Aisha (RA) narrated: "Allah's Messenger (PBUH) used to love sweet edible things and honey," (Sahih al-Bukhari 5431)
"Healing is in three things: cupping, a gulp of honey, or cauterization. But I forbid my followers to use cauterization (branding with fire).” (Bukhari 5681)
Honey contains antioxidants like flavonoids and phenolic acids that may help protect against conditions like type 2 diabetes and heart disease. Darker honey varieties tend to offer more antioxidants than lighter ones.
While honey raises blood sugar like other sugars, research suggests it may help improve fasting blood sugar levels and increase adiponectin, a hormone that can reduce inflammation and support blood sugar regulation.
Honey may help suppress coughing in children over 1 year of age, support wound healing when applied topically, and offer heart health benefits like improved blood pressure and cholesterol levels.
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(Source: Pinterest- Jar Milk - Photo by blueringmedia on Getty Images
5. Milk: Milk (حليب) is an amalgam of water, proteins, fat, and some natural sugar. Although 87.5% of milk is water, it is somewhat a complex food. After all, a little calf gets all its nutrition from this milk. Apart from proteins, milk also contains loads of other essential vitamins, such as vitamins A, B12, and D. Milk helps in the development of strong bones and teeth, as it is rich in calcium. Prophet Mohammad (PBUH) loved having goat and camel milk. Milk has been mentioned in the Quran as well.
"Pure Milk, easy and agreeable to swallow for those who drink," (Translation: Quran 16:66)
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(I thank Allah and every teacher, mentor and source of information and material used to publish this.)
Thank you for reading! May Allah guide you to goodness and both worldly and otherworldly success!
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