The Diet of the Prophet

The Diet of the Prophet [ﷺ]

بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم

Staying fit and healthy has become a worldwide trend in past years. There are numerous websites, apps, YouTube channels, and support groups inviting people to follow their fitness programs. Most, if not all of these programs offer a diet plan. After intense research, I came to the conclusion that most of these diet plans that aide in a healthy lifestyle were covered in the lifestyle of Prophet Muhammad [ﷺ] or discussed by Muslim scholars such as; Imam Ahmed, Abu Nu’aym , Ibn Qayyim,  Imam Ath-Thahabi and others.

The diet of the Prophet comes from a compilation of hadith, narrations of the companions, and medical advice on what to eat and how by Imam Ath-Thahabi [May Allah illuminate his grave]. I’ve decided to breakdown Imam Ath-Thahabi’s book , Prophetic Medicine into two articles. The first one which follows, will consist of the diet of the Prophet [ﷺ ] as found in authentic hadith and the secone article will be general dieting advise from Imam Ath-Thahabi. I pray Allah accepts this deed from me and that this series serves the Muslims around the world for a healthier lifestyle.

Imam Ath-Thahabi said: “The Muslim draws closer to Allah with all means possible from the acts of piety. The Muslim should strive to worship Allah by doing acts of obedience with the most beneficial means and the most successful way of worship. Following this, the servants need to do what Allah has ordered and stay clear of what He has prohibited. These things are related to and return to the Muslim maintaining a healthy lifestyle,  and treating their illnesses.”

Imam Ath-Thahabi said: There are three body types; healthy, sick and the body which is in between these two states. Good health is important for the body to perform good deeds and being able-bodied is among the greatest things a servant can attain after being a Muslim.

Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said, “There are two blessings in which many people incur a loss. (They are) health and free time (for doing good)”.[1]

We ask Allah for good health.

Drinking water in 3 breaths and gulps

Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) used to breathe three times in the course of a drink (he used to drink in three gulps).[2]

Abu Nuaym Al-Asbahni said: Whenever the Messenger would drink water he would pause three times to breathe. He would say, “Bismillah”, at the beginning and, “Al-Hamdulliah”, at the end

Taking the Siesta

The Prophet [ﷺ] said: Take the siesta because the devils don’t.”[3]

Citron citrus fruit

The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said, “The believer who recites the Qur’an is like a citron whose fragrance is sweet and whose taste is delicious.[4]

Imam Ath-Thahabi said: The citron is dry fruit when drunk provides benefit for a warm intestine. Drinking citron juice helps the heart and removes thirst. Moreover drinking this juice is helpful against vomiting and diarrhea. Citron juice can remove depression and ink stains on clothes.

Cleaning the teeth with siwak

Whenever the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) got up for Tahajjud prayer, he cleansed his mouth with the Siwak.[5]

The tail of a sheep

“I heard the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) saying: ‘The cure for sciatica is the fat from the tail of a Bedouin sheep (or wild sheep), which should be melted and divided into three parts, one part to be taken each day on an empty stomach.’[6]

Eating Rabbit meat

We provoked a rabbit at Marr Az-Zahran till it started jumping. My companions chased it till they got tired. But I alone ran after it and caught it and brought it to Abu Talha. He then sent both of its legs to the Prophet who accepted them.[7]

Imam Ath-Thahabi said: Eating rabbit meat causes black bile. The best part of its meat is the thigh. It’s said that rabbits have menses, so for that reason, the Prophet stopped eating it.

Watermelon

Imam Ath-Thahabi said: eating watermelon causes urine and removes skin discoloration on the face, in particularly, its seeds. Also, the seeds of watermelons help prevent and remove kidney stones.

Watermelon should be eaten before meals, otherwise, it can cause thirst.

The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) used to eat melon with fresh dates, and he used to say: The heat of the one is broken by the coolness of the other, and the coolness of the one by the heat of the other.[8]

Eating Barni Dates

The Prophet [ﷺ] said: The best dates you can eat are Barni. They have a cure for illnesses.[9]

Eating Fresh Ripe Dates

Imam Ath-Thahabi said: Eating fresh ripe dates are healthy. This is why Allah ordered Maryam to eat them.

He said:  “And shake the trunk of date-palm towards you, it will let fall fresh ripe-dates upon you.“[Maryam:25]

Eating Al-Ajwa Dates

Allah’s Messenger (ﷺ) said, “He who eats seven ‘Ajwa dates every morning, will not be affected by poison or magic on the day he eats them.”[10]

Allah’s Messenger (ﷺ) said Al-‘Ajwah is from Paradise, and it contains a cure for poison.”[11]

The Prohibition to eat Raw and uncooked Garlic

That ‘Ali said: “Eating garlic was prohibited except when cooked.”[12]

Eating Locusts

Abuy ya fur said:“I asked ‘Abdullah bin Abu Awfa about killing locusts and he said: I went on six campaigns with the Messenger of Allah and we ate locusts.”[13]

Eating Grilled Ribs

“I entered upon Umm Salamah and she told me that the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) used to wake up in a state of Janabah without having had a wet dream, then he would fast.” And she told him that she brought the Prophet (ﷺ) some grilled ribs and he ate them, then he got up and prayed, and did not perform Wudu’.[14]

Imam Ath-Thahabi said: grilled ribs are a good soft fattened food, but eating them can increase desires. Ribs are good for intestinal ulcers and the prevention of diarrhea 

Eating black seed 

Narrated by Abu Huraira:I heard Allah’s Messenger (ﷺ) saying, “There is healing in black cumin for all diseases except death.”[15]

Eating Bread

Allah said: So send one of you with this silver coin of yours to the town, and let him find out which is the good lawful food, and bring some of that to you. And let him be careful and let no man know of you.[Al-Khaf:19]

 Imam Ath-Thahabi said: Bread shouldn’t be eaten warm,as it makes a person thirsty. 

Drinking Vinegar 

Imam Ath-Thahabi said: drinking vinegar has Gastritis benefits for the digestive system, it breaks down phlegm, and drinking it with rose water can aide in fat loss.

 Prophet (ﷺ) as said: What a good condiment vinegar is![16]

 Eating Chicken meat

The Prophet said: “when you hear the crowing of the roosters, then ask Allah of His bounty, for verily they have seen an angel.[17] 

From Abu Musa who said: “I saw the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) eating chicken meat.”[18] 

Imam Ath-Thahabi said: chicken meat is the best meat from the poultry family. It digests easily and increases the intellect and semen. The best chicken meat is from the one  that doesn’t lay eggs. Chicken is nutritious.

Eating Pomegranate

Allah said: In them (both) will be fruits, and date- palms and pomegranates.[Ar-Rahman:68]

Imam Ath-Thahabi said: Pomegranate is sweet and drinking it stops coughing and eating it with food, prevents the food from spoiling in the colon. Drinking Pomegranate with peppermint prevents vomiting and helps the colon.

Eating Raisins

Ali ibn Abi Talib [Radi Allahu anhu] said: Whoever eats raisins made from red grapes will not find any harm in his body[19]

Imam Az-Zuhri said: Anyone desiring to memorize hadith should eat raisins.

Imam Ath-Thahabi said: Raisins are more nutritious than dates.

Eating and drinking Ginger

Allah said: And they will be given to drink there a cup (of wine) mixed with Zanjabil (ginger, etc.),[Al-Insan:17]

Imam Ath-Thahabi said: Ginger helps the digestive system and strengthens the Ph in the body and it helps people who have a problem with passing wind.

Using olive oil

The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said: ‘Season (your food) with olive oil and anoint yourselves with it;as it comes from a blessed tree.”[20]

Imam Ath-Thahabi said: Using olive oil supports hair growth, and helps the bones, and when placed on the skin its helps maintain the youthful look. Drinking olive oil helps against infection and kills parasites. Also drinking olive oil stops gas and indigestion.

Using Sidr

Imam Ath-Thahabi said: washing the hair with Sidr helps promote hair growth more than anything else and reduces the fever‘s temperature. The Prophet [ﷺ] said the deceased should be washed with Sidr.

Perfuming in Musk [Misk]

Imam Ath-Thahabi said: Perfuming with Musk removes the foul odor of sweat and the Prophet[ﷺ] used to use it as a perfume.

Eating Salwa [Quail]

Allah said: And We shaded you with clouds and sent down on you Al-Manna and the quails, (saying): “Eat of the good lawful things We have provided for you,” (but they rebelled).[Al-Baqarah:57]

Imam Ath-Thahabi said: Quail meat is healthy. It’s called the thundekill, as whenever it hears thunder it dies.

Drinking Senna

“I heard Abu Ubayy bin Umm Haram, who had prayed with the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) facing both the Qiblah, saying: ‘I heard the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) say: “You should use senna and the Sannut, for in them there is healing for every disease, except the Sam.” It was said: “O Messenger of Allah, what is the Sam?” He said: “Death.” [21]

Imam Ath-Thahabi said: Senna is a safe medicine that many doctors prescribe to patients for all sicknesses. And most doctors say the best Senna comes from Mecca.

Using Aloes

Imam Ath-Thahabi said: Aloe is a plant that’s harvested, becomes moist ,then dries. Aloe fights against any diseae it’s mixed with and its benefical in eyelid tumors and opens the liver, and removes jaundice and ulcers in the intestines.

We went with Aban b. Uthman (in a state of lhram). When we were at Malal the eyes of Umar b. Ubaidullah became sore and, when we reached Rauba’ the pain grew intense. He (Nubaib b. Wahb) sent (one) to Aban b. Uthman to ask him (what to do). He sent him (the message) to apply aloes to them, for ‘Uthman (Allah be pleased with him) reported that the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) applied aloes to the person whose eyes were sore and he was in the state of Ihram.[22]

Eating Date palms

Allah said: And tall date-palms, with ranged clusters;[Qaf:10]

Musa bin Talhah bin `Ubaidullah narrating that his father said:“I passed by some palm trees with the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) and he saw some people pollinating the trees. He said: ‘What are these people doing?’ They said: ‘They are taking something from the male part (of the plant) and putting it in the female part.’ He said: ‘I do not think that this will do any good.’ News of that reached them, so they stopped doing it, and their yield declined. News of that reached the Prophet (ﷺ) and he said: ‘That was only my thought. If it will do any good, then do it. I am only a human being like you, and what I think may be right or wrong. But When I tell you: “Allah says,” I will never tell lies about Allah .’ ”[23]

Al-Yaquti said: If a women eats date palms before sex it will aide her in getting pregnant.

 

Eating and drinking Honey.

Allah said:  There comes forth from their bellies, a drink of varying colour wherein is healing for men. Verily, in this is indeed a sign for people who think.[An-Nahl:69]

A man came to the prophet and said, ‘My brother has got loose motions. The Prophet (ﷺ) said, Let him drink honey.” The man again (came) and said, ‘I made him drink (honey) but that made him worse.’ The Prophet (ﷺ) said, ‘Allah has said the Truth, and the `Abdomen of your brother has told a lie.[24]

Imam Ath-Thahabi said: Honey is the best remedies for diarrhea. In fact, honey is the best cure for treating any illness, due to its vast nutrients. The best honey is produced by bees in the fall, then in the summer.

It’s been mentioned that the Prophet used to drink honey with warm water and this has an amazing impact on maintaining a healthy body.

Eating Snake Cucumbers

The Prophet(ﷺ) used to eat snake cucumbers with fresh dates.[25]

Imam Ath-Thahabi said: The Snake cumcumber is milder than a regular one, and eating them produces urine.

Eating Pumpkins

 Allah said: And We caused a plant of gourd to grow over him.[As-Saffatt:146]

Imam Ath-Thahabi said: Allah mentioned the pumpkin plant in the Quran in the story of Yunus.

Narrated by  Anas: I saw the Prophet (ﷺ) being served with soup and containing pumpkin and cured meat, and I saw him picking and eating the pieces of pumpkin.[26]

Imam Ath-Thahabi said: eating pumpkin is good for having healthy off-spring. It digests quickly and prevents coughing.

Using Indian Aloeswood

 

The Prophet [ﷺ] said: The best treatment which you get is cupping. or aloeswood and do not torture your children by pressing their uvula.[27]

Imam Ath-Thahabi said: The oil of aloeswood of india is good for treating snake bites and easing back pain. Also, rubbing it on the pricks after cupping help removes the scar.

Eating Liver

The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said:“Two kinds of dead meat and two kinds of blood have been permitted to us. The two kinds of dead meat are fish and locusts, and the two kinds of blood are the liver and spleen.”[28]

Imam Ath-Thahabi said: The best way to prepare liver is to cook it with vinegar and coriander.

Eating the foot of a sheep

 

The Prophet (ﷺ) said: “If I am invited to a meal consisting of a sheep’s foot or shoulder, I would respond and I would accept as a gift a shoulder or a foot of a sheep.”[29]

Imam Ath-Thahabi said: eating liver causes the blood to be sticky which is good. It prevents blood transfusion and coughing.

Eating Truffles

The Prophet (ﷺ) said, “Al-Kam’a [Truffles] is like the Mann (sweet resin or gum) (in that it grows naturally without human care) and its water is a cure for the eye diseases.”[30]

Imam Ath-Thahabi said: There is a consensus among all doctors that truffles are good for the eyes.

Drinking Milk

Allah said:  rivers of milk of which the taste never changes [Muhammad:15]

Allah said:  pure milk; palatable to the drinkers.[An-Nahl:66]

Ibn Abbass[Radi Allah anhu] said: The Prophet[ﷺ] used to love to drink milk.

Imam Ath-Thahabi said: The best milk comes from a sheep. Any milk that taste changes is spoiled and this is why Allah mentioned the taste never changes.

Eating meat

Allah said: And We shall provide them with fruit and meat, such as they desire.[At-Tur:22]

Imam Ath-Thahabi said: Meat is the best fertilizer for the body which gives it strength. The best meat a person can eat is sheep.

Drinking Zamzam Water

 

Imam Ath-Thahabi said: Zamzam water is the best water on the planet.

Jabir bin ‘Abdullah said:

“I heard the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) say: ‘The water of Zamzam is for whatever it is drunk for.’”[31]

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Prepared by Abu Aaliyah Abdullah Battle

Doha,Qatar 1439©

 

 

 

[1] Ibn Majah 4170

[2] Al bukhari 5631/muslim 2028

[3] At-Tabarani in Al-Awsot graded as being hasan by imam Al-Albani 1647 in silsilah

[4] Al-Bukahri 4978

[5] Muslim 255

[6] Ibn majah 3463

[7] Sahih al-Bukhari 5489

[8]  Sunan Abi Dawud 3836

[9] Al-Hakim3/204

[10] Sahih al-Bukhari 5445

[11] At-Tirmithi 2146

[12] At-Tirmithi 1868

[13] Sunan an-Nasa’i 4357

[14] Shama-il At-Tirmithi Book 25, Hadith 155

[15] Sahih al-Bukhari 5688

[16] Abu Dawud 3820

[17] Sahih al-Bukhari 3303

[18] At-Tirmithi 1827

[19] Abu Nuaym in Tibb

[20] Ibn Majah 3319

[21] Ibn Majah 3457

[22] Muslim 1204

[23] Muslim 15/116

[24] Al-Bukhari 5716

[25] Abu Dawud 3835

[26] Al-Bukhari 5437

[27] Muslim 1577

[28] Ibn Majah 3314

[29] Al-Bukhari / Muslim 1429

[30] Al-Bukhari 7/161 and Muslim 3/14

[31] Ibn majah 3062