اَللهُمَّ إِنَّكَ لَسْتَ بِالهِ نِ اسْتَحَدَثناهُ وَلا بِرَبٍّ يَبِـيدُ ذِكرُهُ أبْـتَدَعـْنَاهُ وَلا عَلَيْكَ شُرَكآءُ يَقْضُونَ مَعكَ وَلا كَانَ لَنَا قَبْلَكَ مِنْ اِلهٍ نَلْجأُ اِليهِ وَنَذرُك وَلا اَعانُكَ عَلى خَلْقِنا اَحدٌ فـنُشرِكَه فِيكَ تَبارَكْتَ وَتعاليْتَ فَـنَسْـئلُكَ لا اِله اِلا اَنتَ اغْفِرلِي

Laban (Milk)

Ibn al-Qayyim wrote for milk : Allah Said in Quran :

وَإنَّ لَكُمْ فِى الأَنْعَامِ لَعِبْرَةً، نُّسْقِيكُم مِّمَّا فِى بُطُونِهِ مِن بيْنِ فَرْثٍ وَدَمٍ لَّبَناً خَالِصاً سَائِغاً لِّلشَّارِبينَ [النحل: 66]

Allah Almighty says, "And indeed, for you in livestock is a lesson. We give you drink from what is in their bellies, between excretion and blood—pure milk, palatable to drinkers" (An-Nahl, 16:66). And regarding Paradise, He says,

فِيهَا أنْهَارٌ مِّن مَّاءٍ غَيْرِ آسِنٍ وَأَنْهَارٌ مِّن لَّبَنٍ لَّمْ يَتَغَيَّرْ طَعْمُهُ [محمد: 15]

"In it are rivers of water unaltered, rivers of milk whose taste never changes" (Muhammad, 47:15).

In the Sunan, a Hadith states that Prophet Muhammad صلى الله عليه وسلم said:

وَعَنِ ابْنِ عَبَّاسٍ قَالَ: قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ: " إِذَا أَكَلَ أَحَدُكُمْ طَعَامًا فَلْيَقُلِ: اللَّهُمَّ بَارِكْ لَنَا فِيهِ وَأَطْعِمْنَا خَيْرًا مِنْهُ. وَإِذَا سُقِيَ لَبَنًا فَلْيَقُلِ: اللَّهُمَّ بَارِكْ لَنَا فِيهِ وَزِدْنَا مِنْهُ فَإِنَّهُ لَيْسَ شَيْء يجزى مِنَ الطَّعَامِ وَالشَّرَابِ إِلَّا اللَّبَنُ ". رَوَاهُ التِّرْمِذِيُّ وَأَبُو دَاوُد

Ibn ‘Abbas reported Allah’s messenger as saying, “When one of you eats food he should say, ‘O Allah, bless us in it and give us good nourishment from it', and when he is given a drink of milk he should say, ‘O Allah, bless us in it and prosper us from it’, for no food or drink satisfies like milk.” (Tirmidhi and Abu Dawud transmitted it, Mishkat al-Masabih 4283)

Although milk appears simple, it is naturally a compound substance, containing three main elements: casein (the solid part), fat, and water. The casein is cold and moist, nourishing the body. The fat is moderate in heat and moisture, beneficial to a healthy human body and providing many advantages. The water component is warm and moist, gentle on the digestive system, and hydrating for the body. Generally, milk is considered cooler and moister than balanced foods, though some say its qualities are warm and moist when freshly milked.

The best milk is right when it is freshly milked, as its quality begins to decline gradually over time. Fresh milk is less cold and more moist; sour milk has the opposite qualities. Milk is preferred about forty days after the animal has given birth. The ideal milk is thick and white, with a pleasant aroma, a delicious taste, slight sweetness, and moderate creaminess. It should have a balanced consistency—not too thin or thick—and come from a healthy, well-fed young animal with quality pasture and water sources.

Milk is beneficial for producing high-quality blood, hydrating dry bodies, and providing excellent nourishment. It is also effective against anxiety, melancholy, and other mood disorders. When consumed with honey, it cleanses internal ulcers from foul humors, and when consumed with sugar, it significantly improves the complexion. Fresh milk restores energy lost during intimate relations, benefits the chest and lungs, and is good for those with respiratory conditions. However, it may negatively affect the head, stomach, liver, and spleen, and excessive consumption can harm teeth and gums. Thus, it is recommended to rinse the mouth with water after drinking milk.

وفى "الصحيحين": أنَّ النبىَّ صلى الله عليه وسلم شرب لبناً، ثم دعا بماء فتمضمض وقال: "إنَّ لَهُ دَسَماً

In both Sahih al-Bukhari and Sahih Muslim, it is reported that the Prophet Muhammad صلى الله عليه وسلم drank milk, then requested water to rinse his mouth, saying, "It has fat."

Milk is generally harmful for those with fever, people prone to headaches, and those with weak heads, as it can adversely affect the brain. Continuous consumption may cause vision problems, joint pain, liver congestion, bloating in the stomach and intestines. To balance these effects, it can be consumed with honey, candied ginger, or similar items—especially for those not accustomed to drinking milk.

Sheep's Milk: Sheep's milk is the thickest and richest of all milks. It has more fat than goat or cow’s milk and can produce phlegmatic excess. If used consistently, it may cause skin whitening. Therefore, it should be diluted with water to reduce its impact on the body, help quench thirst quickly, and enhance its cooling effect.

Goat's Milk: Goat’s milk is light, moderate, helps relieve constipation, hydrates dry bodies, and is beneficial for throat ulcers, dry coughs, and blood spitting.

Milk is one of the most beneficial drinks for the human body due to its balanced nourishment and blood-building qualities. It is particularly suitable because people are used to it from childhood, and it aligns with the natural disposition.

وفى "الصحيحين": "أنَّ رسولَ الله صلى الله عليه وسلم أُتىَ ليلةَ أُسْرِىَ به بقَدَحٍ من خَمْرٍ، وقَدَحٍ من لَبَنٍ، فنظر إليهما، ثم أخذ اللَّبنَ، فقال جبريل: الحمدُ للهِ الذى هَدَاك لِلفِطْرَةِ، لو أخَذْتَ الخَمْرَ، غَوَتْ أُمَّتُكَ

In both Sahih al-Bukhari and Sahih Muslim, it is mentioned that on the night of his ascension, the Prophet Muhammad صلى الله عليه وسلم was offered a cup of wine and a cup of milk. He looked at both and chose the milk, whereupon angel jibreel said, "Praise be to Allah, who guided you to the natural disposition; had you chosen the wine, your nation would have gone astray." Sour milk, however, is harder to digest and is best suited for hot stomachs, which can benefit from it.

Cow's Milk: Cow’s milk nourishes the body, strengthens it, and gently eases the bowels. It is one of the most balanced and best types of milk, falling between sheep and goat milk in terms of consistency, creaminess, and richness.

وفى "السنن": من حديث عبد الله بن مسعود يرفعه: "عليكم بألبانِ البَقَرِ، فإنها تَرُمُّ من كُلِّ الشَّجَرِ

Sunan reports from Abdullah ibn Mas'ud, "Take cow’s milk, for it grazes on all types of trees."

Camel's Milk: Ibn al-Qayyam wrote :

وَالْجَوَى: داء من أدواء الجوف- والاستقساء: مَرَضٌ مَادِّيٌّ سَبَبُهُ مَادَّةٌ غَرِيبَةٌ بَارِدَةٌ تَتَخَلَّلُ الْأَعْضَاءَ فَتَرْبُو لَهَا إِمَّا الْأَعْضَاءُ الظَّاهِرَةُ كُلُّهَا، وَإِمَّا الْمَوَاضِعُ الْخَالِيَةُ مِنَ النَّوَاحِي الَّتِي فِيهَا تَدْبِيرُ الْغِذَاءِ وَالْأَخْلَاطُ، وَأَقْسَامُهُ ثَلَاثَةٌ: لَحْمِيٌّ، وَهُوَ أَصْعَبُهَا وَزِقِّيٌّ، وَطَبْلِيٌّ

Al-Jawa is an internal illness, and ascites is a physical condition caused by an unusual cold substance that spreads throughout the body, either affecting all external organs or targeting areas involved in digestion and bodily fluids. Ascites comes in three types: fleshy (the most severe), vesicular, and tympanic.

The primary treatments needed for ascites are moderate laxatives and diuretics, which are found in camel’s urine and milk. For this reason, Prophet Muhammad صلى الله عليه وسلم instructed certain people to drink them. Camel's milk has cleansing, softening, diuretic, and decongestant properties, opening blockages. This effect is due to the plants camels graze on, including wormwood, chamomile, and medicinal herbs that help alleviate ascites.

This illness typically arises with a liver disorder, often due to liver blockages. The milk of Arab camels is effective for such blockages because it opens them and has various benefits.

Al-Razi stated that camel’s milk cures liver ailments and corrects imbalances in temperament. Israeli (a historical physician) said camel’s milk is the thinnest, most watery, and sharpest of all milks, providing minimal nutrition but effectively thins waste, relieves the bowels, and opens blockages. Its slight saltiness indicates its natural heat, which makes it particularly suitable for softening the liver, opening blockages, and reducing spleen hardness, especially when the spleen’s condition is recent.

Camel milk is particularly beneficial for treating ascites (abdominal fluid accumulation) due to its natural warmth when freshly milked, especially when combined with the urine of a young camel. This warmth adds to its slight saltiness, enhancing its ability to dissolve excess waste and promote bowel movement. If the desired bowel movement does not occur, a laxative may be used to aid this process.

The author of Al-Qanoon (The Canon of Medicine) states that one should not dismiss the idea that camel’s milk can help treat ascites/dropsy. He explains that camel milk is highly effective because it gently cleanses and has unique healing properties. If someone were to subsist solely on camel milk, without water or food, they could recover. This has been tested with people who were sent to Arab regions, and, out of necessity, they relied on camel milk alone and recovered.

Ibn-e-Sina wrote: Milk consists of three main components: water, curd, and fat. The fat content is highest in cow's milk, and colostrum (first milk) has less fat and curd and is very watery. Goat's milk is moderate in fat, while ewe's milk is thick and fatty. Cow's milk is the richest and thickest, and camel's milk is similar to colostrum in being watery and thin. The best quality milk is the one freshly drawn from the udder. The highest quality milk is very white, has a consistent texture, and stays on the finger without running off. The animal should be fed high-quality vegetation, and the milk should not have any strange flavors, such as sourness, bitterness, or any unpleasant odor. It should be consumed fresh, as soon as it is milked, before it transforms or spoils. Not all animals with long gestation periods produce bad milk; cows are generally considered the most suitable for milk production.

Watery milk tends to be warm, while creamy milk is more balanced but may lean slightly toward warmth. Sour milk is cold and dry. The watery nature of milk is soothing and cleansing, with no burning sensation. Milk helps balance the humors, strengthens the body, and calms the system. When consumed with honey, it can purify internal wounds from thick and impure fluids, ripen them, and cleanse them.

Digestive Health: Milk is a good food for nourishing the brain, which is easy to digest. After all, milk is produced from blood that has undergone extensive digestion, and then diluted with water. It is easily digestible, as it is derived from a highly digested form of blood and is naturally in a state that requires minimal digestion. Milk with cold characteristics should be avoided by people with phlegmatic temperament, as their digestive heat will not properly transform it into blood. For those with a hot and dry temperament, milk can be beneficial, especially if they do not have excess bile, as it will be easily digested into blood.

Additionally, milk has certain properties that make it suitable for specific body types. When drinking milk, it should be allowed to settle before consumption to prevent spoilage or souring. It is not recommended to consume other foods immediately after milk until it has been fully digested. Milk is particularly beneficial for older individuals as it moistens and alleviates itching, but it should be helped along with honey to aid digestion.

Milk often begins by cleansing the intestines and removing impurities, before nourishing the body and stabilizing the constitution. It can cause bloating unless it is boiled. It is a complex substance, being both watery (moist) and curd-like (solid). Colostrum (first milk) is slow to digest, thick, and slow to move through the digestive system. Honey helps improve its quality and nourishes the body effectively. Sour milk, particularly when cooked and thickened, is more balanced and rational.

Milk is useful for clearing substances that accumulate in the internal organs and harm them with their sharpness or irritation. It weakens these harmful substances by cleansing them more effectively than water, balancing their properties and transforming them before they meet the body’s systems, preventing them from acting harmfully.

Milk is not ideal for the digestive organs, and goat’s milk is particularly harmful to the intestines, as it tends to cause more constriction. Milk from certain animals, like cows, is less problematic for digestion and has a more neutral impact. The consumption of milk, especially poor-quality milk, is damaging to the body due to its rapid transformation, especially when it is of bad quality. Spring season milk is lighter and more watery compared to summer milk, which becomes thicker as the summer intensifies. The best milk comes from mid-summer, though it is susceptible to spoiling due to heat.

Cow's milk is rich in fat, while lamb’s milk is rich in curd and fat. Camel's milk has little curd. This explains why camel's milk is rarely curdled in the stomach. Camel's milk also has a slight saltiness due to its affinity for sourness, making it the best milk overall. Milk varies in quality based on the color of the animal, its age, and the type of diet it consumes—whether it is young, old, or moderate in age, soft or hard in texture, fat or lean, white or of another color. White milk tends to move through the digestive system faster.

Beautification: Excessive consumption of milk is said to lead to lice, according to some, although this is debatable. Milk, however, helps clear unattractive skin blemishes when applied topically and improves complexion when consumed, although it can often cause acne, except for colostrum, which rarely causes this issue. When milk is consumed with sugar, it greatly enhances complexion, particularly in women. It can also cause weight gain, especially in individuals with a hot and dry temperament, by softening and expelling bad humors from the body, thus improving nutrition. Sour milk or yogurt has a faster effect in promoting weight gain for these individuals. Whey, the liquid left after curdling milk, is said to reduce dark spots and blemishes when applied to the skin and may also be beneficial when consumed.

Tumors and Pimples: Milk often helps heal bad tumors, boils, abscesses, scabies, and itching, especially when there is no condition in the body to spoil its effect or convert it to bile. However, milk is harmful for individuals with internal tumors.

Wounds and Ulcers: Milk is beneficial for internal ulcers as it helps cleanse, purify, and soothe them. If the body’s temperament does not spoil its effect or convert it into bile, it can be helpful for people with wounds. Whey (the liquid from curdled milk) mixed with Indian gooseberry is useful for scabies.

Joints and Nerves: Milk is not good for nerves, especially for those with cold, phlegmatic conditions affecting the nerves.

Head and Brain: Goat’s milk is beneficial for sudden ailments (like fainting or dizziness) and helps calm excessive heat. It is also good for throat ulcers. Milk can help with memory loss, dryness, melancholy, and anxiety, but it harms the teeth, causing decay, holes, and erosion, especially in those with cold temperaments. It also loosens the gums. Rinsing with honey, after consuming milk can help. However, milk is not recommended for people suffering from headaches, dizziness, or ear ringing, particularly if consumed before sleep. In general, milk can be harmful for individuals with weak constitutions or sensitive heads.

Eyes: Milk can cause cloudiness and membranes over the eyes, but if milk is directly applied to the eyes, it can help with conjunctivitis and counteract the effects of hot, harmful substances affecting the eyes. Mixing milk with egg whites and rose oil and applying it to the eyes can be beneficial. Fresh milk is also helpful for eye strain.

Lungs and Respiratory System: Goat’s milk is beneficial for coughs, tuberculosis, and expectoration of blood. Sheep's milk is particularly useful for expelling blood. Milk is effective for treating lung ulcers and tuberculosis, and it also helps with gargling for sore throats, tonsillitis, and swelling of the larynx. However, milk is not suitable for people with wet conditions like heart palpitations, especially when caused by blood or phlegm. Colostrum (first milk) is beneficial for asthma and bites. Milk is better for the chest than for the head or stomach.

Other Body Functions: Milk can cause blockages in the bladder, while whey is beneficial for jaundice. Goat’s milk and colostrum are particularly beneficial. Colostrum mixed with castor oil is effective for internal blockages, though it can cause bloating and pain, especially in the case of colostrum. Both can trigger burping and indigestion. Milk, particularly colostrum, can be harmful for individuals with digestive problems, unless it is used in moderation. Colostrum is beneficial for spleen and liver tumors and softens the liver. Colostrum is highly beneficial for treating dropsy, especially when mixed with Arabian colostrum urine. It stimulates appetite and causes thirst. Sour milk is very difficult to digest and has a raw, unbalanced quality, but it can be digested by individuals with a naturally hot or temporarily hot stomach, benefiting them without causing excessive gas.

Excretion and Digestion: Whey helps to cleanse yellow bile, and when combined with elecampane, it facilitates the elimination of black bile. If milk is heated until its water content evaporates, it helps to bind the stomach and regulate blood flow. Colostrum (first milk) promotes menstruation. Cow’s milk is effective for treating bilious diarrhea, while milk applied to the womb can help treat uterine ulcers. Goat’s milk is useful for bladder ulcers.

Milk also helps to counteract the negative effects of sexual intercourse and strengthens sexual vitality. It can cause bloating in the intestines, and any thick milk can irritate colic and lead to the formation of stones, especially colostrum. Even sour milk can stimulate sexual desire, and milk is beneficial for those with a hot temperament as it has a cooling and soothing effect. Milk often softens the bowel, especially that of camels, followed by cow’s and goat’s milk. The more watery the milk, the more likely it is to cause diarrhea if consumed in excess and it may not digest well. Salt can aid in expelling this diarrhea.

Cooked and Heated Milk: Milk that is cooked or heated helps to bind the stomach. Sour milk, when cooked, is effective in stopping yellow or bloody diarrhea. Colostrum is beneficial for hemorrhoids. Applying milk to hemorrhoidal or genital ulcers or swollen areas soothes pain and reduces inflammation.

Fever: Goat’s milk is good for treating intermittent fevers. Sour milk, especially if its fat is removed, can help relieve such fevers. On the other hand, thick milk should not be consumed by individuals suffering from fever.

Poisoning: Milk can counteract the effects of poisonous substances, including toxic plants like hemlock, foxglove, and wolfsbane, as well as other caustic and decaying poisons. It is a remedy for those who have consumed substances like henbane or those poisoned by certain other substances, helping to restore mental clarity.