رَبَّنَا آتِنَا فِي الدُّنْيَا حَسَنَةً وَفِي الآخِرَةِ حَسَنَةً وَقِنَا عَذَابَ النَّارِ

Prophet’s Guidance on treating the sick with the simplest types of food

فَصْلٌ فِي هَدْيِهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ فِي تَغْذِيَةِ الْمَرِيضِ بِأَلْطَفِ مَا اعْتَادَهُ مِنَ الْأَغْذِيَةِ

Guidance of the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم in providing food for the sick with the gentlest and simple nourishment from what they are accustomed to

فِي الصَّحِيحَيْنِ مِنْ حَدِيثِ عروة عَنْ عائشة، أَنَّهَا كَانَتْ إِذَا مَاتَ الْمَيِّتُ مِنْ أَهْلِهَا، وَاجْتَمَعَ لِذَلِكَ النِّسَاءُ، ثُمَّ تَفَرَّقْنَ إِلَى أَهْلِهِنَّ، أَمَرَتْ بِبُرْمَةٍ مِنْ تَلْبِينَةٍ فَطُبِخَتْ، وَصَنَعَتْ ثَرِيدًا، ثُمَّ صَبَّتِ التَّلْبِينَةَ عَلَيْهِ، ثُمَّ قَالَتْ: كُلُوا مِنْهَا، فَإِنِّي سَمِعْتُ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ يَقُولُ:  التَّلْبِينَةُ مَجَمَّةٌ لِفُؤَادِ الْمَرِيضِ تَذْهَبُ بِبَعْضِ الْحُزْنِ

Ibn al Qayyim wrote : There is a narration from Urwah, on the authority of Aishah Radi Allaho Anha, that when a person from her family passed away, and the women gathered to offer condolences and then dispersed, she would order a pot of Talbinah to be prepared. She would then make Thareed (a dish of Barley bread soaked in meat soup) and pour the Talbinah over it, and then say, “Eat from it, for I heard the Messenger of Allah صلى الله عليه وسلم say: Talbinah comforts the heart of the sick and helps alleviate some grief.” (Reported by al-Bukhari in the Book of Foods and Muslim in the Book of Clothing)

وَفِي السُّنَنِ مِنْ حَدِيثِ عائشة أَيْضًا، قَالَتْ: قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ:عَلَيْكُمْ بِالْبَغِيضِ النَّافِعِ التَّلْبِينِ ، قَالَتْ: وَكَانَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ إِذَا اشْتَكَى أَحَدٌ مِنْ أَهْلِهِ لَمْ تَزَلِ الْبُرْمَةُ عَلَى النَّارِ حَتَّى يَنْتَهِيَ أحد طرفيه. يعني يبرأ أو يموت

In Sunan collections, another narration from Aishah Radi Allaho Anha relates that the Messenger of Allah صلى الله عليه وسلم said: “Take Talbinah, the beneficial nourishment that is light.” She said that whenever a member of his family became unwell, a pot of Talbinah would be kept on the fire until they either recovered or passed away. (Reported by Ibn Majah, Ahmad, and al-Hakim)

وَعَنْهَا: كَانَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ إِذَا قِيلَ لَهُ: إِنَّ فُلَانًا وَجِعٌ لَا يَطْعَمُ الطَّعَامَ، قَالَ:  عَلَيْكُمْ بِالتَّلْبِينَةِ فَحَسُّوهُ إِيَّاهَا، وَيَقُولُ:  وَالَّذِي نَفْسِي بِيَدِهِ إِنَّهَا تَغْسِلُ بَطْنَ أَحَدِكُمْ كَمَا تَغْسِلُ إِحْدَاكُنَّ وَجْهَهَا مِنَ الْوَسَخِ» أخرجه الإمام أحمد

On the authority of Aishah Radi Allaho Anha, it is reported that if the Messenger of Allah صلى الله عليه وسلم was told that someone was sick and had lost the appetite, he would say, “You should give him Talbinah.” He would also say, “By the One in Whose hand is my soul, it cleanses the stomach of one of you as any of you cleanses her face from dirt.”

Talbinah is a thin broth with a consistency similar to milk, from which it takes its name. Al-Harawi explained that it is called Talbinah because of its white color and lightness, resembling milk. This nourishment is beneficial for the sick due to its lightness and digestibility. It is prepared as a thin, well-cooked broth rather than a thick, undercooked one. If you want to understand the value of Talbinah, consider the benefits of barley water. Indeed, Talbinah is akin to barley water but is made by grinding whole barley grains with its bran, which releases more of the barley’s properties and makes it more nourishing, effective, and cleansing.

The physicians in cities typically prepare barley water by boiling whole barley grains to make it lighter on the stomach, suited to their constitution. However, when barley is ground, it becomes more nourishing, effective, and cleansing, especially when taken warm, as it heats and strengthens the body’s natural warmth and soothes the stomach’s surface.

Statement of Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم that Talbinah is “comforting for the heart of the sick” means that it brings comfort and calmness. His statement, “it relieves some sadness,” is because grief cools the body’s temperament and weakens its inherent warmth, as the spirit tends toward the heart, where it originates. This broth strengthens that warmth, helping to alleviate grief and sadness.

It is also said that Talbinah has a unique property that naturally alleviates sadness, similar to how some foods possess specific uplifting qualities.

The stomach of a sick person often becomes dry due to reduced food intake. This Talbinah broth helps to moisten, strengthen, and nourish the stomach while also soothing the heart of the ill person. The sick often accumulate bile, phlegm, or pus in the stomach, and this broth cleanses, loosens, dilutes, and moderates such mixtures, reducing their intensity and relieving the stomach. This is especially beneficial for those accustomed to barley bread, as was common among the people of Madinah at the time, where barley was their main staple and wheat was scarce. Allah knows the best.

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