اللَّهُمُّ بِعِلْمِكَ الغَيْبَ وقُدْرَتِكَ علَى الخَلْقِ أحْيِنِي مَا عَلِمْتَ الحياةَ خَيراً لِيِ، وتوَفَّني إذَا عَلِمْتَ الوَفاةَ خَيراً لي، وأسْأَلْكَ خَشْيَتَكَ في الغَيْبِ والشَّهَادَةِ وكَلِمَةَ الإخْلاصِ في الرِّضَا والغَضَبِ وأسْأَلْكَ القَصْدَ في الفَقْرِ والغِنَى، وأسْألُكَ نَعِيماً لا يَنفَدْ وقُرَّةَ عَيْنٍ لا تَنقَطِعُ، وأسْألُكَ الرَّضَا بالقَضَاءِ وبَرْدَ العَيْشِ بَعْدَ المَوْتِ ولَذَّةَ النَّظَرِ إلى وَجْهِكَ، والشَّوْقَ إلى لِقَائِكَ، وأعُوذُ بِكَ مِن ضَرَّاءَ مُضِرَّةٍ وفِتْنَةٍ مُضِلَّةٍ

SILQ (BEETROOT)

سِلْقٌ: روى الترمذىُّ وأبو داود، عن أُمِّ المُنذِر، قالت: دخل علىَّ رسولُ اللهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم ومعه على رضى الله عنه، ولنا دَوَالٍ معلَّقةٌ، قالت : فجعل رسولُ اللهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم يأكُلُ وعلىٌ معه يأكُلُ، فقال رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم: "مَهْ يا علىُّ فإنَّكَ ناقِهٌ"، قالت: فجعلتُ لهم سِلْقاً وشعيراً، فقال النبىُّ صلى الله عليه وسلم: "يا علىُّ؛ فأصِبْ من هذا، فإنه أوفَقُ لَكَ". قال الترمذىُّ: حديثٌ حسن غريب- السِّلق حار يابس فى الأُولى، وقيل: رطب فيها، وقيل: مُرَكَّبٌ منهما، وفيه برودةٌ ملطِّفة، وتحليلٌ، وتفتيحٌ. وفى الأسود منه قبضٌ ونفعٌ من داء الثعلب، والكَلَف، والحَزَارِ، والثآليل إذا طُلِىَ بمائه، ويقتل القمل، ويُطلَى به القُوَبَاء مع العسل، ويفتح سُدَدَ الكَبِدِ والطِّحال. وأسودُه يَعقِلُ البطن، ولا سِيَّما مع العدس، وهما رديئان، والأبيضُ: يُلَيِّن مع العدس، ويُحْقَن بمائه للإسهال، وينفع من القُولَنْج مع المَرِىِّ والتَّوَابِل وهو قليل الغذاء، ردىء الكَيْمُوس، ويُصلحه الخل والخَرْدَل، والإكثار منه يُولِّد القبض والنفخ

Both the beetroot & its leaves (known as Chard) can be considered as SILQ.

Ibn al-Qayyim wrote : Al-Tirmidhi and Abu Dawood narrated from Umm al-Mundhir, who said: " Prophet Muhammad صلى الله عليه وسلم entered upon me with Ali Radi Allaho Anh, and we had some hanging clusters of dates. Prophet Muhammad صلى الله عليه وسلم started eating, and Ali was eating with him. Prophet Muhammad صلى الله عليه وسلم said: 'Hold back, O Ali, for you are in need.' Then I brought them some beetroot and barley, and Prophet Muhammad صلى الله عليه وسلم said: 'O Ali, have some of this, for it is more suitable for you.'" Al-Tirmidhi classified this Hadith as Sahih.

Beetroot is hot and dry in the first degree, though some say it is moist, while others suggest it has a mixture of both qualities. It has a cooling effect, aids digestion, and helps to open up the body’s channels. The black variety is astringent and beneficial for conditions like mange, fever, and warts when its juice is applied. It can also eliminate lice and, when mixed with honey, can treat scabies, opening obstructions in the liver and spleen. The black variety constricts the stomach, especially when combined with lentils, which are not very beneficial. The white variety, on the other hand, softens when mixed with lentils and can be used as an enema to treat diarrhea. It is helpful for colic when paired with meat and spices, although it is low in nutrients and not very beneficial for the stomach. To enhance its properties, it can be improved with vinegar and mustard seeds, but consuming it in excess may lead to constriction and bloating.

Ibn al-Baytaar wrote : There are three types of beets: one with large, dark green leaves that tend towards black, with soft, broad leaves of pleasing appearance, known as "black beet." Another type has small, wrinkled leaves that look unappealing and are less green. The third type has leaves that grow on a tall stalk with many thin leaves. The lower part of the plant is curled, and the top is straight, with long stalks leading up to the leaves, and the green color is faint, tending towards yellow.

Beet has a green leafy power that cleanses, dissolves, and reduces excess matter in the brain from the nostrils. When cooked, its strong properties dissipate, and it becomes milder, reducing the formation of hidden tumors and promoting gentle dissolving. White beet has a stronger cleansing and dissolving effect than black beet, which has some astringent properties, particularly in its roots. This astringency is more noticeable in the roots than in other parts of the plant.

Beet contains moisture that gently cleanses and has a laxative effect on the bowels. Beet is beneficial for opening blockages in the liver and other organs, especially when eaten with mustard. If mustard is not available, it should be eaten with vinegar. It is an excellent remedy for spleen disorders caused by blockages when consumed as described.

The black variety constipates the bowels when eaten, especially when cooked with lentils, and its roots are even more effective at constipating the bowels. The other variety loosens the bowels. The juice of either type, when sniffed with honey water, cleanses the head and helps with earaches. The decoction of beet leaves and roots, when used to wash the head, removes lice and cleans dandruff. Pouring the decoction over cracked skin caused by cold weather helps heal the cracks. Beet leaves can be used as a poultice to treat vitiligo after washing the affected area with Natron (a type of soda). They can also be applied to treat alopecia after washing the affected skin. Additionally, cooked beet leaves can treat blisters, burns, and redness of the skin.

Masarhawayh: Beet is a food with heavy qualities. Beet juice, when rubbed on the head, kills lice and removes scaly patches. If a decoction of beet juice is given as a potion and applied to a tumor, it soothes the swelling. Beet juice can also remove freckles, heal nasal sores, and help regrow hair in cases of alopecia.

Ibn Sina (Avicenna): Beet has a compound nature. Its leaves, when used as a poultice, remove warts and, when applied with honey, treat pustules. The root of the beet is harmful to the stomach, causing nausea. When beet water is used as an enema, it helps evacuate stool. Cooked beets produce gas and bloating and can cause abdominal cramps. Beet is good for treating colic when taken with spices and brine.

Al-Mansuri: Beet cuts phlegm.

Al-Ghafiqi: Beet helps with tremors and eases breathing. It may also stimulate sexual desire. Applying beet leaves, without grinding them, to the head sores of children repeatedly cleanses them of pus. Cooked beet roots are blood-thinning, and when fresh beet root is rubbed clean of soil, pounded, and its juice squeezed out and sniffed in small amounts, it relieves toothache and prevents the pain from recurring. It also helps with earaches and migraines. Beet water can be used for administering laxative medications, aiding the expulsion of phlegm. Beet is beneficial for those with gout and joint pain.

Two Experiments: Beet root water is more effective in treating nasal blockages. Beet is also effective in treating phlegm flowing into the chest, directing the phlegm to the nasal passages. When cooked with mustard and eaten before emetic drugs are administered, it helps cut phlegm and reduces vomiting.

Ibn-e-Siina wrote: There are two types of chard; black and white. Both varieties have poor digestive qualities. Some consider chard to be hot and dry in the first degree, while others see it as cold, as its original moisture content is high. Chard contains soothing leaves, with stronger cleansing and softening effects than iris. It is also a laxative, particularly the black variety which has an astringent property when combined with lentils. Overall, chard is low in nutrients, like most legumes.