ربَّنَا اغْفِرْ لَنَا ذُنُوبَنَا وَإِسْرَافَنَا فِي أَمْرِنَا وَثَبِّتْ أَقْدَامَنَا وانصُرْنَا عَلَى الْقَوْمِ الْكَافِرِينَ

Prophet’s Guidance on neutralizing the harm of various foods and fruits

ثبت فى الصحيحين من حديث عبد الله بن جعفر، قال: رأيتُ رسولَ الله صلى الله عليه وسلم يأكل الرُّطَبَ بالقِثَّاء

In the Sahihain, it is narrated that Abdullah bin Jafar Radi Allaho Anh said, "I saw Prophet Muhammad Sallallaho Alaihe Wasallam eating ripe dates with cucumbers".

Ripe dates are hot in the second degree, increase sexual desire and add strength to the cold stomach. But they rot quickly, bring thirst, harm the teeth; spoil the blood and cause headaches, various clogs and pain in the prostate. Cucumbers are cold and wet in the second degree and they prevent thirst, have a refreshing aroma and cool the stomach. When the seeds of cucumber are dried, then crushed and boiled with water, they produce a drink that will quench the thirst, help produce urine and soothe the pain in urinary bladder & prostate. When cucumber seeds are crushed and then sifted, they will whiten the teeth when brushed with it. Furthermore, when cucumber plant leaves are crushed and blended with raisin jelly and used as a bandage, they will help against the bite of the hydrophobic dog. In general, dates are hot while cucumbers are cool, and each is suitable for the other and neutralizes each others harm. This is a type of balancing off the harm of one substance by combining it with its opposite or antidote, and these are the goals that preventive science seeks to achieve. In fact, these are the goals that the science of medicine as a whole seeks to achieve

Combining the foods or medicines with their antidotes or opposites makes the product milder and rids it of any harmful side effects. Consequently, the body will preserve its health, strength and wellbeing. Aishah Radi Allaho Anha once said,

سَمَّنونى بكلِّ شىء، فلم أسَمْن، فسَمَّنونى بالقِثَّاء والرُّطَب، فسمنت

"They tried to make me fatter using every type of food, but I did not get fatter. But when they fed me ripe dates and cucumbers, I became fatter".

In short, neutralizing the effect of the hot substance with the cold, the cold with the hot, dry with the wet and the wet with the dry produces a milder substance that is considered among the best remedies and preventive measures. We mentioned before the Prophet's guidance concerning blending Senna and Sanoot (honey and butter) and stated that this method will make the Senna milder. May Allah bestow His peace and blessings on Prophet Muhammad Sallallaho Alaihe Wasallam who was sent with all that brings life to the hearts and bodies and what brings about their benefit in this life and the Aakhirah (Hereafter).

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