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

فَصْلٌ فِي هَدْيِهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ فِي دَفْعِ ضَرَرِ الْأَغْذِيَةِ وَالْفَاكِهَةِ وَإِصْلَاحِهَا بِمَا يَدْفَعُ ضَرَرَهَا، وَيُقَوِّي نَفْعَهَا

Guidance of the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم in counteracting the harm of certain foods and fruits and enhancing their benefits by combining them with what neutralizes their harm.

ثَبَتَ فِي «الصَّحِيحَيْنِ» مِنْ حَدِيثِ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ جعفر، قَالَ: رأيت رسول صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ يَأْكُلُ الرُّطَبَ بِالْقِثَّاءِ

It is recorded in Sahih al-Bukhari & Sahih Muslim, from the narration of Abdullah ibn Ja’far Radi Allaho Anh, who said: "I saw the Messenger of Allah صلى الله عليه وسلم eating fresh dates with cucumbers." (Reported by al-Bukhari in the Book of Foods and Muslim in the Book of Drinks.)

Fresh dates are warm and moist in nature, which makes them beneficial for strengthening a cold stomach, enhancing energy, and increasing vitality. However, for few people, dates are prone to quick spoilage, cause thirst, thicken the blood, can lead to headaches, create blockages, cause bladder pain, and are harmful to the teeth. Cucumbers, on the other hand, are cold and moist in nature, quenching thirst, refreshing the body with their aromatic scent, and cooling the inflamed stomach. When the seeds of cucumbers are dried, crushed, and soaked in water, they relieve thirst, promote urination, and help with bladder pain. If the seeds are ground, sieved, and rubbed on the teeth, they can whiten them. The leaves, when crushed and applied as a poultice with vinegar, help treat dog bites.

In essence, the warmth of dates and the coolness of cucumbers balance each other, reducing many potential harms.

Balancing moist foods with dry ones, and dry foods with moist ones is the concept provided here. This principle of using opposites to neutralize effects is the foundation of all treatment and health preservation; in fact, it is the core of medical science. Applying these principles to foods and medicines helps to adjust and improve their properties, minimizing any harmful effects by balancing them with opposite qualities. This approach supports bodily health, strength, and vitality.

قالَتْ عائشة رَضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنْهَا: سَمَّنُونِي بِكُلِّ شَيْءٍ، فَلَمْ أَسْمَنْ، فَسَمَّنُونِي بِالْقِثَّاءِ وَالرُّطَبِ، فَسَمِنْتُ

Aishah Radi Allaho Anha said: “They tried to make me gain weight with everything, but I did not gain weight until they gave me cucumbers and dates, and then I became fatter.”

In short, counteracting the effects of cold with warmth, and warmth with cold, moisture with dryness, and dryness with moisture, and balancing each with its opposite, is among the most effective methods of treatment and health maintenance. Similarly, the Prophet’s guidance to use Sana with honey, where honey's slight fat content enhances and balances the Sana, illustrates this approach. May Allah’s blessings and peace be upon Prophet Muhammad صلى الله عليه وسلم who was sent to nurture both hearts and bodies and to bring benefit in this life and the Hereafter.

back to page top