Types of Food the Prophet (SAW) Ate, The Health Benefits and Islamic Evidence

Salam everyone! Hope your Ramadan has been going well so far, I wanted to continue the series on the Prophetic diet! Last time I covered the manners in which the Prophet (SAW) ate, such as how he sat, what he would say and being careful not to overfill himself.

This time around I wanted to cover types of food he favored and the medicinal and health benefits they have. In most cases, the Prophet ate barley bread made with whole grain flour. In some narrations, barley bread has been introduced as the food of the prophets, as seen in this saying by Imam Ridha:

"There has not been any prophet who has not invited people to eat barely bread and has not asked for its abundance. And it has not gone into any stomach without removing an illness. It is the food of the prophets and the righteous people, and God has refused to place anything other than barley as their main food."

It is highly effective for curing fever, with its immense nutritional value.The Prophet (PBUH) used to have it in the form of bread, dough and porridge. It has a lot of health benefits when it comes to different ailments and combating weakness.

The Prophet’s stew was also very simple. Imam Sadiq narrates that one day the Prophet went to his wife, Umm Salamah, who brought a slice of bread for the Prophet. When he asked her if she had any stew as well, she replied that she did not, and that she only had vinegar. The Prophet then said, “Vinegar is good stew. The house in which there is vinegar is not poor.”

The Prophet (Peace Be Upon him) liked to eat meat as well, even though he did not eat it very often, his favorite kind of meat was the shoulder of a lamb.

Other Foods the Prophet (Peace Be Upon him) liked :

1) Honey- Prophet (PBUH) said: “Honey is a remedy for every illness and the Quran is a remedy for all illness of the mind, therefore I recommend to you remedies, the Quran and honey”. (Bukhari)

The Prophet also told his followers: “There are two cures for you: honey and the Qur’an.” [vi] An Arabic writer, Ibn Majili, quotes the words of the Prophet: “Honey is a medicine for the body and the Qur’an is a medicine for the soul. Benefit yourselves from the use of the Qur’an and honey.”

Surah Muhammad, Verse 15:

Is the description of Paradise, which the righteous are promised, wherein are rivers of water unaltered, rivers of milk the taste of which never changes, rivers of wine delicious to those who drink, and rivers of purified honey, in which they will have from all [kinds of] fruits and forgiveness from their Lord, like [that of] those who abide eternally in the Fire and are given to drink scalding water that will sever their intestines?

Surah Nahl, verse 68-69: 

And your Lord inspired to the bee, "Take for yourself among the mountains, houses, and among the trees and [in] that which they construct.

Then eat from all the fruits and follow the ways of your Lord laid down [for you]." There emerges from their bellies a drink, varying in colors, in which there is healing for people. Indeed in that is a sign for a people who give thought.

Medicinal Benefits- It is considered the food of foods, drink of drinks and drug of drugs. Honey is used for creating the appetite, strengthening the stomach, eliminating phlegm; as a meat preservative, hair conditioner, eye soother, and mouthwash. It is extremely beneficial in the morning in warm water.

2) Olive Oil- The Prophet Muhammad (SAW) said:

“Eat olive oil and use it on your hair and skin, for it comes from a blessed tree.” (al-Tirmidhi, 1775)

Surah An Nur, Verse 35:

Allah is the Light of the heavens and the earth. The example of His light is like a niche within which is a lamp, the lamp is within glass, the glass as if it were a pearly [white] star lit from [the oil of] a blessed olive tree, neither of the east nor of the west, whose oil would almost glow even if untouched by fire. Light upon light. Allah guides to His light whom He wills. And Allah presents examples for the people, and Allah is Knowing of all things.

Surah Anaam:141

And He it is who causes gardens to grow, [both] trellised and untrellised, and palm trees and crops of different [kinds of] food and olives and pomegranates, similar and dissimilar. Eat of [each of] its fruit when it yields and give its due [zakah] on the day of its harvest. And be not excessive. Indeed, He does not like those who commit excess.

Medicinal Benefits: .Cardiovascular Benefits (Improves Heart Health, eliminates excess cholesterol and controls Blood Pressure), Weight Loss, Cancer Prevention, Decreasing Pain, Improves Skin, Improves Hair Health, Reduces Allergies, Digestive Tract Health, Good Source of Iron, Improve Eye Health, Increase Glutathione levels (helps detoxify chemicals in your body) , Great source of Vitamin E, Boosts Bone Health, Fights Inflammation, and helps prevent Blood Clots (which can lead to a myocardial infarction or deep vein thrombosis (DVT).

3) Milk- The Prophet (PBUH) loved having goat and camel milk.

Surah Mu'minun, verse 21:

And Verily! In the cattle there is indeed a lesson for you. We give you to drink (milk) of that which is in their bellies. And there are, in them, numerous (other) benefits for you, and of them you eat.

Surah Ya-Sin, Verses 71-73:

Do they not see that We have created for them from what Our hands have made, grazing livestock, and [then] they are their owners?

And We have tamed them for them, so some of them they ride, and some of them they eat.

(other) profits from them [livestock] (besides), and they get (milk) to drink. Will they not then be grateful?

Surah An-Nahl, verse 66:

And indeed, for you in grazing livestock is a lesson. We give you drink from what is in their bellies - between excretion and blood - pure milk, palatable to drinkers.

Medicinal Benefits: Milk is an excellent source of vitamins and minerals, including “nutrients of concern,” which are under-consumed by many populations.It provides potassium, B12, calcium and vitamin D, which are lacking in many diets. Milk is also a good source of vitamin A, magnesium, zinc and thiamine. Additionally, it’s an excellent source of protein and contains hundreds of different fatty acids, including conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) and omega-3s .Conjugated linoleic acid and omega-3 fatty acids are linked to many health benefits, including a reduced risk of diabetes and heart disease.

4) Dates- The Prophet (Peace Be Upon him) said: He who eats seven ‘Ajwa dates every morning, will not be affected by poison or magic on the day he eats them. (Al Bukhari 5445)

Surah Al-Mu'minun, Verse 19:

Then We brought forth for you therewith gardens of date-palms and grapes, wherein is much fruit for you, and whereof you eat.

Surah Ar-Rahman, Verses 10-13:

And the earth He laid [out] for the creatures.

Therein is fruit and palm trees having sheaths [of dates]

And grain having husks and scented plants.

So which of the favors of your Lord would you deny?

Medicinal Benefits: Dates are extremely nutritious, rich in fiber, Vitamin B-6 and minerals such as Iron, Calcium, Potassium, Manganese, Copper etc. that must be included in our daily diet. They are also known to be devoid of cholesterol and contain minimal fat. 

5) Figs- The Prophet (SAW) said: "Eat figs! If I would say a certain type of fruit was sent down to us from the heavens I would say it’s a fig because it has no seeds. It ends (cures) the piles and is useful for rheumatism" (Sahih Bukhari)

Surah At-Tin, verse 1: 

"By the fig and the olive"

Medicinal Benefits: Figs are one of the fruits of Paradise and was favored by the Prophet (PBUH) as well. They tend to be a good cure for stomach ailments, piles, gout diseases and strengthen bones in the human body as they contain a lot of nutrients and anti-oxidants.

More on this topic of the Prophetic Diet will be to come! JazakAllah Khair for reading!