Part 34

The Prophet s& used to eat bread with whatever condiment happened to be available. Sometimes he would eat bread with meat, sometimes with watermelon and sometimes with dates. One time, the Prophet b placed a dried date on a piece of bread and said that this, the date, is the condiment of that, the bread. Barley bread is cold and dry while dates are hot and wet, so eating both foods together is one of the wisest decisions, especially for those used to this type of food, such as the people of AIMedina. Sometimes, the Prophet “ would eat bread with vinegar, saying, What a good condiment vinegar is.' This praise for the vinegar came because it was the only available food in the house then, not because vinegar is better than the other types of foods, as some ignorant people think. The Hadith sates that the Prophet as once came to one of his wives and asked if she had any condiment when they offered him some bread. When she said that they only had vinegar, he said, "What a good condiment vinegar is."

Eating bread with a condiment preserves the

——— The Prophetic Medicine

health unlike eating only one type of food. Condiments are called as such because when they are added to the bread, the bread tastes better and the food helps preserve the health.

In addition, the Prophet * used to eat from the fruits that were in season in his land, as this In addition is one of the best methods of preserving health, Allah's wisdom decided that every land has its own fruits that are suitable and beneficial to that land when in season. When the people consume these fruits they will help preserve their health and well being and it serves as several medicines. On the other hand, those who refrain from eating the fruits of their area will be among the most ailing persons and the farthest from good health and well being.

The wetness that the various fruits contain represents the favorable heat of the season and the land. The stomach would then be able to bring the fruits to maturity and would fend off their harm, if one does not eat them excessively causing his nature to bear what it cannot bear. In addition, one should not spoil the food that his stomach is digesting by eating fruits, nor drink water with it. Fruits should be eaten only after the food in the stomach is digested to prevent constipation. Those who consume fruits in the proper manner, in the proper time and in the proper conditions the fruits act as a cure and a

The Prophet's guidance on the proper way to sit while eating

The Prophet b said:

"I do not eat while leaning on my side." He In addition said, “I only sit like the slave sits and eat like the slave eats."

Leaning on the side harms the stomach because it prevents the food

from going down the proper channel and reaching the stomach quickly, as it pressures the stomach and does not allow it to be open properly for the food to pass through.

Eating while leaning on something is the practice of the arrogant people and this is why the Prophet b said that:

"T only eat like the slave eats."

The Prophet b used to it on his feet while eating. He used to place his k iees on tne ground and would place the bottom of his !e* foot or: the upper part of his righi foot in humility for the Lerd and in respect for the food . This is ho pest way to sit for eating,

and for those prese

———. The Prophetic Medicine

because the organs of the body will all be in their proper position, along with observing good manners.

As we have stated, the best way to eat is sitting up with the organs of the body in their natural position. The worst way of eating is leaning on one's side because the windpipe and the chewing organs will be pressured in this position and squeeze the stomach.

In addition, the Prophet b could have meant that he does not sit while leaning on pillows as the arrogant do and those who want to eat more food. Rather, the Prophet as used to eat what is barely sufficient just as the slave does.

The Prophet_b used three fingers while eating

This is one of the best methods of eating. Eating with one or two fingers does not help the appetite or provide sufficient amount of food in each bite, and consequently, one would only be able to finish eating after a long time. In addition, the organs responsible for handling the food would not be comfortable with the fact that they are getting so little food with each bite, in this case the organs will pass through periods of inactivity while one is still eating! If one eats one or two grains at a time, he will neither enjoy eating or feel comfortable. Eating with five fingers sends to the stomach more food than it can handle in each bite. Death might even occur if

one of the organs becomes clogged with excessive food. In addition, the organs of the body will be forced to handle large amounts of food and thus the person would neither enjoy eating it nor would their body be comfortable digesting it. Therefore, the best way of eating is by using three fingers as the Prophet b and those who imitate him do.

The Prophet's guidance on certain combinations of

The Prophet b never mixed fish and milk, milk and sour foods or two hot dishes, or two cold dishes, two sticky dishes, two constipating dishes, two laxative dishes, two heavy dishes, two liquid foods or two types of foods that produced the same condition. In addition, he did not join between two types of food that caused opposite effects, such as constipating and diarthea, or easily digested with heavy foods broiled with cooked foods, dry with fresh foods, eggs and milk or meat and milk. In addition, he neither ate a food when it is rather hot, nor old food that was heated for him the next day. Further, he did not eat any salty or rotten foods, such as pickles. All these types of foods are harmful and cause the health to change for the worst.

The Prophet b In addition used to neutralize the harm of some foods by their opposites, as much as he could. When the food is hot, he neutralizes its effect with

~——— The Prophetic Medicine

a cold food, and when it is dry, he neutralizes it with wet foods, such as eating ripe dates with cucumbers and dried dates with butter. He In addition used to drink the water of soaked dates to neutralize the effect of heavy foods. Further, the Prophet bused to eat dinner even if it only consisted of a few dates.

Abu Nu'aym mention that the Prophet m, used to discourage sleeping just after eating food because it will harden the heart. The doctors In addition advise the people to walk even a few steps after dinner, because sleeping just after dinner is very harmful. Muslim doctors add that one could In addition pray after eating his dinner, so that the food resides in the bottom of the stomach where it will be easily digested.

The Prophet b did not drink [water or milk] with his food, because the drink would spoil the food, especially when the water is hot or cold.

It is not preferred that one drinks water after sports activity, when tired, after sexual intercourse, before and after eating food and atter eating fruit. In addition, it is not preferred that one drinks water after taking a bath and after sleeping. All these activities will harm the health and one should not think about the benefits he might gain from drinking with the food.

The Prophet's guidance on beverages

The Prophet's guidance regarding beverages was In addition the most beneficial for preserving the health. The Prophet b used to drink honey with cold water, and this is an especially effective method to preserve the heath that only the best doctors could have knowledge of. Drinking honey on an empty stomach will dissolve phlegm, purify the stomach's protective layers and dissipate its viscidity and excrements while heating it mildly. Honey In addition helps against the clogs in the stomach, kidney, liver and prostate. Honey is much more profitable to the stomach than any other sweet.

We should state that honey might harm those suffering from bile, because it aggravates it. In this case, the harmful side effect of honey is neutralized when taking it with vinegar, as this method makes the honey very beneficial. In addition, honey is much more beneficial than any other sugar based drink, especially for those who are not used to these types of sweet drinks.

When one drinks sweet drinks that he is not used to, he will not benefit as much as he will benefit from honey, as this is the role that one's customs play. The customs remove foundations and establish foundations..

When the drink is both sweet and cold, it will be most beneficial for the body and one of the best methods

—— The Prophetic Medicine

to preserve its health and the well being of the soul, strength, liver, and heart. In addition, when the drink is both sweet and cold, the body will be eager for it, will benefit from it, nutrition wise, and will quickly digest and transfer it to the other organs of the body.

Cold water is wet, quenches the thirst, preserves the moistures in the body, regenerate the moistures that the body has lost, softens the food and helps transfer it through the veins quickly.

The doctors differed on if water is In addition nutritional. as some of them said that it is nutritious since the body grows and becomes milder and_ stronger, especially when it is in need of water. They In addition said that there are several similarities between man and animals, such as growing and

becoming fairer and stronger. The plants In addition grow and have their own special kind of senses and movements. Since plants feed on water, how can anyone deny that water is nutritious, they asked?

They In addition say that they do not deny that food provides most of the nutritional intake of the body. They only deny that water is not considered of any nutritional value at all. They In addition say that the food only provides nourishment because of the watery parts it contains.

They In addition say that water is the resource of life for animals and plants. There is no doubt, they say, that the substance that is closer to the resource of life will provide more nourishment. How about if the substance is the resource of life itself?