Part 35

"And We have made from water every living

They ask, how is it that the resource of life does not provide nutrition to the body?

They In addition add that the thirsty person would regain his strength and activity when he satisfies his thirst. He will In addition be able to restrict his food intake and rely on water. However, the thirsty person would not quench his thirst if he eats a large amount of food. They add, "We do not deny that water helps transfer the food to the various parts and organs of the body. We only deny the statement that water does not have any nutritional value at all."

Another group denied that water is nutritional saying that water alone does not sustain life, or help the body grow, or restore the moisture that the body has lost through heat. However, their opponents do not deny these’ facts. They only say every substance provides nutrition in

~——— The Prophetic Medicine

a different way compatible to its nature. For instance, good aroma provides a type of nutrition, and this fact makes the nutritional value of the water even more apparent.

In short, when the water is cold and mixed with a sweet substance, such as honey, raisins, dates or sugar, it will be one of the most beneficial substances that enters the body and will indeed preserve health. This is why the best drink to the Prophet b was cold and sweet. Warm water begets flatulence and is not favorable for the body or the health.

Since water that is kept overnight is more favorable than recently drawn water, the Prophet ate said when he entered a garden of Abu At-Taihan:

"Do you hove any water that was kept in its skin overnight?"

He was brought some of that water and he drank from it. [Abu Dawood, bin Majah and Ahmad]. This Hadith was collected by Al-Bokhary, who narrated that the Prophet as said:

"If you have some water still in its skin (then bring me some). Otherwise we will sip (from the well).."

Water that is not freshly drawn is similar to yeasty

dough, while freshly drawn water is similar to the dough that does not contain yeast. When water is soaked overnight, its earthly and sandy pollutants will rest on the bottom. It was mentioned the Prophet as liked kept water, as 'A'esha said:

"Fresh water was being brought to the Messenger of Allah b drown from the well designated for drinking.”

The water that is kept in skins, especially leather skins, has a better taste than water kept in clay containers. This is why the Prophet “s asked for the water that was kept in skin containers rather than the other types of containers. When the water is kept in skin containers, it will filter through the pores in the skin [thus making its taste better]. Similarly, the water that is kept in clay containers that allow the water to filter is better than that in the clay containers that do not allow the water to filter. The Prophet s& had the best methods, the most honorable soul and the best guidance in every matter. He has showed his nation the most beneficial methods and means concerning the benefit of their hearts and bodies in this life and the Next Life. ,

Avesha said that the best type of drink to the Prophet b was cold and sweet. This statement might indicate that the Prophet's drink contained fresh, sweet water drawn from wells and springs. Her statement might In addition indicate that he used to drink water that is

—— The Prophetic Medicine

mixed with honey or soaked dates and raisins. Or, her statement could carry both meanings, which is the correct opinion.

"if you have some water in its skin. Otherwise we will drink from its mouth."

It indicates that it is allowed to drink the water directly from the poo! or container with the mouth. Many doctors advise against this method and say that it is harmful for the stomach. It appears that the Prophet b did so only to demonstrate that it is allowed. Further, drinking with the mouth from the pool is harmful when one lays on his stomach and face, such as drinking from a river or a spring. Drinking with the mouth from an elevated pool of water while sitting up is not different from drinking using the hands,

The Prophet b guided his nation to drink while sitting down

He specifically commanded his nation not to drink while standing up, He In addition commanded those who drink while standing to vomit. Yet, he did drink while standing as is correctly reported of him.

Some people said that the Prophet's drinking while

standing overrules his command not to drink while standing. Another group said that his drinking while standing only demonstrates that this practice is only disliked not prohibited. Another group said that there is no contradiction between the two Ahadeeth. The Prophet i& drank while standing when he needed to do so, as he came to the well of Zamzam and was given a bucket of water that he drank from while standing.

Drinking while standing begets many ailments and does not quench the thirst, nor will the water settle in the stomach so that the liver transfers it to the rest of the body. In this case, the water will descend quickly to the stomach and will aggravate it, and the water will not be digested properly. However, if one does this occasionally, it will not harm him.

Drinking water in three separate breaths

Muslim narrated that Anas said that the Messenger of Allah b used to sip the water in three separate breaths and would say:

"This method quenches the thirst better and is more palatable and sanitary."

This Hadith indicates that the Prophet “s used to remove the cup away from his mouth, take a breath and then drink some more. In another Hadith, the Prophet b

—— The Prophetic Medicine

commanded that one should not breathe in the cup, but should move the cup away from his mouth and breath away from it. This method of drinking is very beneficial for quenching the thirst and more sanitary as the Prophet” has stated. When the water enters the hot thirsty stomach in intervals, the second sip of water will quench the thirst left by the first, and the third will quench the thirst left by the first two. In addition, this method is better suited for the temperature of the stomach, so as not to suddenly invade it with cold substances. In addition, when one drinks the water in one breath, it will only partially quench the thirst unlike when he drinks it in separate sips.

This method [that the Prophet * taught us] gives better results than drinking the water or liquid in one breath, since water might dissipate the instinctive heat or weaken it, thus spoiling the temperament of the stomach and the liver. Water might In addition beget many other ailments, especially for those who live in warm areas, such as Yemen and Hijaz, and especially during summer. Drinking in one breath is dangerous for such people because their instinctive heat is weak especially during hot weather, as we have stated.

The Prophet's statement, "It quenches the thirst better and is more palatable and sanitary," is similar to what Allah said:

"And enjoy it without fear of any harm." (4:4) 292

In addition, when one takes the drink in one breath, he might choke on it because of the large amount of the liquid. However, there is no fear from choking when one takes a breath while drinking. Further, when one takes a drink, the hot gases accumulating in his body will ascend from around the liver and the heart because of the cold water or liquid that is descending on the stomach. In this case, the water will come rushing down while the gases are ascending, causing flatulence and sometimes choking the person. One will not enjoy the drink in this case.

In addition, when cold water descends suddenly on the liver it will weaken it and cause a decrease in its temperature. However, when one takes the drink in separate sips, the liver will not lose its warmth and thus will not weaken. Similarly, when one pours water on a boiling pot, it will not decrease its temperature significantly,

At-Termezey narrated that the Prophet b said:

"Do not drink in one breath just as the camel does. Rather, drink twice and thrice, and mention (Allah's) Name before drinking and thank (Him) upon finishing."

Mentioning Allah's Name before drinking and thanking Him upon finishing has a significant effect in benefiting from the drink, enjoying it while fending off its

—— The Prophetic Medicine

harm. Imam Ahmad said, "When the food has four qualities, it will have become perfect: when Allah's Name is mentioned before having it, when Allah is thanked after finishing with it, when there are many hands to eat from it, and when it is from legal, pure sources."

Covering pots and closing water skins

Muslim narrated in his Sahih that Jabir bin Abdullah said, I heard the Messenger of Allah b say;

"Cover the pot and tie the knot of the water skin, for there is a day during the year in which a disease descends and falls in whatever pot that is not covered, or water skin, which is not tied, that it passes by."

This Hadith contains a type of divine knowledge that the doctors could never reach on their own. Laith bin Sa'd, one of the narrators of this Hadith, said, "NonMuslims know which day it is, in January, and they try to avoid its harm."

The Prophet b commanded that the pots be covered, even with a branch, so that one makes covering it a habit. In addition, when one covers the pot with a branch, crawling insects will not fall in the food but will pass over it on the branch.

Furthermore, the Prophet ga commanded that we mention Allah's Name when covering the pot to repel Satan and insects and animals.

Drinking from the mouth of the water skin is not allowed

——— The Prophetic Medicine

AI-Bokhary narrated that Ibn Ab'ass said:

"The Messenger of Allah b disallowed drinking from the mouth of the water skin.”

There are many benefits in this Hadith. For instance, when one drinks from the tip or the mouth of the water skin, he will breathe in it and will give it an offensive odor. In addition, water may descend strongly and harm the stomach. In addition, there might be an insect in the water that one is unaware of, and that might harm him if he swallows it. In addition, water might be polluted with harmful substances that will enter the person's stomach while he is unaware. In addition, drinking from the mouth of the skin fills the stomach with air and thus the water will not have sufficient space.