Part 69

Further, milk is not favorable for the head, the stomach, the liver and the spleen. In addition, drinking milk excessively is harmful for the teeth and the gums, and this is why it is better to rinse the mouth after one drinks it. In the Sahihain it is narrated that the Prophet b once drank some milk and then asked for some water and rinsed his mouth, saying: "It has fat."

Milk is nut good for those suffering from fever and headaches and is not favorable for the weakness in the head and the brain. Excessive drinking of milk causes darkness in the sight, sight impairment, gout, kidney clogs and swelling in the stomach and the intestines. These side effects will be neutralized when mixing milk with honey, ginger, and so forth, for those who are not used to drinking it.

Sheep milk is the most watery, and it has more fat and bad odor than goat or cow milk. Sheep milk produces phlegm and causes white spots or stains on the skin if one drinks it on a regular basis. This is why it 1s better that sheep milk is mixed with water so that its concentration becomes less. Sheep milk quenches the thirst quicker and cools the body faster than other milks.

——— The Prophetic Medicine

Goat milk is mild and light, works as a mild laxative, is wet for dry bodies and helps cure mouth cankers, dry cough and epistaxis (nosebleeds).

Milk in general is the most beneficial drink for the body due to its nutritional value and closeness to the nature of the body and to the childhood of mankind. In the Sahihain it is narrated;

"The night of the Isr'aa" (the Prophet's journey from Mecca to Jerusalem and then to heaven), the Messenger of Allah b was given two cups, one containing milk and the other wine. The Prophet is, looked at them and then took the cup of milk. Gabriel said, 'You have accepted what is natural, (True Religion i.e. Islam) and if you had taken the wine, your followers would have gone astray."

Sour goat milk is not digested quickly and produces unfavorable mixtures. The hot tempered stomach benefits from goat milk, though, and easily digests it.

Cow milk provides nutrition for the body and is In addition a mild laxative. Cow milk is one of the best

milks, between sheep milk and goat milk regarding thickness and fat.

‘Abdullah bin Mas'ud narrated that the Prophet b once said:

"Drink cow milk because it grazes on all types of trees."

We menticned camel milk in the beginning of the chapter, so there is no need to repeat it.

3. Lubon (Frankincense), which is the Kundur:

It was reported that once a man complained to 'Ali ” at’ that he forgets and that 'Ali said to him, "Resort to the Luban, because it strengthens the heart and does away with forgetfulness."

In addition, it was reported that Ibn Ab'ass said, “Drinking Luban with sugar on an empty stomach is favorable for the urine and helps against forgetfulness." In addition, it was reported that Anas said to a man who complained to him of forgetfulness, "Resort to Kundur! Soak it overnight and in the morning take a sip of it on an empty stomach, because it is good against forgetfulness."

There is an apparent reason for this benefit.

——-~ The Prophetic Medicine

Forgetfulness is the result of cold, humid, bad moods that affect the brain in a way that makes the brain not recall the memory easily. In this case, Luban helps. When forgetfulness is a result of other physical causes, refreshing drinks help in that case. The difference between the two cases is that dry substances help one stay up ai night and recall old memories rather than current mernories. The wet drinks have the opposite effect.

Sometimes forgetfulness occurs because of cupping on the back of the head and excessive eating of wet coriander and sour apples. In addition, depression, sadness, looking at stagnant water for a long time and urinating in it might cause forgetfulness. In addition, looking at _— crucified peopie, reading grave commemorations, walking between two tarred camels, eating mice wastes by mistake, all cause forgetfulness.

Luban is hot in the second degree and dry in the first degree. It is In addition a mild constipation agent. It is very beneficial and its side effects are minimal. Among the benefits of the Luban is that it stops and heals bleeding, stomach ache, diarrhea, helps digest the food, gets rid of flatulence, cures eye sores, helps the body grow flesh on most ulcers and strengthens the weak stomach. Luban In addition dries the phlegm and the moistures accumulating in the chest, cures eyesight impairment and __ prevents malignant sores from

The Prophetic Medicine progressing.

When Luban is chewed alone or mixed with Persian thyme, it will provoke phlegm, release and relax the tongue muscles and help the mind become sharper. When the Luban is burnt, it helps cure some illnesses and makes the air smell fresh.

The Letter Mim 1. M'aa(Water)

Mi'aa (Water), is the resource of life, the best drink there is, and one of the pillars of existence. Rather it is the most important pillar of life, as Allah has created every living thing from water.

- There is a difference of opinion if water is a source of nutrition for the body, or if it only helps wash down and dissolve the food. Water is a wet, cold substance that removes heat, preserves the body's moisture, restores the moisture that the body has lost, makes the food softer and helps carry it through the blood vessels.

There are ten standards with which we test water's freshness. First, its color should be crystal clear. Second, water should not have any odor at all, Third, water should be sweet and fresh just as the water of the Nile and the

Euphrates. Fourth, water should be light. Fifth, water sources should be pure and not stagnant. Sixth, water is fresher when its source is deeper or farther. Seventh, water should be exposed to the wind and the sun, not hidden under the earth. Eighth, water sources should not be stagnant and should be fast running. Ninth, water should be plentiful which helps purify whatever impurities it might carry. Tenth, water source should be running north to south or west to east.

When all these characteristics are sought together, they will all be found in four rivers, the Nile, the Euphrates, Say‘han (or Sayhoun) and Jay'han (or Jayhoun). In the Sahihain it is narrated that Abu Hurayrah related from the Prophet b that he said:

"Sayhan. jayhun, the Nile and the Euphrates are all among the rivers of Paradise."

As for the water being light, there are three methods to verify it. First, water should easily absorb the cold and the heat. Hippocrates said, "The water that becomes hot or cold easily is the lightest water." Second; by weight. Third, when one wets two pieces of cotton, which are exactly the same weight, with water from two different sources, and then both pieces are dried and weighed. The one that has the lightest weight indicates the water it absorbed was the lightest, The environment that

the water passes through has a profound effect on the water. For instance, water sources that are located to the north are generally cooler and their water is generally thicker due to the northern wind. In addition, the water that passes through mineral rich rocks is affected by this fact.

Fresh water is beneficial for both the ill and the healthy. Cool or chilled water is the most beneficial and has the best taste. Yet, one should not drink water soon after he wakes up, after sex, taking a bath or eating fruit. There is no harm if one drinks water while eating, but not excessively. Feather, having a few sips of water in this case is better and does not harm the stomach but strengthens it, excites the sexual drive and quenches the thirst.

Warm water, on the other hand, swells the stomach and causes the opposite effects that we mentioned regarding cold water. Old warm water is better than fresh warm water.

Cold water is better than warm water inside the body, as it cleanses the blood and clears the head. In addition, cold water removes rot and is mild and favorable for the teeth, the mood and hot weather. Yet, cold water is not good for those suffering from colds or swelling, since such cases need heat to decompose. Very cold water harms the teeth and drinking it on a regular basis could

—— The Prophetic Medicine

cause bronchitis and chest pains.

Very hot and very cold waters are very harmful to the nerves and most of the limbs and body organs. One of them decomposes (hot water), while the other concentrates moistures. Warm water relieves hot ruixtures, decomposes, matures and extracts excrement and brings wetness and hotness, but does not help the digestion as the fcod then floats up close to the upper side of the stomach. Warm water In addition does not quench the thirst quickly, weakens the body and causes many harmful illnesses. Yet, warm water is good for old people and those suffering from epilepsy, cold headaches and ophthalmia (inflammation of the eye).

There are no Hadith about sun heated water, nor did any of the renowned doctors of old discourage drinking it. Yet, very hot water dissolves the fat around the kidneys.

We talked about rainwater when we talked about the letter Ghayn.

Water contained in ice and hail.

In the Sahihain it is narrated that the Prophet b used to say the following supplication after starting the prayer:

"OQ Allah! Wash my sins with water (rain), snow and hail."

Snow is accumulated due to the moisture in the air, We mentioned the wisdom in asking Allah to wash the sins with snow, as the heart needs the coolness and 1s strength. We stated before the subject of curing the ills of the heart and treating them with their cpposites and neutralizers.

Hail water is sweeter than snow water, while the quality of melted ice water depends on its source.

We should mention that the quality of the snow is affected by the area and the mountains that it falls on.

One should avoid drinking icy water after taking a bath, having sex, sports activity, eating hot foods, when coughing and having chest pains, weak liver and cool tempers.

Water from wells and ground water Well water is not favorable, while underground water is heavy. This is because the first one (well water) rarely escapes rot, while underground water is not exposed to fresh air. Hence, one should not drink such types of water until exposing the water to air for at least a night. The worst type of well or underground water is that which runs through lead-rich stones and unused weils. especially if its soil is not good.