21. Foods

وَعَنْ عَائِشَةَ رَضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنْهَا قَالَتْ: كَانَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ يُحِبُّ الْحَلْوَاء وَالْعَسَل. رَوَاهُ البُخَارِيّ

‘A’isha said God's messenger liked sweetmeats and honey. Bukhari transmitted it.

وَعَنْ جَابِرٌ أَنَّ النَّبِيَّ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ سَأَلَ أَهْلَهُ الْأُدْمَ. فَقَالُوا: مَا عِنْدَنَا إِلَّا خَلٌّ فَدَعَا بِهِ فَجَعَلَ يَأْكُلُ بِهِ وَيَقُولُ: «نِعْمَ الْإِدَامُ الْخَلُّ نِعْمَ الْإِدَامُ الْخَلُّ» . رَوَاهُ مُسلم

Jabir told th at when the Prophet asked his family for condiments and was told that they had only vinegar, he called for it and as he was using it in his food he said, “Vinegar is a good condiment; vinegar is a good condiment.” Muslim transmitted it.

وَعَن سعيد بنِ زيدٍ قَالَ: قَالَ النَّبِيُّ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ: «الْكَمْأَةُ مِنَ الْمَنِّ وَمَاؤُهَا شِفَاءٌ لِلْعَيْنِ» . مُتَّفَقٌ عَلَيْهِ. وَفِي رِوَايَةٍ لِمُسْلِمٍ: «مِنَ الْمَنِّ الَّذِي أنزلَ اللَّهُ تَعَالَى على مُوسَى عَلَيْهِ السَّلَام»

Sa'id b. Zaid reported the Prophet as saying, “Truffles are a kind of manna, and their juice is a medicine for the eye.” (Bukhari and Muslim.) A version by Muslim has, “a kind of the manna which God most high sent down to Moses.”

وَعَنْ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ جَعْفَرٍ قَالَ: رَأَيْتُ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ يَأْكُلُ الرُّطَبَ بِالْقِثَّاءِ

‘Abdallah b. Ja'far told that he saw God’s messenger eating fresh dates with cucumber. (Bukhari and Muslim.)

وَعَنْ جَابِرٍ قَالَ: كُنَّا مَعَ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ بِمَرِّ الظَّهْرَانِ نَجْنِي الْكَبَاثَ فَقَالَ: «عَلَيْكُم بالأسْوَدِ مِنْهُ فإِنَّه أَطْيَبُ» فَقِيلَ: أَكُنْتَ تَرْعَى الْغَنَمَ؟ قَالَ: «نَعَمْ وهلْ منْ نبيٍّ إِلاَّ رعاها؟»

Jabir told that when they were with God’s messenger at Marr az-Zahran and were plucking the fruit of the arak tree he said, “Keep to its black ones, for they are the most pleasant.” He was asked if he had shepherded sheep and replied, “Yes; has there been a prophet who did not shepherd them?” (Bukhari and Muslim.)

وَعَن أنس قَالَ: رَأَيْتُ النَّبِيَّ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ مُقْعِيًا يَأْكُلُ تَمْرًا وَفِي رِوَايَةٍ: يَأْكُلُ مِنْهُ أكلا ذريعا. رَوَاهُ مُسلم

Anas told that he saw the Prophet squatting and eating dates. A version says he was eating some quickly. Muslim transmitted it.

وَعَنِ ابْنِ عُمَرَ قَالَ: نَهَى رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ أَنْ يَقْرِنَ الرَّجُلُ بَيْنَ التَّمْرَتَيْنِ حَتَّى يستأذِنَ أَصْحَابه

Ibn ‘Umar said God’s messenger prohibited anyone taking two dates together before asking permission from his companions. (Bukhari and Muslim.)

وَعَنْ عَائِشَةَ رَضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنْهَا أَنَّ النَّبِيَّ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ قَالَ: «لَا يَجُوعُ أَهْلُ بَيْتٍ عِنْدَهُمُ التَّمْرُ» . وَفِي رِوَايَةٍ: قَالَ: «يَا عَائِشَةُ بَيْتٌ لَا تَمْرَ فِيهِ جِيَاعٌ أَهْلُهُ» قَالَهَا مَرَّتَيْنِ أَوْ ثَلَاثًا. رَوَاهُ مُسْلِمٌ

‘A’isha reported the Prophet as saying, “A family which has dates will not be hungry.” A version reports him as saying twice or three times, “A family which has no dates, ‘A’isha, will be hungry.” Muslim transmitted it.

وَعَن سعدٍ قَالَ: سمعتُ رسولَ الله يَقُولُ: «مَنْ تَصَبَّحَ بِسَبْعِ تَمَرَاتٍ عَجْوَةٍ لَمْ يضرَّه ذَلِك الْيَوْم سم وَلَا سحر»

Sa‘d told of hearing God’s messenger say, “He who has a morning meal of seven 'ajwa* dates will not suffer harm that day through poison or magic." *The name of a good quality of Medina dates. (Bukhari and Muslim.)

وَعَنْ عَائِشَةَ رَضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنْهَا أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ قَالَ: «إِنَّ فِي عَجْوَةِ الْعَالِيَةِ شِفَاءً وَإِنَّهَا تِرْيَاقٌ أَوَّلَ البكرة» . رَوَاهُ مُسلم

‘A’isha reported God’s messenger as saying, "The 'ajwa dates of al-‘Aliya* contain healing, and they are an antidote first thing in the morning." *A name applied to some villages a few miles east of Medina. Muslim transmitted it.

وَعَنْهَا قَالَتْ: كَانَ يَأْتِي عَلَيْنَا الشَّهْرُ مَا نُوقِدُ فِيهِ نَارًا إِنَّمَا هُوَ التَّمْرُ وَالْمَاءُ إِلَّا أَنْ يُؤْتَى بِاللُّحَيْمِ

She said that sometimes a month would come in which they did not kindle a fire, having only dates and water, unless a little meat was brought. (Bukhari and Muslim.)

وَعَنْهَا قَالَتْ: مَا شَبِعَ آلُ مُحَمَّدٍ يَوْمَيْنِ مِنْ خُبْزِ بُرٍّ إِلَّا وَأَحَدُهُمَا تمر

She said Muhammad’s family did not have a full meal of wheaten bread on two successive days, but would have dates on one of them. (Bukhari and Muslim.)

وَعَنْهَا قَالَتْ: تُوُفِّيَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ وَمَا شَبِعْنَا مِنَ الأسودين

She said that up to the death of God’s messenger they did not have a full meal of dates and water. (Bukhari and Muslim.)

وَعَن النّعمانِ بن بشيرٍ قَالَ: أَلَسْتُمْ فِي طَعَامٍ وَشَرَابٍ مَا شِئْتُمْ؟ لَقَدْ رَأَيْتُ نَبِيَّكُمْ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ وَمَا يَجِدُ مِنَ الدَّقَلِ مَا يَمْلَأُ بَطْنَهُ. رَوَاهُ مُسلم

Do you not have the food and drink you desire? I have seen your Prophet unable to get enough poor dates to fill his belly. Muslim transmitted it.

وَعَن أَيُّوب قَالَ: كَانَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ إِذَا أُتِيَ بِطَعَامٍ أَكَلَ مِنْهُ وَبَعَثَ بِفَضْلِهِ إِلَيَّ وَإِنَّهُ بَعَثَ إِلَيَّ يَوْمًا بِقَصْعَةٍ لمْ يأكُلْ مِنْهَا لأنَّ فِيهَا ثُومًا فَسَأَلْتُهُ: أَحْرَامٌ هُوَ؟ قَالَ: «لَا وَلَكِنْ أَكْرَهُهُ مِنْ أَجْلِ رِيحِهِ» . قَالَ: فَإِنِّي أَكْرَهُ مَا كرهْت. رَوَاهُ مُسلم

Abu Ayyub said that when food was brought to the Prophet he ate some of it and sent him what was left over. One day when he sent him a dish from which he had eaten nothing because it contained garlic, he asked him whether it was unlawful and he replied, “No; but I dislike it because of its odour;” so he said, “I dislike what you dislike." Muslim transmitted it.

وَعَنْ جَابِرٌ أَنَّ النَّبِيَّ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ قَالَ: «مَنْ أَكَلَ ثُومًا أَوْ بَصَلًا فَلْيَعْتَزِلْنَا» أَوْ قَالَ: «فَلْيَعْتَزِلْ مَسْجِدَنَا أَوْ لِيَقْعُدْ فِي بَيْتِهِ» . وَإِنَّ النَّبِيَّ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ أُتِيَ بِقِدْرٍ فِيهِ خَضِرَاتٌ مِنْ بُقُولٍ فَوَجَدَ لَهَا رِيحًا فَقَالَ: «قَرِّبُوهَا» إِلَى بَعْضِ أَصْحَابِهِ وَقَالَ: «كُلْ فَإِنِّي أُنَاجِي مَنْ لَا تُناجي»

Jabir reported the Prophet as saying, “He who eats garlic or onions must keep away from us.” Or he said, “must keep away from our mosque,” or, “must sit in his house.” A pot containing green vegetables was brought to the Prophet, but on noticing that it had an odour he told them to give it to one of his Companions, to whom he said, "Eat, for I hold intimate converse with one with whom you do not."* *The reference is here said to be to angels, or particularly to Gabriel. Cf. Mirqat, iv, 373 (Bukhari and Muslim.)

وَعَن المِقدامِ بن معدي كرب عَنِ النَّبِيِّ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ قَالَ: «كيلوا طَعَامك يُبَارك لكم فِيهِ» . رَوَاهُ البُخَارِيّ

Al-Miqdam b. Ma'dikarib reported the Prophet as saying, “If you measure out your food* you will be blessed in it." *This is said to refer to such matters as buying and selling, and taking care that suitable portions are given to one’s children. Bukhari transmitted it.

وَعَنْ أَبِي أُمَامَةَ أَنَّ النَّبِيَّ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ كَانَ إِذَا رَفَعَ مَائِدَتَهُ قَالَ: «الْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ حَمْدًا كَثِيرًا طَيِّبًا مُبَارَكًا فِيهِ غَيْرَ مَكْفِيٍّ وَلَا مُوَدَّعٍ وَلَا مُسْتَغْنًى عَنْهُ رَبُّنَا» . رَوَاهُ الْبُخَارِيُّ

Abu Umama told that when the Prophet's cloth* was removed he said, "Praise be to God abundantly and sincerely, of such a nature as is productive of blessing, is not insufficient, abandoned, or ignored, O our Lord." *The word ma'ida means a piece of leather or some other material spread on the ground for the food, and it comes to mean the food itself. It is often translated ‘table’, but this is misleading with reference to the early days of Islam. Bukhari transmitted it.

وَعَنْ أَنَسٍ قَالَ: قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ: «إِنَّ اللَّهَ تَعَالَى لَيَرْضَى عنِ العبدِ أنْ يأكلَ الأكلَةَ فيحمدُه عَلَيْهِ أَوْ يَشْرَبَ الشَّرْبَةَ فَيَحْمَدَهُ عَلَيْهَا» . رَوَاهُ مُسْلِمٌ وسنذكرُ حَدِيثي عائشةَ وَأبي هريرةَ: مَا شَبِعَ آلُ مُحَمَّدٍ وَخَرَجَ النَّبِيُّ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ مِنَ الدُّنْيَا فِي «بَابِ فَضْلِ الْفُقَرَاءِ» إِنْ شَاءَ اللَّهُ تَعَالَى

Anas reported God’s messenger as saying, “God most high is pleased when a man eats something and praises Him for it, or drinks something and praises Him for it." Muslim transmitted it.

عَن أبي أَيُّوب قَالَ: كُنَّا عِنْدَ النَّبِيِّ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ فَقُرِّبَ طَعَامٌ فَلَمْ أَرَ طَعَامًا كَانَ أَعْظَمَ بَرَكَةً مِنْهُ أَوَّلَ مَا أَكَلْنَا وَلَا أَقَلَّ بَرَكَةً فِي آخِرِهِ قُلْنَا: يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ كَيْفَ هَذَا؟ قَالَ: «إِنَّا ذَكَرْنَا اسْمَ اللَّهِ عَلَيْهِ حِينَ أَكَلْنَا ثُمَّ قَعَدَ مَنْ أَكَلَ وَلَمْ يُسَمِّ اللَّهَ فَأَكَلَ مَعَهُ الشَّيْطَانُ» . رَوَاهُ فِي شرح السّنة

We were with the Prophet when food was presented to him, and I never saw food which had greater blessing when we began to eat, or less when we finished. We asked God’s messenger how that was, and he replied, “We mentioned God’s name when we ate, then one who ate sat down without mentioning God's name and the devil ate with him.” It is transmitted in Sharh as-sunna.