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 1s 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
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?
Allah said:
"And We have made from water every living thing." (2 :30)
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
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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 entercd 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. |
Alesha 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
mixed with honey or soaked dates and raisins. Or, her statement could carry both meanings, which is the correct opinion.
The Prophet's statement:
"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 pool 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.