Nabeez

'Ajwa dates and golden raisins from Madeenatul Munawwarrah soaked in cold water.

'Nabeez' [Nabidh] was one of the drinks consumed by the Holy Prophet (sallallahu alayhi wasallam). In his time, it was typically made with dates or raisins and water.

It is an alkalizing tonic, having the tendency to remove acidity from the stomach and digestive system and it also helps to remove other metabolic wastes from the body. It improves digestion as it's high in soluble fibre and it strengthens the memory. It assists the spleen function, liver, throat, chest and prostate, and so is particularly good for men. Nabeez will also benefit patients of Arthritis and elevated levels of Uric Acid (gout).

Making Nabeez is just as simple as soaking the dates (or raisins/sultanas) overnight and drinking the water in which they were soaked in the morning insha'Allah, but when it is embraced and honoured as one of the great Sunnahs of Nabi (sallallahu alayhi wasallam), it pulls down Shifa, blessings and mercy from the treasures of Allah Azzawajjal.

The idea behind soaking dates or raisins in water is so that they sweeten the water and become softened. Softened dates/raisins release their vitamins and minerals more easily and are easier to digest.

'Ajwa' are the best variety to use if making Nabeez with stoneless dates and 'Manaqqa' is the best variety of raisins for making it with raisins, but black raisins can also be used, those colours were not Created without reason, so it is always preferable to keep changing our diets with new colours and and trying new varieties.

After Isha prayer, soak around 100 grams of dates or raisins in 1 litre of drinkable / healthy water and keep the utensil covered with a plate. Ensure the water is kept cool.

Next morning after Fajr, you can drink the water and eat the soaked fruit as was the traditional method, or just use your blender (water + soaked fruit) to obtain a beautiful  cloudy Nabeez. This is the method I have used for the smoothie recipe below.

And if you soak the fruit in morning, drink it in the evening. Nabeez should be consumed within 12 hours of soaking time, but if it is kept air tight inside the refrigerator, it will not spoil for 2-3 days insha'Allah. Serve cold Nabeez to your guests instead of tea, coffee, juices and sodas, and explain to  them the beauty of the Sunnah of our beloved Mesenger (pbuh) and the superb health benefits.

Nabeez must never be left for more than 2-3 days, otherwise it may start to ferment, which is the start of the alcohol brewing process. This is haram and forbidden to consume.

Never mix raisins and dates together; their Nabeez should be made separately.

Source - http://www.tibbenabawi.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=194:nabeez-drink-made-with-soaked-raisins&Itemid=227

Nabeez and Pomegranate smoothie.

Morning breakfast :)

Ingredients (serves 2)

50g dates, or raisins, soaked in 100ml fresh clean water. This time I used sultanas

250ml pomegranate juice.

50g frozen blueberries.

50g frozen strawberries.

50g frozen pomegranate kernels.

Blend all ingredients in a blender until the mixture becomes smooth and enjoy in the morning for breakfast or serve to your family and friends in hot weather.

Sultanas soaking at Ishaa for making the smoothie in the morning

References to Hadith - 

Regarding making it at night and drinking it in the morning -
'Abdullah (radhi Allahu anhu) said that "I heard Sufyan being asked about Nabidh. He said: 'Make Nabidh at night and drink it in the morning.'" 

Classed as Sahih from Sunan an Nas'ai Vol. 6, Book 51, Hadith 5745

Regarding it being disliked to mix dried dates with raisins to make Nabeez - 
Abu Qatada (radhi Allahu Anhu) on the authority of his father reported the Messenger of Allah (sallallahu alayhi wasallam) as having said, "Do not prepare Nabidh by mixing nearly ripe dates and fresh dates together, and do not prepare Nabidh by mixing grapes and dates together, but prepare Nabidh for each (one of them) seperately." 

Sahih Muslim Book 23 Hadith 4904

Regarding the impermissibility of storing Nabeez for more than 3 days so as it does not become intoxicating - Ibn Abbas (radhi Allahu anhu) reported that Nabidh was prepared from raisins for Allah's Messenger (sallallahu alayhi wasallam) in the waterskin and he would drink it on that day and on the next day and the day following and when it was the evening of the third day, and he would drink it and give it to (his Companions) and if something was left over, he threw that away. 

Sahih Muslim Book 23 Hadith 4974

Advice for Expectant Mothers

A query was asked on my Facebook page regarding the recommended Tibb an Nabawi advice for pregnant ladies and how to reduce the swelling which they experience as the baby grows in the womb.

Swelling is very common amongst the pregnant women, around 50% to 80% will experience it during their term of pregnancy.

First of all, ladies who are expecting should try and maintain a strict Tibb-e-Nabawi diet; they should enjoy the delicious foods of Talbinah (barley porridge), Nabeez (drink made with soaked raisins), Barley bread, pure home-made vinegar and curries/stews which have been cooked in the blessed olive oil. All these things are the codes of perfection on this planet earth. You can check the recipes section of www.tibbenabawi.org and there you will find all the blessed foods which are recommended.

Pregnant ladies should try as much as possible to stop eating wheat and rice (take barley instead), stop soda drinks, sweetened juices, tea / coffee, vegetable oils, pickles, salted foods, eggs and dairy products (particularly aged cheese), and all whatever is available as canned / packed foods from the market.

Vegetable are the best for adding to curries/stews, except do not use potatoes, lady finger (Bhindi), egg-plant (Baingan), cabbage and cauliflower.

Regular table salt (sodium chloride) should be removed completely from the diet and replaced with natural salts (Himalayan crystal salt or natural/organic rock salts). It is important not to take too much salt in any case as it increases the amount of water/swelling in the body.

Expectant ladies should avoid consuming Black Seed (Kalonji) and it’s Oil because it is strong and may not be suitable for them. Olive oil is better.

If they are experiencing uncomfortable swelling, they are advised to lie down on a bed to rest at often periods during the daytime, keeping cushions/pillows under their legs. It will keep their legs elevated (legs are in slightly higher position than the heart organ), this will relieve the swelling insha’Allah.

They are advised to drink water (6 cups in one day), not too much (too much water is hazardous) and not too little, and also they should take gentle walks (exercise) during each day as this will keep their body fluids moving and they will not collect in the legs. They should also see the doctor at regular periods to check that the pregnancy is going well and swelling is not being caused by any other health problem.

Hijama wet cupping treatment should be avoided at all costs during pregnancy as it may induce premature labour or miscarriage.

May Allah give all my sisters who are expecting a child a safe and healthy pregnancy and new baby insha’Allah.

Barley & Blueberry Muffins Recipe.

Here is a great recipe for Blueberry Muffins made with healthy Barley flour, as opposed to normal wheat flour (Maida). Recipe and photos have been provided by our sister Farheen. 

Barley is a low GI grain with a higher fibre content and lower gluten content than wheat, making it much more beneficial for digestion by those patients who are trying to cut down on their consumption of sugar. If you are only able to find Barley grains in the market, you can try to gently roast then before crushing them into flour. Roasting can be done in a frying pan over a low heat using a drop of olive oil. Keep stirring the grains so that they brown evenly and do not burn.

Sister Farheen's recipe makes use of olive oil in place of the usual butter/ghee/shortening which is used in baking;

Ingredients (makes approx 6 muffins);

150g barley flour

50g brown sugar

1/2 tsp baking powder

Pinch of salt 

1 egg, (beaten)

50g olive oil 

100ml milk 

75g fresh blueberries, you can use chopped raisins or dates.

 

Heat the oven to 200 degrees Fahrenheit and line a 6-hole muffin tin with paper cases. Mix the egg, blessed oil and milk quickly into the dry ingredients with the blueberries (don't over mix, it should be a bit lumpy). Divide between the cases and bake for 25 minutes until risen, turns golden and cooked through.

 

Fresh from the oven