Wednesday 27 November 2013

Ibn al Qayyim: Quince fruit for strengthening the stomach and heart.

Quinces on sale in Walthamstow Market

Quince [Safarjal] is the distant relative of apples and pears and this distinct species is native to the warm-temperate areas of southwest Asia, in the Caucasus region. Even when ripe, the fruits are quite hard and some varieties are difficult to eat raw and for this reason are usually consumed cooked, either as preserves or in pies and desserts. Quinces usually come into season from September onwards and the ripe fruits are sweetly fragrant.

On some sites around the web there are references to the Quince fruit in the collection of Hadith recorded by an Nas'ai and also in Ibn Majah, however they not are classified as Sahih and so should not be readily attributed to the Holy Prophet (sallallahu alayhi wasallam). Also, none of these Hadith appear in Ibn al Qayyim's original account regarding this fruit. Here is one for example;

It was narrated that Talhah (radhi Allahu anhu) said; "I entered upon the Prophet (sallallahu alayhi wasallam) and in his hand was some Quince. He said, "Take it O Talhah, for it soothes the heart."" [Ibn Majah Vol 1, Book 29, Hadith 3369] Classed as Da'if.

Ibn Al Qayyim (rahimullah) however does mention the Quince as being a fruit of benefit in his work entitled 'At Tibb an Nabawi' and therein says that the nature of Quince is cold and dry and that it benefits the stomach and its jam benefits the heart.

He said that all varieties of this fruit quench the thirst, stop vomiting through the reduction of nausea, increase the excretion of urine, benefit in treating ulcers of the stomach.

Eating a quince after a meal softens the stomach, acts as an drying agent, abates yellow bile in the stomach and prevents vapours resulting from eating from rising upwards to the chest or brain. Ibn Al Qayyim (rahimullah) also said eating a quince before a meal renders it a strong astringent (in that it dries up secretions). He said its best to consume quince broiled or cooked with honey.

[page 279-280 in Healing with the Medicine of the Prophet (sallallahu alayhi wasallam) a translated work based on the works of Ibn al Qayyim (rahimullah). Translated by Jalal Abu Al-Rub - Darussalam]

Quince preserve (made with honey) acts as a tonic and a relaxant for the heart, it opens blood passages and dissipates uptightness in the chest as well as strengthening the stomach and liver. Ma sha'Allah honey is the best sweetener to use when making Quince preserves as its heat balances with the Quince's slight coldness, neutralising any potential harm in each other.

[page 308 in Natural Healing with the Medicine of the Prophet (sallallahu alayhi wasallam) by Shaikh Muhammad Al Akill - Pearl Publishing House]

A spoonful of this preserve with a bowl of freshly made Talbinah and some honey could be a beneficial daily breakfast in sha'Allah for heart patients. It can also be eaten as a delicious condiment with Barley Bread or with your usual meal.

The brothers at the Tibb-e-Nabawi Google Group also advise not to throw away the Quince pips as they are a rare gem and an expensive medicine and help against dryness of the throat and windpipe. They can be boiled in milk and eaten.

My first attempt at making Quince preserves to use as an alternative for jam;



The quince was cooked in a little water until it became soft and mashy. Then I added around 100ml of halal vinegar made from grapes and around 2 tablespoons of honey to act as preservatives.

Then the preserve was cooked down for around 4 hours on a very low flame until it changed colour and developed a thick, spreading consistency. Quinces naturally contain high amounts of pectin and so the preserve will set without any additional help. It has a lovely colour and a delicious but subtle sweet/tart flavour and is well worth making at home.

References -



Tuesday 19 November 2013

The 24 essential etiquettes of supplication (Dua) and the means for its acceptance.

  1. Sincerity to Allah.
  2. To start the supplication by praising Allah and expressing gratitude to Him, thereafter sending salutations upon the Messenger of Allah (sallallahu alayhi wasallam). The supplication should also conclude in the same manner.
  3. Determination in the supplication and being certain of a response.
  4. The supplication should be heartfelt.
  5. One should supplicate by means of using and praising the Beautiful Names and lofty attributes of Allah.
  6. The supplicant may also petition Allah by means of his/her own good deeds.
  7. An insistent supplication which is offered without haste.
  8. To supplicate during both times of hardship and times of ease.
  9. To ask Allah alone without asking by means of others.
  10. To refrain from supplicating against the family, wealth, children and yourself.
  11. To lower one's voice when supplicating to a moderate tone which is neither loud (so that you can be overheard) nor too quiet.
  12. To confess one's sins and ask forgiveness for them and to recognise the bounty of Allah and express gratitude for it.
  13. To refrain from the use of rhyme (or poetry) when supplicating.
  14. To be humble and submissive and express fear of Allah.
  15. To reject injustice along with your repentance.
  16. Repeating specific supplications thrice and to use the supplications of the Holy Prophet (sallallahu alayhi wasallam) which are reported as Sahih.
  17. To face the Qiblah (direction of the Ka'ba) when supplicating.
  18. To raise the hands when supplicating but do not look upwards at the Heavens.
  19. To be in the state of ritual purity (Wudhu) prior to starting the supplication.
  20. Not to exaggerate in the supplications.
  21. To begin by supplicating for yourself if the supplication is on behalf of another person.
  22. The supplicant's food and drink, clothing and income should be from Halaal means. They should not be involved in some type of fraud or the consumption or payment of Riba (interest) on their income for example.
  23. The supplicant should not ask for the severing of family ties or ask for a sinful deed.
  24. The supplicant should command good and forbid evil acts and try his/her utmost to safeguard themselves of all evil deeds and sins.


References -

Regarding not lifting the gaze to the sky -
It was narrated from Abu Hurairah (radhi Allahu anhu) that the Messenger of Allah (sallallahu alayhi wasallam) said: "People should certainly stop lifting their gaze to the sky when they supplicate during the prayer, or they will lose their eyesight."
Classed as Sahih from Sunan an Nas'ai Vol. 2, Book 13, Hadith 1277

Regarding not supplicating for evil or the severing of blood ties - 
Jabir (radhi Allahu ahnu) narrated that the Messenger of Allah (sallallahu alayhi wasallam) said: “There is none who utters a supplication, except that Allah gives him what he asked, or prevents evil from him that is equal to it – as long as he does not supplicate for something evil, or the cutting of ties of the womb.Classed as Sahih from Jami` at-Tirmidhi Vol. 6, Book 45, Hadith 3381

Regarding petitioning Allah by virtue of your own good deeds - 
It was narrated by 'Umar (radhi Allahu anhu) that; "I was a young unmarried man during the lifetime of the Prophet (sallallahu alayhi wasallam). I used to sleep in the mosque. Anyone who had a dream, would narrate it to the Prophet (sallallahu alayhi wasallam). I said, "O Allah! If there is any good for me with You, then show me a dream so that Allah's Apostle may interpret it for me." So I slept and saw (in a dream) two angels came to me and took me along with them, and they met another angel who said to me, "Don't be afraid, you are a good man." They took me towards the Fire, and behold, it was built inside like a well, and therein I saw people some of whom I recognized, and then the angels took me to the right side. In the morning, I mentioned that dream to Hafsa. Hafsa told me that she had mentioned it to the Prophet (sallallahu alayhi wasallam) and he said, "'Abdullah is a righteous man if he only prays more at night." (Az-Zuhri said, "After that, 'Abdullah used to pray more at night.")
Sahih al Bukhari Volume 9, Book 87, Number 156

Supplications & Treatment with Ruqyah from the Qur'an and the Sunnah - Dr Sa'eed bin Ali Wahf Al Qahtani. Darussalam 2009 Edition.


Sunday 17 November 2013

Henna Water detox drink

Henna Water with a little honey mixed in it.

Henna water is an excellent detoxifyer. It can remove impurities and heavy metals which have built up in the body for many years. Therefore drinking it on an empty stomach is very beneficial for cleaning the liver and kidneys of diabetic patients, those with IBS, ulcers, kidney stones etc.

To make Henna water, take 5-7 grams of whole dried leaves and soak them overnight in 2 glasses of water. Filter and drink the water in the morning after Fajr on an empty stomach. This process can be repeated daily for 7-10 days.

Very dark urine will be expelled over this period and this is the proof that impurities are being expelled from the body. Henna Water has a slightly grassy taste and if you find this unpalatable you can mix a little bit of honey with it before drinking in sha'Allah.

One of the established Sunnah as recorded by Al Bukhari suggests that an infusion of water and Henna leaves was something which was used during the time of the Holy Prophet (sallallahu alayhi wasallam) but this Hadith does not specifically mention it as being drunk. [Vol 7, Book 71, Hadith 661]

More information is available at the following link to the Tibb e Nabawi site which is maintained by our brothers who are the original authors of the Henna Water post -

http://www.tibbenabawi.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=195&Itemid=228



Other References - 

Purchase Henna Leaves UK - http://www.healthmeanswealth.co.uk/Henna_Shop.php

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