The Drinks of the Holy Prophet (sallAllahu alayhi wassallam).

Asalaamu alaykum warahmatullahi wabarakatu and Ramadhan Mubarak to all :)

In this post I wanted to share with you some of the drinks which were consumed by the Holy Prophet (sallAllahu alayhi wassallam) in his lifetime.

I would recommend everyone to introduce much more of these simple but delicious drinks to their daily diet and the diets of their families seeking the Shifa of Allah and to trade out the Pepsi, Coca Cola and fruit squashes which are loaded with sugars, preservatives, chemicals and artificial sweeteners. Artificial sweeteners have been linked to a wide host of serious illnesses like cancer, premature death and they also have a detrimental effect on the development of the unborn foetus - click here.

There are four primary drinks mentioned by Anas (radhi Allahu anhu) and substantiated in the Saheeh Hadeeth;

"I served drink to Allah's Messenger (sallAllahu alayhi wassallam) in this cup of mine: honey, nabeez, water and milk."

Sahih Muslim Book 23, Hadith 4982.

Make a small change by giving these drinks to your family at Sehri and Iftaar, and then be encouraged to continue after Ramadhan insha'Allah.

Water and Zamzam Water.

Drinking water helps maintain the balance of body fluids. Your body is composed of about 60% water. The functions of these bodily fluids include digestion, absorption, circulation, creation of saliva, transportation of nutrients, and maintenance of body temperature. All of these are kept in harmony by drinking adequate amounts of pure water. Health experts recommend to drink anywhere between 1litre and 2 litres daily, depending on your level of physical activity and the weather.

There are many narrations regarding the drinking of water so I will not list them here but there are some important Sunnahs to follow regarding the etiquettes of drinking.

Drinking from the mouth of the water skin [bottle] is forbidden.

By drinking directly from the bottle, germs and contagious viruses contaminate the water and are passed onto the next drinker. We must be careful not to cause harm to another Muslim. Tipping up a bottle to the mouth may be considered as lacking humility, so by taking water in a cup and sitting down to drink with three breaths, it is more healthy, humble and modest.

Abu Sa`id Al-Khudri (radhi Allahu anhu) narrated that "I heard Allah's Messenger (sallAllahu alayhi wassallam) forbidding the drinking of water by bending the mouths of water skins, i.e., drinking from the mouths directly.

Sahih Al Bukhari Vol. 7, Book 69, Hadith 530

Not breathing into the drinking vessel and not drinking from a chipped vessel.

Abu Qatada (radhi Allahu anhu) narrated that the Allah's Messenger (sallAllahu alayhi wassallam) said, "Whenever anyone of you drinks water, he should not breathe in the drinking utensil, and whenever anyone of you goes to a lavatory, he should neither touch his penis nor clean his private parts with his right hand."

Sahih Al Bukhari  : Vol. 1, Book 4, Hadith 155

And in another narration in Abi Dawood;

Abu sa’id al-Khudri narrated that the Apostle of Allah (sallAllahu alayhi wassallam) forbade drinking from the broken place (of a cup) and blowing into a drink."

Book 26, Hadith 3713. Classed as Sahih by Sh. Al Albani (rahimullah).

The etiquette of drinking Zamzam.

If you are blessed to visit Masjid Al Haraam, then you should drink as much zamzam water as you can as per the following hadeeth.

It was narrated that Muhammad bin ‘Abdur-Rahman bin Abu Bakr (radhi Allahu anhu) said:

“I was sitting with Ibn ‘Abbas (radhi Allahu anhu), and a man came to him and he [Ibn Abbas] said: ‘Where have you come from?’ He said: ‘From Zamzam.’ He said: ‘Did you drink from it as you should?’ He said: ‘How is that?’ He said: ‘When you drink from it, turn to face the Qiblah and mention the name of Allah, drink three draughts and drink your fill of it. When you have finished, then praise Allah.’ The Messenger of Allah (sallAllahu alayhi wassallam) said: ‘The sign (that differentiates) between us and the hypocrites is that they do not drink their fill from Zamzam.”

Sunan Ibn Majah Book 25, Hadith 3177. Graded as Hasan by the scholars at Darussalaam.

Regarding Standing and Drinking Zamzam - http://audio-islam.com/2013/03/21/is-it-sunnah-to-drink-zamzam-water-while-standing-al-albaani-videoar-en/

Nabeez.

Nabeez is nothing but dates or raisins soaked overnight in water. It was often prepared in a waterskin and presented to the Holy Prophet (sallAllahu alayhi wassallam) on the following morning.

A'isha (radhi Allahu anha) narrated that dates were steeped for the Apostle of Allah (sallAllahu alayhi wassallam) in a waterskin which was tied up at the top and had a mouth. What was steeped in the morning he would drink in the evening and what was steeped in the evening he would drink in the morning.

Sunan Abi Dawood Book 26, Hadith 3702. Classed as Sahih by Sh. Al Albani (rahimullah).

Choose organic dates and raisins where possible and make their Nabeez separately from each other.

Most raisins are sprayed with sulfur compounds which act as a preservative. Make sure you rinse them thoroughly before making Nabeez with them.

Find out more about Nabeez here.

Raw Milk.

It is the opinion of some of the pious predecessors that Milk was Rasool'Allah's most preferred drink but indeed Allah knows best.

Allah's Messenger (sallAllahu alayhi wassallam) said, "While I was sleeping, I saw myself drinking (i.e. milk), and I was so contented that I saw the milk flowing through my nails. Then I gave (the milk) to `Umar." They (i.e. the companions of the Prophet) asked, "What do you interpret it?" He said, "Knowledge."

Sahih Al Bukhari  : Vol. 5, Book 57, Hadith 30

Abdullah Ibn Abbas (radhi Allahu anhu) narrated that he was in the house of Maymunah. The Messenger of Allah (sallAllahu alayhi wassallam) accompanied by Khalid ibn al-Walid (radhi Allahu anhu) entered. Two roasted long-tailed lizards (dabb) placed on the sticks were brought to him. The Messenger of Allah (sallAllahu alayhi wassallam) spat. Khalid said, "I think that you abominate it, Messenger of Allah." He said, "Yes." Then the Messenger of Allah (sallAllahu alayhi wassallam) was brought milk, and he drank (it). The Messenger of Allah (sallAllahu alayhi wassallam) then said, "When one of you eats food, he should say: O Allah, bless us in it, and give us food (or nourishment) better than it. When he is given milk to drink he should say: O Allah! bless us in it and give us more of it, for no food or drink satisfies like milk."

Abu Dawood said: "This is the Musaddad's version."

Sunan Abi Dawood Book 26, Hadith 3721. Classed as Hasan by Sh Al Albani (rahimullah).

The importance of organic milk sourced from cattle fed on a 100% vegetarian diet.

Abdullah Ibn Abbas (radhi Allahu anhu) narrated that the Prophet (sallAllahu alayhi wassallam) prohibited to drink the milk of the animal which feeds on filth.

Sunan Abi Dawood Book 27, Hadith 3777. Classed as Sahih by Sh. Al Albani (rahimullah).

Commercial dairy cattle which produce milk for the supermarkets are injected with hormones and vaccines. Their fodder is contaminated with chemical fertilizers and pesticides and these find their way into the meat and milk which we feed to our families. Always choose organic raw milk. If raw milk is not available in your country, organic milk is better than usual milk.

Drinking Milk mixed with water is also from the Sunnah.

The authentic narrations highlight that milk mixed with water was presented to the Holy Prophet (sallAllahu alayhi wassallam) and his Companion and they both drank from it.

It was narrated that Jabir bin ‘Abdullah (radhi Allahu anhu) said: “The Messenger of Allah (sallAllahu alayhi wassallam) entered upon a man among the Ansar when he was watering his garden. The Messenger of Allah (sallAllahu alayhi wassallam) said to him: ‘If you have any water that has been kept overnight in a water skin, then give us some to drink, otherwise we will drink by putting our mouths in the basin.’ He said: ‘I have water that has been kept in a water skin. So he went and we went with him, to the shelter, where he milked a sheep for him and (mixed it with) the water that had been kept overnight in a water skin. He drank from it, then he did likewise for his Companion who was with him.”

Sunan Ibn Majah Book 30, Hadith 3558. Graded as Saheeh by the scholars at Darussalaam.

It is from the Sunnah to rinse the mouth after drinking Milk.

Find out more about the health benefits of Milk here.

Honey syrup.

Honey syrup is nothing but honey mixed in water. You can vary the ratio of honey to water depending on your taste but always remember to use high quality raw organic honey which still has all the natural enzymes and minerals produced by the bees.

Occasionally give honey syrup to your children who are over 12 months of age instead of fruit squash or juice. Honey's natural enzymes will strengthen their digestive system and build their immunity. Also, it will not damage their teeth.

Don't buy your honey from supermarkets as they sell in vast quantities and there is a high risk of additives in the honey to bulk it out. Find your local beekeeper and buy direct from him/her. Fresh beekeeper's honey can usually be found at farmer's markets.

Locally produced honey is far better suited to your body and is arguably better assimilated because it is produced by bees who process the same pollen that you are exposed to. Over time, locally produced honey can actually cure hayfever by building up the body's exposure to the pollen which cause allergies.

Honey syrup is best made with cold water and drunk in the mornings, particularly on hot days. Let the water from the fridge stand for a short while so that it is not too cold. Vigorously mix the honey into the water with a whisk so that it dissolves.

A'isha (radhi Allahu anha) narrated that Allah's Messenger (sallAllahu alayhi wassallam) was fond of honey and sweet edible things and (it was his habit) that after finishing the `Asr prayer he would visit his wives and stay with one of them at that time. Once he went to Hafsa (radhi Allahu anha), the daughter of `Umar and stayed with her more than usual. I got jealous and asked the reason for that. I was told that a lady of her folk had given her a skin filled with honey as a present, and that she made a syrup from it and gave it to the Prophet (sallAllahu alayhi wassallam) to drink (and that was the reason for the delay).

I said, "By Allah we will play a trick on him (to prevent him from doing so)." So I said to Sa`da bint Zam`a "The Prophet (sallAllahu alayhi wassallam) will approach you, and when he comes near you, say: 'Have you taken Maghafir (a bad-smelling gum)?' He will say, 'No.' Then say to him: 'Then what is this bad smell which I smell from you?' He will say to you, 'Hafsa made me drink honey syrup.' Then say: Perhaps the bees of that honey had sucked the juice of the tree of Al-`Urfut.' I shall also say the same. O you, Safiyya, say the same." Later Sa`da said, "By Allah, as soon as he (the Prophet (sallAllahu alayhi wassallam)) stood at the door, I was about to say to him what you had ordered me to say because I was afraid of you." So when the Prophet (sallAllahu alayhi wassallam) came near Sa`da, she said to him, "O Allah's Messenger (sallAllahu alayhi wassallam)! Have you taken Maghafir?" He said, "No." She said. "Then what is this bad smell which I detect on you?" He said, "Hafsa made me drink honey syrup." She said, "Perhaps its bees had sucked the juice of Al-`Urfut tree." When he came to me, I also said the same, and when he went to Safiyya, she also said the same. And when the Prophet (sallAllahu alayhi wassallam)again went to Hafsa, she said, 'O Allah's Messenger (sallAllahu alayhi wassallam)! Shall I give you more of that drink?" He said, "I am not in need of it." Sa`da said, "By Allah, we deprived him (of it)." I said to her, "Keep quiet." '

Sahih al Bukhari - Vol. 7, Book 63, Hadith 193

More about Honey in Light of the Qur'aan and Sunnah - click here.