Pearl Barley and Vegetable Soup Recipe.

Asalaamu alaikum warahmatullaahi wabakatu all,

Barley was the grain most frequently consumed by the Messenger of Allah (sallAllahu alayhi wassallam). It is full of vitamins, minerals and fiber.

Ibn Al Qayyim (rahimullah) suggested that the broth in which barley is boiled is more nutritious than its flour. Barley broth helps against coughing and throat roughness, stimulates the body to remove waste, cleanses the stomach, quenches the thirst and extinguishes heat. It also provides comfort and has a decomposing quality.

Ibn Al Qayyim (rahimullah) said regarding making barley water to drink that the barley should be boiled in 5 times its own amount of water in a clean pot. It should be placed on a low heat and cooked until only two fifths of the mixture remains. Then remove the cooked barley grains and use the remaining water as required.

Winter is on its way in many countries so here is my recipe for mixed vegetable soup with pearl barley. This easy to make healthy soup is delicious enjoyed with a slice of homemade bread spread with a small amount of ghee.

1 cup pearl barley, soaked for a minimum of 10 hours in enough clean water to cover, drained.
5 cups of boiling water
4x vegetable stock cubes
3 tablespoons of olive oil
1 large onion roughly chopped
3 celery stems, chopped
3 cloves of garlic, finely chopped
Mixed vegetables of your choice - I used diced carrots, sliced green beans, sliced celery stalks, peeled potato cut into chunks, sweetcorn and courgette. You can add swiss chard, turnips, swede, cauliflower, spinach, butternut squash chunks etc.
1 carton/tin of chopped tomatoes in their natural juice.
Salt, pepper and spices to your taste.

Firstly heat the oil in a pot, add the onions, garlic and celery. Cook while stirring until the mixture turns translucent. There is no need to brown it.

Then add all the other ingredients. Bring to the boil, then cover the pot with a lid, lower the heat down to minimum and cook for 55 mins to 1 hour, stirring occasionally.

Simmering soup. The aroma in my kitchen was amazing :)

The barley grains will swell and soak in a lot of the water. Be sure to add more water if the mixture becomes too thick during the cooking process.

Then it is ready to serve. This soup also freezes really well so you can enjoy it anytime.

White-stemmed swiss chard beet is a preferred vegetable to add in barley soup, particularly for the convalescing.

Umm Al-Mundhir (radhi Allahu anha) narrated that "The Messenger of Allah (sallAllahu alayhi wassallam) entered upon me, while 'Ali (radhi Allahu anhu) was accompanying him, and we had a cluster of unripe dates hanging." The Messenger of Allah began eating from them, whilst 'Ali also wanted to eat from them. She said, "The Messenger of Allah (sallAllahu alayhi wassallam) said to 'Ali, 'Stop, stop, for you are still recovering.' So 'Ali sat and the Prophet ate." She said, 'I made some chard and barley [soup] for them, so the Prophet said, 'O 'Ali eat from this, for indeed it will be more suitable for you.'"

Jami at Tirmidhi Book 28, Hadith 2170. The isnad is hasan (Darussalam).

It was also narrated that Sahl Ibn Sa'd (radhi Allahu anhu) said, "We used to be happy on Fridays. We had an old woman who would take the roots of chard beet and put them in her cooking pot, and she would add grains of barley. When we had prayed [Jummu'ah], we would visit her and she would bring it to us and we would be happy on Fridays because of that. We would not eat lunch or take a nap until after Jummu'ah, and, by Allah, there was no fat in it."

Bukhaari and Muslim

Reference to Healing with the Medicine of the Prophet (sallAllahu alayhi wassallam). Darussalam 2003. Page 286.

Further info on Barley's benefits - http://www.whfoods.com/genpage.php?tname=foodspice&dbid=127

Talbina (Barley Broth).

Talbina is one of the foods in the Sunnah of the Messenger of Allah (sallAllahu alayhi wasallam) which is more strongly established from the Hadith and was eaten by those suffering from illness or grief.

A'ishah (radhi Allahu anha) narrated that whenever one of her relatives died, the women assembled and then dispersed (returned to their houses) except her relatives and close friends. She would order that a pot of Talbina be cooked. Then Tharid (a dish prepared from meat and bread) would be prepared and the Talbina would be poured on it. A'ishah would say (to the women),"Eat of it, for I heard Allah's Apostle (sallAllahu alayhi wasallam) saying, 'The Talbina soothes the heart of the patient and relieves him from some of his sadness.' "

Sahih Al Bukhari Volume 7, Book 65, Number 328

And also;

It was narrated from A'ishah (radhi Allahu anha) that “You should eat the beneficial thing that is unpleasant to eat: Talbinah,” meaning broth. If any member of the family of the Messenger of Allah (sallAllahu alayhi wasallam) was sick, the cooking pot would remain on the fire until one of two things happened, either the person recovered or died.

Sunan Ibn Majah  Book 31, Hadith 3572. Classed as Hasan by Darussalam.

And also;

It was also narrated by A'ishah (radhi Allahu anha) that “If any of his family members became ill, the Messenger of Allah (sallAllahu alayhi wasallam) would order that some broth be made. And he would say: ‘It consoles the grieving heart and cleanses the ailing heart, as anyone of you cleanses her face of dirt with water.’”

Sunan Ibn Majah  Book 31, Hadith 3571. Classed as Hasan by Darussalam.

Ibn Al Qayyim (rahimullah) describes Talbina as being made from Sawwiq (wholemeal barley flour) cooked in milk or water, or both, and has the consistency of a thin porridge. Since Talbina is cooked with ground barley, it is highly beneficial and nutritious because it can be digested faster and the nutrients are absorbed into the body more effectively.

It is delicious served hot in the mornings for breakfast with a drizzle of honey, particularly on cold days.

Imam Ibn Al Qayyim (rahimullah) also said that "it [Talbina] has relaxation for the heart of the sick person", and it is assumed that this is because it is nutritious and filling and it warms and soothes the stomach. Sorrow and sadness tends to dry up one’s body, particularly the stomach, and of course, lack of wanted to eat food has much to contribute to that. Barley broths and soups help to moisten this dryness and flush away unnecessary accumulations or toxins related to illness. It soothes the body, comes to its defence, reduces tension, balances the different types of liquids and gasses in the body, lifts the spirit and helps the patient regain his/her poise.

Talbina Recipe.

Talbina is made by adding 1-2 tablespoons of barley flour (must be 100% wholegrain barley flour) to one and a half cups of water or milk, or a mixture of both. Add a few grains of salt, then cook and stir on a low heat for 10-15 minutes until the mixture thickens. It can be sweetened with honey and served with a dollop of quince jam if you like.

Recipe adapted from HealthMeansWealth.

The Blessings of the Black Seed.

The Black Cumin Seed (Nigella Sativa) is one of the most universally powerful medicines known to man. It is a small triangular seed from a flowering herb of the buttercup family, and also known as the Blessed Seed, Black Cumin [Bukhari], Habbatul Barakah or Kalonji. It has been known and cultivated for over two thousand years, including by the ancient Egyptians and Romans.

Abu Huraira (radhi Allahu anhu) narrated that God’s Messenger (sallallahu alayhi wasallam) said, "There is healing in black cumin for all diseases except death."

Sahih al Bukhari  Volume 7, Book 71, Number 592

Treatment from Hadith using 5/7 crushed black seeds.

It was narrated by Khalid bin Sad (radhi Allahu anhu), who said, "We went out and Ghalib bin Abjar (radhi Allahu anhu) was accompanying us. He fell ill on the way and when we arrived at Medina he was still sick. Ibn Abi 'Atiq (radhi Allahu anhu) came to visit him and said to us, "Treat him with black cumin. Take five or seven seeds and crush them (mix the powder with oil) and drop the resulting mixture into both nostrils, for 'Aishah (radhi Allahu anha) has narrated to me that she heard the Prophet (sallallahu alayhi wasallam) saying, 'This black cumin is healing for all diseases except As-Sam.' A'ishah asked, 'What is As-Sam?' He said, 'Death."

Sahih al Bukhari Volume 7, Book 71, Number 591

The oil extracted from the seeds is particularly good for healing cold, wet illnesses, benefits bronchitis and coughs, acts as a digestive tonic, eases belching, stimulates excretion of body wastes, expels intestinal worms, stimulates menstruation in women and increases the flow of breast milk for nursing mothers. Adding a few drops of the oil to coffee helps calm the nervous system, dispels fatigue and mild depression and eases a dry cough.

The Black Seed is also particularly beneficial for women suffering from abnormal absence of menstruation and other menstrual difficulties. An ointment made of black seed oil can also stimulate the growth of the beard and slow down the greying of hair. Boiling Black Seeds in vinegar and then rinsing one’s mouth with this liquid can help relieve toothache and heal gum problems.

Placing powdered black seeds in a fine muslin cloth and inhaling them regularly helps reduce the effects of winter colds. 

Link to cure for specific ailments using black seed oil - http://prophetic-medicine.blogspot.co.uk/2011/12/black-seed-oil-cures.html

Study Finds Nigella Sativa (Black Seed) Inhibits Pancreatic Cancer - http://www.healthymuslim.com/articles/ohsik-study-finds-nigella-sativa-black-seed-inhibits-pancreatic-cancer.cfm