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

Hijama (Wet Cupping).

In Islamic Medicine, Hijama (wet cupping) is used by the permission of Allah for the treatment of every type of physical and mential illness or disease and its excellence is recorded in many of the Sahih Hadith.

There are basically two forms of cupping, wet and dry. The procedure of Dry cupping involves heating up a glass cup shaped like a miniature fish bowl with a flame. The warm glass cup is then placed on a fleshy part of the body (normally the back) and the skin, blood vessels and muscle underneath the cup is drawn upwards into it by the vacuum created inside the cup. This leaves a characteristic round mark on the skin after the cup is removed. This mark usually fades after a couple of days.

Wet cupping [Hijama] is only different in that tiny incisions are made on the surface of the skin before the cup is reapplied. Through the reapplication of the vacuum inside the cup, stagnated blood, other toxins and heat is sucked out of the body through the incisions.

The benefits that Allah provides in Hijama are endless and due to its stimulating and strengthening effects and cupping has been used successfully to treat bowel conditions (IBS, constipation and diarrhoea), headaches, black magic, back pain, arthritis, period pain, injuries, asthma, cellulite, fatigue (ME), anaemia, depression and emotional problems, atrophy, sciatica, common cold and flu, skin problems, blood pressure, menstruation problems in women, weight loss, and more.

According to books translated from the works of Ibn Al Qayyim (rahimullah) and others, administering Hijama between the shoulder blades helps cure shoulder pain, pains in the upper arms and pains of the throat. Hijama over the two posterior neck veins helps treat tremors of the head, and other conditions of the head, for example, of the face, teeth, ears, eyes, nose and throat.

Applying Hijama under the chin helps reduce face pain, toothache, and throat pain and helps to cleanse the head when applied at the proper time. Hijama on top of the foot helps against inflammation of the testes, leg ulcers and eases suppressed menses. Cupping behind the knee helps in the treatment of chronic abscesses, haemorrhoids and septic ulcers of the leg and foot. Hijama on the inner thighs is a good treatment for irritation of the back, gout and piles. Hijama can also help ease high blood pressure and high blood sugar.

The excellence of Cupping (Hijama) as a remedy.

It was narrated from Abu Hurairah (radhi Allahu anhu) that the Prophet (sallAllahu alayhi wasallam) said, "If there is any good in any of the remedies you use, it is in cupping [Hijama]."

Sunan Ibn Majah Book 31, Hadith 3605. Classed as Hasan by Darussalam.

http://www.sunnah.com/urn/1275210

And also;

Jabir bin 'Abdullah (radhi Allahu anhu) narrated that he paid Al-Muqanna a visit during his illness and said, "I will not leave till he gets cupped, for I heard Allah's Messenger (sallAllahu alayhi wasallam) saying, "There is healing in cupping."

Sahih Al Bukhari Volume 7, Book 71, Number 600.

And also;

Jabir bin 'Abdullah (radhi Allahu anhu) also narrated that, "I heard the Prophet (sallAllahu alayhi wasallam) saying, "If there is any good in your medicines, then it is in a gulp of honey, a cupping [Hijama] operation, or branding (cauterization), but I do not like to be (cauterized) branded."

Sahih Al Bukhari Volume 7, Book 71, Number 603.

When to get cupped;

Narrated by Abu Hurayrah (radhi Allahu anhu); "The Prophet (sallAllahu alayhi wasallam) said: If anyone has himself cupped on the 17th, 19th and 21st it will be a remedy for every disease."

Sunan Abi Dawood Book 28, Hadith 3852. Classed as Hasan by Sh. Al Albani (rahimullah).

The 17th, 19th and 21st [of the month] mentioned here is referring to the Lunar calendar.

It is generally understood that when the Moon is full, it has the strongest possible gravitational pull on the earth and its inhabitants.

The effect in human beings is that the volatile bodily fluids and humors are pulled into the uppermost part of the body during the 1 day either side of the full moon (and on the full moon). As the phases of the full Moon subside to the 17th, 19th and 21st of the lunar month, the volatile humours subside too and the underlying humours are pulled up into their place. It is within these underlying bodily fluids and humours that the patient might be suffering toxicity. Once these underlying humours come close to the skins surface within the upper body, any toxicity or excess can easily be extracted through Hijama.

This might also explain why the key sunnah Hijama points are always located on the upper part of the body (above the waist).

However, it's important to note that the patient does not need to wait for these dates if they are ill and have an urgent requirement to get cupped. Cupping can be applied on any day.

Hijama points of application from the Sunnah.

Top, middle of the head (crown).

It was also narrated by Ibn Abbaas (radhi Allahu anhu) that the Prophet (sallallahu alayhi wasallam) was cupped on his head for an ailment he was suffering from while he was in a state of Ihram. at a water place called Lahl Jamal located on the road to Makkah. Ibn 'Abbas further said: Allah s Apostle was cupped on his head for unilateral headache while he was in a state of Ihram.

Sahih al Bukhari Volume 7, Book 71, Number 602

Above the thigh [hip area].

Jabir ibn Abdullah (radhi Allahu anhu) narrated that the Messenger of Allah (sallAllahu alayhi wasallam) had himself cupped above the thigh for a contusion from which he suffered.

Sunan Abi Dawood Book 28, Hadith 3854. Classed as Sahih by Sh. Al Albani (rahimullah).

Either side of the neck (at the back) and on the shoulder.

It was narrated Anas ibn Malik that "The Prophet (sallAllahu alayhi wasallam) had himself cupped three times in the veins at the sides of the neck and on the shoulder. Ma'mar said: I got myself cupped, and I lost my memory so much so that I was instructed Surat al-Fatihah by others in my prayer. He had himself cupped at the top of his head."

Sunan Abi Dawood Book 28, Hadith 3851. Classed as Sahih by Sh. Al Albani (rahimullah).

Top of the Foot.

It was narrated from Jabir (radhi Allahu anhu) that the Prophet (sallAllahu alayhi wasallam) fell from his horse onto the truck of a palm tree and dislocated his foot. (One of the narrators) Waki’ said: “Meaning that the Prophet (sallAllahu alayhi wasallam) was cupped because of that [on the surface of the foot] for bruising.”

Sunan Ibn Majah  Vol. 1, Book 31, Hadith 3485. Classed as Sahih by Darusalaam. Also recorded in Abi Dawood Book 10, Hadith 1833 and confirmed as Sahih by Sh. Al Albani (rahimullah).

More information can be found here for general cupping points which are established by the Hijjaams.

Hijama for the one who is fasting;

There are a number of hadeeth on the matter of cupping during fasting and it seems as though it was initially outlawed.

It was narrated by Thawban that the Prophet (sallAllahu alayhi wassallam) said, "A man who cups and a man who gets himself cupped break their fast."
Sunan Abi Dawood Book 13, Hadith 2364. Classed as Sahih by Sh. Al Albani (rahimullah).

The reason may have been due to the hardship and weakness it causes upon the body, and Allah Azzawajjal knows best. But there are also narrations in Al Bukhari which suggest that the Holy Prophet (sallAllahu alayhi wassallam) was cupped while he was fasting.
Reference to Vol. 7, Book 71, Hadith 597.

And also;

It was narrated by Thabit Al-Bunani (radhi Allahu anhu) that Anas bin Malik (radhi Allahu anhu) was asked whether they disliked the cupping for a fasting person. He replied in the negative and said, "Only if it causes weakness."

Sahih Al Bukhari Volume 3, Book 31, Number 161.

My personal advice is to avoid it during fasting hours if the days are long and you fear it will cause weakness. It can always be performed during the night instead. However, there is no harm in those who are strong having it performed.

Hijama is permitted for the one who is in Ihram;

It was also narrated by Ibn Abbaas (radhi Allahu anhu) that the Prophet (sallallahu alayhi wasallam) was cupped on his head for an ailment he was suffering from while he was in a state of Ihram. at a water place called Lahl Jamal located on the road to Makkah. Ibn 'Abbas further said: Allah s Apostle was cupped on his head for unilateral headache while he was in a state of Ihram.

Sahih al Bukhari Volume 7, Book 71, Number 602

It is strongly encouraged to give payment to the Hajjaam (cupper), but my understanding is that it is forbidden to request payment, such as that they will not provide the treatment unless they are paid.

It was narrated by Anas bin Malik (radhi Allahu anhu) that the Prophet (sallAllahu alayhi wasallam) sent for a slave who had the profession of cupping, and he [the slave] cupped him. The Prophet ordered that he be paid one or two Sa's, or one or two Mudds of foodstuff, and appealed to his masters to reduce his taxes.

Sahih Al Bukhari Volume 3, Book 36, Number 481.

In other authentic narrations it is also mentioned that Rasool'Allah (sallAllahu alayhi wasallam) never withheld payment from the Hajjaam but at the same time, there are narrations which suggest that taking a payment for the price of blood, whereby Hijama treatment will not be provided unless the Hajjaam is paid, is forbidden;

`Aun bin Abu Juhaifa (radhi Allahu anhu) narrated that "My father bought a slave who practiced the profession of cupping. (My father broke the slave's instruments of cupping). I asked my father why he had done so. He replied, "The Prophet (sallAllahu alayhi wasallam) forbade the acceptance of the price of a dog, or blood, and also forbade the profession of tattooing, getting tattooed and receiving or giving Riba, (usury), and cursed the picture-makers."
Sahih Al Bukhari Vol. 3, Book 34, Hadith 299

Consideration must be made for the cupper since they incur expenses for equipment, traveling and time spent with the patient, particularly if they have no other source of income. It is strongly recommended that they be gifted with payment as indeed Allah loves those who have good manners and courteousness.

Hijama is a key weapon from Allah against sorcery.

Hijama is one of the ways in which Allah Azzawajjal cures sorcery in those who are touched by the Jinn and it is recommended for them to get Hijama performed by an experienced Hajjaam in their area and it must be performed at the right time. By the permission of Allah, they will be cured after a couple of sessions.

Ibn Al Qayyim (rahimullah) mentioned in his work Zaad al Ma'aad that the Messenger of Allah (sallAllahu alayhi wassallam) was cupped on the top of his head when he was afflicted with Sihr (witchcraft) and that it is of the best of cures for this ailment if it is performed correctly.
(4/125-126).

There is no authentic prohibition on applying Hijama on certain days of the week, particularly if the patient is very ill.

A few hijama practitioners choose not to cup their patients on a Wednesday due to the following Hadith;

Nafi’ (radhi Allahu anhu) is purported to have related that “Ibn ‘Umar  (radhi Allahu anhu) said: ‘O Nafi’! The blood is boiling in me. Bring me a cupper and let him be a young man, not an old man or a boy.’ Ibn ‘Umar said: ‘I heard the Messenger of Allah (sallAllahu alayhi wasallam) say: “Cupping on an empty stomach is better, and it increases one’s intellect and memory. And it increases the memory of one who has a good memory so whoever wants to be cupped, (let him do it) on a Thursday, in the Name of Allah. Avoid cupping on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays. Have yourselves cupped on Mondays and Tuesdays, and avoid cupping on Wednesdays, for that is the day on which the calamity befell Ayyub, and leprosy and leucoderma only appear on Wednesday or the night of Wednesday.”

Sunan Ibn Majah Vol. 1, Book 31, Hadith 3488.

This Hadith has been classed as Da'if (weak) by the consensus of scholars at Darussalaam. However in order to reconcile all the various hadith on the point of cupping days (and to make it easy upon the Muslims), it may be taken that it is acceptable to cup on a Wednesday if that day falls on either the 17th, 19th or 21st of the lunar month. But a Monday, Tuesday or Thursday are more preferred if any of them also fall on the 17th, 19th or 21st.

Healing from the Qur'an - Milk.

Milk is considered a blessed drink created by the Almighty Allah. It is both a food and a drink at the same time. Regarding Milk, Allah Azzawajal says in the Holy Qur’an, 

"And indeed, for you in livestock is a lesson. We give you drink from that which is in their bellies, and for you in them are numerous benefits, and from them you eat."

[23:21]

“In cattle is a lesson for you; We give you a drink they carry in their glands, that issues from between a secreting mucus (of the pituitary gland) and blood…” 
[16:66] 

Allah the Exalted also mentions Milk as being present in Paradise;

"Is the description of Paradise, which the righteous are promised, wherein are rivers of water unaltered, rivers of milk the taste of which never changes, rivers of wine delicious to those who drink, and rivers of purified honey, in which they will have from all [kinds of] fruits and forgiveness from their Lord, like [that of] those who abide eternally in the Fire and are given to drink scalding water that will sever their intestines?"
[47:15]

Ibn Al Qayyim said that the best type of milk to drink is that which is fresh, has a bright white colour and a delicate sweetness. Milk helps alleviate depression and distress in adults and also helps to calm the spirit. 

Rinsing the mouth after drinking Milk is from the Sunnah.

It is important to rinse the mouth with water after drinking milk as this was the Sunnah of God’s beloved Messenger (pbuh) who once commented, because “it contains fat.” - Narrated by Ibn Abbas (radhi Allahu anhu) recorded in Sahih al Bukhari in Volume 1, Book 4, Number 210

The milk must come from an animal which is fed an organic vegetarian diet.

Nowadays, the milk sold in supermarkets in the West is from commercial dairy cattle which are pumped full of harmful vaccines and fed on a diet which contains meat by-products and fodder which is sprayed with pesticides and chemical fertilisers. There is no doubt that these toxins find their way into the animal's meat and milk.

Abdullah ibn Umar (radhi Allahu anhu) narrated that the Messenger of Allah (sallAllahu alayhi wasallam) prohibited eating the animal which feeds on filth and drinking its milk.

Sunan Abi Dawood. Book 27, Hadith 3776. Classed as Sahih by Sh Al Albani (rahimullah).

There is no harm in mixing milk with water as per the following Hadith;

It was narrated by Sahl  ibn Sad (radhi Allahu anhu) that a drink (milk mixed with water) was brought to the Prophet (sallallahu alayhi wasallam) who drank some of it while a boy was sitting on his right and old men on his left. The Prophet said to the boy, "If you permit me, I'll give (the rest of the drink to) these old men first." The boy said, "I will not give preference to any one over me as regards my share from you, O Allah's Apostle!" The Prophet then put that container in the boy's hand. 

Sahih Al Bukhari Volume 3, Book 47, Number 774

Milk's Benefits.

According to the Dairy Council, the benefits of drinking fresh milk include healthy bone growth due to milk’s composition of calcium, phosphorous, protein and magnesium, and the healthy growth of teeth in children. Milk along with a balanced and healthy diet helps reduce blood pressure, instances of type-2 diabetes, some forms of cancer, cardiovascular diseases and obesity. A little honey can be added to milk that has been gently warmed up and then mixed thoroughly. This sweet milk should then be chilled before drinking. It is important to note that milk sweetened with sugar rather than honey causes plumpness of the body and face.

Milk should never be drunk excessively since it can cause dimness of the sight, aching of the joints, tooth and gum troubles and intolerance to lactose. Adding honey to milk when drinking can help alleviate these symptoms. Cow’s milk is the best type of milk since it is the most balanced and cows tend to graze on a wider range of plants than other animals.

Raw Organic Milk vs Processed Milk.

Without a doubt, raw milk is better for health than the processed and pasteurized milk which we buy at the market. Raw milk contains more nutrients, natural enzymes and probiotics.

The pasteurization process destroys milk's natural enzymes which help the human body assimilate the calcium contained in milk, as well as its other nutrients which the human body needs to grow, fight disease and function well. That is partly why breast milk is far better for babies that formula and also why, by the same token, raw milk is better for everyone than processed milk. Having said this, it's important to source your raw milk from farms where the milking animals have been vaccinated for contagious diseases like TB and Brucellosis and are fed a vegetarian organic diet.

85% of those who are lactose intolorant should be able to digest raw milk without any problems and raw milk does not spoil like pasteurized milk does if it is left out of the fridge overnight and can much easily be made into homemade butter, cream, soft cheese etc.

References - 

Organic Raw Milk (London and Home Counties) - http://www.hookandson.co.uk/index.html

http://www.milk.co.uk/page.aspx?intPageID=73

http://www.realmilk.com/health/more-about-raw-milk/

http://www.cheeseslave.com/top-ten-reasons-to-drink-raw-milk/

Turmeric; beneficial for Skin & maybe even for Cancer.

The use of turmeric is neither from the Qur'an nor the Sunnah, but nonetheless, it is a highly beneficial spice and this is the reason for mentioning it in this post.

Turmeric is derived from the root of a subcontinental plant, where the root is dried and ground to powder to produce a bright yellow spice used mainly in South Asian cuisine. Turmeric has been used in India for over 2500 years; as a dye and an ingredient in food and beauty products. Long renowned for its anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidant properties, Turmeric proves exceptionally beneficial in the treatment of a wide variety of illnesses including Alzheimer’s, arthritis and some forms of cancer. Turmeric has been used in both Chinese and Ayurvedic medicine for centuries.

Turmeric is a natural anti-inflammatory and antiseptic which helps in healing cuts, burns, stings and bites. When combined in a dish with cauliflower, it can help sufferers of prostrate cancer. A paste made of turmeric can also help reduce skin melanoma. Turmeric is a natural liver detoxifier and has been used in Chinese Medicine as a natural treatment for depression. Sufferers of gallstones or bile obstructions and pregnant women should consult their doctor before using turmeric in natural remedies.

Turmeric is particularly beneficial in evening out skin pigmentation. It can be mixed with besan (gram flour) and cucumber juice and lemon juice to form a paste. The paste should be applied to the affected area for 15 minutes. Used frequently, you should be able to notice a more even skin tone insha’Allah. A tea made with Turmeric root is very good for fighting the bacteria which causes diarrhoea. Turmeric root powder (Haldi) should be used in cooking and can be added to stews and casseroles as well as omelettes and in marinades for meat and vegetables. 

Top 7 Amazing Health Benefits of Turmeric

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

Treating anxiety and depression.

The best way to treat anxiety, sorrow and depression is to busy yourself in the service of Allah Subhanahu Watahala and learn and practice upon the Sunnah of His beloved Messenger (sallallahu alayhi wasallam). These acts bring joy and appreciation to the heart, and the shaytaan (the perpetrator of depression) is weakened and distanced from a soul who engages with Allah (and for Allah) regularly. Staying in the state of Wudhu (ablution) also helps keep these bad demons at a distance.

Allah the Exalted says in the Qu’ran;

“Verily, in the remembrance of Allah, do hearts find rest.”
[13:28]


Engaging with Allah can be done in many ways; by giving compulsory and voluntary charity, reciting the Qur’an, teaching the Deen, reading about the Deen, practicing the Sunnah, helping a neighbour, striving in the service of your parents for Allah’s sake, visiting a sick or elderly person, taking a ritual bath (Ghus’l), restraining the tongue from an angry word, or removing danger or harm from the path of a Muslim. We should strive to perform at least one task per day (besides that which is compulsory) solely to please Allah. 

Prayers (Salah and Supplications) are very important during times of distress. 

Allah instructs the believing men and women in the Qur'an;

"And seek help through patience and prayer..."
[2:45]

This is further supported by the narration of Hudhaifah (radhi Allahu anhu) who said that when anything distressed the Holy Prophet (sallallahu alayhi wasallam), he used to pray - Sunan Abi Dawood Book 5, Hadith 1314. Classed as Hasan by Al Albani.

The best times to supplicate and have your supplications accepted;

• When it is raining.
• While in prostration.
• During the last third of the night, or very late at night.
• During a special hour on Fridays.
• Between Adhan and Iqamah
• On Laylat ul Qad'r
• While Drinking Zamzam Water

Source - http://www.islamawareness.net/Dua/best.html

Staying positive.

It has been narrated by Abu Sa'id Al-Khudri and Abu Huraira (radhi Allahu anhum) that the Prophet (sallallahu alayhi wasallam) said, "No fatigue, nor disease, nor sorrow, nor sadness, nor hurt, nor distress befalls a Muslim, even if it were the prick he receives from a thorn, but that Allah expiates some of his sins for that."

Sahih al Bukhari Volume 7, Book 70, Number 545

Seeking refuge with Allah from distress.

It was narrated by Anas bin Malik (radhi Allahu anhu) that the Prophet (sallallahu alayhi wasallam) used to say, "'Allahumma inni a'udhu bika minal-hammi, wal-hazani, wal-'ajzi, wal-kasali, wal-bukhli, wal-jubni, wad-daini, wa ghalabatar-rijal" [O Allah! I seek refuge with You from worry and grief, from incapacity and laziness, from cowardice and miserliness, from being heavily in debt and from being overpowered by (other) men.]" 

Sahih Al Bukhari Volume 8, Book 75, Number 380

Talbinah.

Talbinah porridge is a nutritious breakfast and consuming it has benefit in alleviating depression and sorrow;

It was narrated by 'Urwa that A'ishah (radhi Allahu anha) used to recommend at-Talbina for the sick and for such a person as grieved over a dead person. She used to say, "I heard Allah's Apostle (sallallahu alayhi wasallam) saying, 'at-Talbina gives rest to the heart of the patient and makes it active and relieves some of his sorrow and grief.'"

Sahih al Bukhari  Vol. 7, Book 71, Hadith 593

Rayhaan.

‘Rayhaan’ is known in English as Sweet Basil; a fragrant herb of the mint family which, in Paradise, is the king of the fragrant herbs. "Rayhaan" is also used as a collective term used by Allah Azzawajal in the Holy Qur’an to describe the general family of sweet smelling herbs which grow in Paradise and thus are synonymous with comfort, life, ease, joy, happiness and delight. In aromatherapy, sweet basil helps alleviate the symptoms of sorrow and stress.

Western Alternative Medicine says that a few drops of Sweet Basil essential oil can be mixed into a teaspoon of carrier oil and then put into a tea-light oil burner to use at home or in the office. The gentle fragrance helps to lift the mood and calm the senses.

Silver.

According to Ibn Al Qayyim (rahimullah), the precious metal Silver, is also a medicine that encourages happiness. It relieves stress, sorrow and depression. Pure silver leaf can be taken internally as a medicine (mixed in raw organic honey).


As with all Islamic Medicine, the cure lies solely in the hands of Allah and not in any tangible object like a necklace made of silver, so please make your intentions to trust him alone and to please him and seek only His help. Allah knows best.