Food & Eating

أَكَلْنَا مَعَ أَبِي عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع فَأُتِينَا بِلَحْمِ جَزُورٍ فَظَنَنْتُ أَنَّهُ مِنْ بَيْتِهِ فَأَكَلْنَا ثُمَّ أُتِينَا بِعُسٍّ مِنْ لَبَنٍ‌[1] فَشَرِبَ مِنْهُ ثُمَّ قَالَ لِي اشْرَبْ يَا أَبَا مُحَمَّدٍ فَذُقْتُهُ فَقُلْتُ جُعِلْتُ فِدَاكَ لَبَنٌ فَقَالَ إِنَّهَا الْفِطْرَةُ ثُمَّ أُتِينَا بِتَمْرٍ فَأَكَلْنَاهُ.

“We ate with abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.). There was meat of camel (or sheep) and I thought it was from his house. We ate, and then bowls of milk were brought. He (the Imam) drank from it and said to me, ‘O abu Muhammad drink.’ I tasted it and asked, ‘I pray to Allah to keep my soul in service for your cause, is it milk?’ He

قَالَ أَمِيرُ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ ع‌ أَلْبَانُ الْبَقَرِ دَوَاءٌ.

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said that ’Amir al-Mu’minin has said, ’Milk products from cows are medicine.”’

شَكَوْتُ إِلَى أَبِي جَعْفَرٍ ع ذِرْباً[2] وَجَدْتُهُ فَقَالَ لِي مَا يَمْنَعُكَ مِنْ شُرْبِ أَلْبَانِ الْبَقَرِ فَقَالَ لِي أَ شَرِبْتَهَا قَطُّ فَقُلْتُ لَهُ نَعَمْ مِرَاراً فَقَالَ كَيْفَ وَجَدْتَهَا فَقُلْتُ وَجَدْتُهَا تَدْبُغُ الْمَعِدَةَ وَ تَكْسُو الْكُلْيَتَيْنِ الشَّحْمَ وَ تُشَهِّي الطَّعَامَ فَقَالَ لِي لَوْ كَانَتْ أَيَّامُهُ لَخَرَجْتُ أَنَا وَ أَنْتَ إِلَى يَنْبُعَ‌[3] حَتَّى نَشْرَبَهُ.

“I once complained before abu Ja‘far (a.s.), about stomach trouble and he (the Imam) said, ‘What prevents you from drinking cow milk, have you ever drank it before?’ I replied, ‘Yes, many times.’ He (the Imam) asked, ‘How did you find it?’ I replied, ‘It tans the stomach, covers the kidneys with fat and increases one’s

قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ص‌ عَلَيْكُمْ بِأَلْبَانِ الْبَقَرِ فَإِنَّهَا تُخْلَطُ مَعَ كُلِّ الشَّجَرِ.

‘You must drink cow milk; it mixes with every tree.’”

مَنْ أَرَادَ أَكْلَ الْمَاسْتِ وَ لَا يَضُرُّهُ فَلْيَصُبَّ عَلَيْهِ الْهَاضُومَ قُلْتُ لَهُ وَ مَا الْهَاضُومُ قَالَ النَّانْخَواهُ‌[1].

“Once abu al-Hassan (a.s.), said, ‘If one wants to eat yogurt without harming him, he should pour al-Hadum on it.’ I then asked, ‘What is al-Hadum ?’ He (the Imam) said, ‘It is al- Nankhoxvah.’”

سَمِعْتُ أَبَا الْحَسَنِ مُوسَى ع يَقُولُ‌ أَبْوَالُ الْإِبِلِ خَيْرٌ مِنْ أَلْبَانِهَا وَ يَجْعَلُ اللَّهُ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ الشِّفَاءَ فِي أَلْبَانِهَا.

1. Muhammad ibn Yahya has narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad ibn ‘Isa from Bakr ibn Salih from al-Ja‘fariy who has said the following: “I once heard abu al-Hassan, Musa, ‘Alayhi al Salam, saying, ‘Urine of camels is better than their milk, and Allah, most Majestic, most Glorious, has placed cure in their milk products.”’

سَمِعْتُ أَشْيَاخَنَا يَقُولُونَ‌ أَلْبَانُ اللِّقَاحِ‌[2] شِفَاءٌ مِنْ كُلِّ دَاءٍ وَ عَاهَةٍ وَ لِصَاحِبِ الْبَطَنِ أَبْوَالُهَا.

2. A number of our people have narrated from Ahmad ibn abu ‘Abd Allah from Nuh ibn Shu’ayb from certain persons of our people from Musa ibn ‘Abd Allah ibn al-Hassan who has said the following: “I have heard my shaykh’s saying, ‘The milk of camels is a cure for all kinds of illness and defects, and for one’s stomach tro

تَغَدَّيْتُ مَعَهُ فَقَالَ لِي أَ تَدْرِي مَا هَذَا قُلْتُ لَا قَالَ هَذَا شِيرَازُ الْأُتُنِ‌[3] اتَّخَذْنَاهُ لِمَرِيضٍ لَنَا فَإِنْ أَحْبَبْتَ أَنْ تَأْكُلَ مِنْهُ فَكُلْ.

‘This is Shiraz al-’Utun (yogurt- water) that we have extracted for one of our patients. If you like to eat you can eat it.’”

كُنْتُ عِنْدَ أَبِي عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع فَأُتِينَا بِسُكُرُّجَاتٍ‌[1]- فَأَشَارَ بِيَدِهِ نَحْوَ وَاحِدَةٍ مِنْهُنَّ وَ قَالَ هَذَا شِيرَازُ الْأُتُنِ اتَّخَذْنَاهُ لِعَلِيلٍ عِنْدَنَا وَ مَنْ شَاءَ فَلْيَأْكُلْ وَ مَنْ شَاءَ فَلْيَدَعْ.

‘This is Shiraz al-’Utun which we have extracted for a patient with us. Whoever wants to eat he can eat and whoever does not want can leave it.’”

سَأَلْتُ أَبَا عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع عَنْ شُرْبِ أَلْبَانِ الْأُتُنِ فَقَالَ اشْرَبْهَا.

about drinking yogurt water. He (the Imam) said, ‘You can drink it.’”

سَأَلْتُهُ عَنْ شُرْبِ أَلْبَانِ الْأُتُنِ فَقَالَ لِي لَا بَأْسَ بِهَا.

“I once asked abu Ja’far (a.s.), about drinking yogurt water. He (the Imam) said, ‘It is not unlawful.’”

سَأَلْتُ أَبَا جَعْفَرٍ ع عَنِ الْجُبُنِّ فَقَالَ لِي لَقَدْ سَأَلْتَنِي عَنْ طَعَامٍ يُعْجِبُنِي ثُمَّ أَعْطَى الْغُلَامَ دِرْهَماً فَقَالَ يَا غُلَامُ ابْتَعْ لَنَا جُبُنّاً وَ دَعَا بِالْغَدَاءِ فَتَغَدَّيْنَا مَعَهُ وَ أُتِيَ بِالْجُبُنِّ فَأَكَلَ وَ أَكَلْنَا مَعَهُ فَلَمَّا فَرَغْنَا مِنَ الْغَدَاءِ قُلْتُ لَهُ مَا تَقُولُ فِي الْجُبُنِّ فَقَالَ لِي أَ وَ لَمْ تَرَنِي أَكَلْتُهُ قُلْتُ بَلَى وَ لَكِنِّي أُحِبُّ

“I once asked abu Ja‘far (a.s.), about cheese. He (the Imam) said, ’You have asked me about a food that is attractive to me. 5 He (the Imam) then gave a dirham to the boy and asked him to bring cheese. He (the Imam) asked for lunch which was brought. He (the Imam) ate and we ate with him (the Imam). When we finished lu

كُلُّ شَيْ‌ءٍ لَكَ حَلَالٌ حَتَّى يَجِيئَكَ شَاهِدَانِ يَشْهَدَانِ عِنْدَكَ أَنَّ فِيهِ مَيْتَةً.

“About cheese abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said, ‘Everything is lawful for you until two witnesses testify before you that it is dead animal.’”

سَأَلَهُ رَجُلٌ عَنِ الْجُبُنِّ فَقَالَ دَاءٌ لَا دَوَاءَ فِيهِ فَلَمَّا كَانَ بِالْعَشِيِّ دَخَلَ الرَّجُلُ عَلَى أَبِي عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع فَنَظَرَ إِلَى الْجُبُنِّ عَلَى الْخِوَانِ فَقَالَ جُعِلْتُ فِدَاكَ سَأَلْتُكَ بِالْغَدَاةِ عَنِ الْجُبُنِّ فَقُلْتَ لِي إِنَّهُ هُوَ الدَّاءُ الَّذِي لَا دَوَاءَ لَهُ وَ السَّاعَةَ أَرَاهُ عَلَى الْخِوَانِ قَالَ فَقَالَ لِي هُوَ ضَارٌّ بِالْغَدَاةِ نَافِعٌ بِالْعَشِيِّ وَ يَزِيدُ

“A man once asked abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), about cheese. He (the Imam) said, ‘It is an illness for which there is no cure.’ When it was al-‘Isha’ (evening) the man came to abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), and looked at cheese on the table-spread and said, ‘I pray to Allah to keep my soul in service for your cause. At lunchtime, I

قَالَ أَمِيرُ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ ع‌ أَكْلُ الْجَوْزِ فِي شِدَّةِ الْحَرِّ يُهَيِّجُ الْحَرَّ فِي الْجَوْفِ وَ يُهَيِّجُ الْقُرُوحَ عَلَى الْجَسَدِ وَ أَكْلُهُ فِي الشِّتَاءِ يُسَخِّنُ الْكُلْيَتَيْنِ وَ يَدْفَعُ الْبَرْدَ.

’Eating walnut in hot weather stirs heat inside and blisters on the body; but eating it in winter warms up the kidneys and repels cold.’”

قَالَ أَبُو عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع‌ الْجُبُنُّ وَ الْجَوْزُ إِذَا اجْتَمَعَا فِي كُلِّ وَاحِدٍ مِنْهُمَا شِفَاءٌ وَ إِنِ افْتَرَقَا كَانَ فِي كُلِّ وَاحِدٍ مِنْهُمَا دَاءٌ.

‘When cheese and walnut come together in each of them there is a cure but separately each one has an illness with it.’”

إِنَّ الْجَوْزَ وَ الْجُبُنَّ إِذَا اجْتَمَعَا كَانَا دَوَاءً وَ إِذَا افْتَرَقَا كَانَا دَاءً.

“He (the Imam) (a.s.), has said, ‘Walnut and cheese together are medicine but separately they are ailments and diseases.’”

قَالَ أَبُو عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع‌ مَا يَأْتِينَا مِنْ نَاحِيَتِكُمْ شَيْ‌ءٌ أَحَبُّ إِلَيَّ مِنَ الْأَرُزِّ وَ الْبَنَفْسَجِ إِنِّي اشْتَكَيْتُ وَجَعِي ذَلِكَ الشَّدِيدَ فَأُلْهِمْتُ أَكْلَ الْأَرُزِّ فَأَمَرْتُ بِهِ فَغُسِلَ وَ جُفِّفَ ثُمَّ قُلِيَ وَ طُحِنَ فَجُعِلَ لِي مِنْهُ سَفُوفٌ بِزَيْتٍ وَ طَبِيخٌ أَتَحَسَّاهُ فَأَذْهَبَ اللَّهُ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ عَنِّي بِذَلِكَ الْوَجَعَ‌[1].

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said, ’From your area no other thing comes more desirable to me than rice and viola. I had intense pain and I was inspired to eat rice. I ordered to wash it, dry it, and pick up to grind it, then in a powder form with oil and a mixture, I drank it. Allah, most Majestic, most Glorious, remove

رَأَيْتُ دَايَةَ أَبِي الْحَسَنِ مُوسَى ع تُلْقِمُهُ الْأَرُزَّ وَ تَضْرِبُهُ عَلَيْهِ فَغَمَّنِي مَا رَأَيْتُهُ فَدَخَلْتُ عَلَى أَبِي عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع فَقَالَ لِي أَحْسَبُكَ غَمَّكَ مَا رَأَيْتَ مِنْ دَايَةِ أَبِي الْحَسَنِ مُوسَى قُلْتُ لَهُ نَعَمْ جُعِلْتُ فِدَاكَ فَقَالَ لِي نِعْمَ الطَّعَامُ الْأَرُزُّ يُوَسِّعُ الْأَمْعَاءَ وَ يَقْطَعُ الْبَوَاسِيرَ وَ إِنَّا لَنَغْبِطُ أَهْلَ الْعِرَاقِ بِأَكْلِهِمُ الْأَرُزّ

“I once saw the nurse of abu al-Hassan, Musa (a.s.), feed him rice with morsels and threw it on him. It made me upset and I went to see abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), who said to me, ‘I think what you have seen from the nurse of abu al-Hassan, Musa (a.s.), has made you upset.’ I replied, ‘Yes, I pray to Allah to keep my soul i

كُنْتُ عِنْدَ أَبِي عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع فَجَاءَهُ رَجُلٌ فَقَالَ لَهُ إِنَّ ابْنَتِي قَدْ ذَبَلَتْ وَ بِهَا الْبَطَنُ فَقَالَ مَا يَمْنَعُكَ مِنَ الْأَرُزِّ بِالشَّحْمِ خُذْ حِجَاراً أَرْبَعاً أَوْ خَمْساً فَاطْرَحْهَا بِجَنْبِ النَّارِ وَ اجْعَلِ الْأَرُزَّ فِي الْقِدْرِ وَ اطْبُخْهُ حَتَّى يُدْرِكَ وَ خُذْ شَحْمَ كُلًى طَرِيّاً فَإِذَا بَلَغَ الْأَرُزُّ فَاطْرَحِ‌ الشَّحْمَ فِي قَصْعَةٍ مَعَ الْحِجَارَةِ وَ كُبَّ عَلَ

‘My daughter has become weak and she is pregnant.’ He (the Imam) said, ‘What prevents you from feeding her rice with fat? Take four pieces of stone or five and place them near the fire. Cook the rice in a pot until it is cooked. Take the fresh fat of a kidney. When rice is cooked then place the fat in a pot with the st

نِعْمَ الطَّعَامُ الْأَرُزُّ وَ إِنَّا لَنَدَّخِرُهُ لِمَرْضَانَا.

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said, ‘Rice is very good food and we preserve it for our people who suffer from illnesses.’”

قَالَ: نِعْمَ الطَّعَامُ الْأَرُزُّ وَ إِنَّا لَنُدَاوِي بِهِ مَرْضَانَا.

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said, ‘Rice is very good and we use it as medicine to cure our people from illness.’”

شَكَوْتُ إِلَى أَبِي عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع وَجَعَ بَطْنِي فَقَالَ لِي خُذِ الْأَرُزَّ فَاغْسِلْهُ ثُمَّ جَفِّفْهُ فِي الظِّلِّ ثُمَّ رُضَّهُ‌[1] وَ خُذْ مِنْهُ فِي كُلِّ غَدَاةٍ مِلْ‌ءَ رَاحَتِكَ وَ زَادَ فِيهِ إِسْحَاقُ الْجَرِيرِيُّ تَقْلِيهِ قَلِيلًا وَزْنَ أُوقِيَّةٍ وَ اشْرَبْهُ.

“I once complained before abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), about pain in my belly. He (the Imam) said, ‘Take rice, wash it, then dry it in the shadow, crush it; then take one fill of your palm every morning.’ Ishaq al-Jaririy has added that it should be fried a little and taken one awqiyah to drink.”

كَانَ بِأَبِي عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع وَجَعُ الْبَطْنِ فَأَمَرَ أَنْ يُطْبَخَ لَهُ الْأَرُزُّ وَ يُجْعَلَ عَلَيْهِ السُّمَّاقُ فَأَكَلَهُ فَبَرَأَ.

“Abu ‘ Abd Allah (a.s.), once experienced pain in his belly and he ordered to cook rice for him (the Imam) with sumac on it, and after eating it the pain went away from him (the Imam).’”

كَانَ أَبُو الْحَسَنِ ع يَأْكُلُ الْحِمَّصَ الْمَطْبُوخَ قَبْلَ الطَّعَامِ وَ بَعْدَهُ.

“Abu al-Hassan, al-Rida’ (a.s.), would eat cooked chickpeas before and after food.’”

قُلْتُ لِأَبِي عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع إِنَّ النَّاسَ يَرْوُونَ أَنَّ النَّبِيَّ ص قَالَ إِنَّ الْعَدَسَ بَارَكَ عَلَيْهِ سَبْعُونَ نَبِيّاً فَقَالَ هُوَ الَّذِي يُسَمُّونَهُ عِنْدَكُمُ الْحِمَّصَ وَ نَحْنُ نُسَمِّيهِ الْعَدَسَ.

“I once said to abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), ‘People narrate that the Holy Prophet has said, “Seventy Prophets have blessed chickpeas.’” He (the Imam) said, ‘This is what you call chickpeas but we call it lintels.’”

سَمِعْتُ أَبَا عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع يَقُولُ‌ إِنَّ اللَّهَ تَبَارَكَ وَ تَعَالَى لَمَّا عَافَى أَيُّوبَ ع نَظَرَ إِلَى بَنِي إِسْرَائِيلَ قَدِ ازْدَرَعَتْ‌[1] فَرَفَعَ طَرْفَهُ إِلَى السَّمَاءِ وَ قَالَ إِلَهِي وَ سَيِّدِي عَبْدُكَ أَيُّوبُ الْمُبْتَلَى عَافَيْتَهُ وَ لَمْ يَزْدَرِعْ شَيْئاً وَ هَذَا لِبَنِي إِسْرَائِيلَ زَرْعٌ فَأَوْحَى اللَّهُ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ إِلَيْهِ يَا أَيُّوبُ خُذْ مِنْ سُبْحَتِكَ كَفّاً فَابْذُرْهُ

3. A number of our people have narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad ibn Khalid from his father from fadalah from Rifa‘ah who has said the following: “I once heard abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), saying, ‘When Allah, most Blessed, most High, granted good health to Ayyub (a.s.), he looked to the Israelites who had their plantations.

الْحِمَّصُ جَيِّدٌ لِوَجَعِ الظَّهْرِ وَ كَانَ يَدْعُو بِهِ قَبْلَ الطَّعَامِ وَ بَعْدَهُ.

“Abu al-Hassan, al-Rida’ (a.s.), has said, ‘Chickpeas are good cures for back pain and he (the Imam) would ask for it before and after food.’”

قَالَ أَمِيرُ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ ع‌ أَكْلُ الْعَدَسِ يُرِقُّ الْقَلْبَ وَ يُكْثِرُ الدَّمْعَةَ.

’Eating lintels softens the heart and increases tears.’”

أَنَّ بَعْضَ بَنِي إِسْرَائِيلَ شَكَا إِلَى اللَّهِ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ قَسْوَةَ الْقَلْبِ وَ قِلَّةَ الدَّمْعَةِ فَأَوْحَى اللَّهُ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ إِلَيْهِ أَنْ كُلِ الْعَدَسَ فَأَكَلَ الْعَدَسَ فَرَقَّ قَلْبُهُ وَ جَرَتْ دَمْعَتُهُ

“A certain person of the Israelites complained before Allah, most Majestic, most Glorious, about hardheartedness and lack of tears. Allah, most Majestic, most Glorious, revealed to him to eat lintels. He followed the instruction and his tears began to flow.’”

شَكَا رَجُلٌ إِلَى نَبِيِّ اللَّهِ ص قَسَاوَةَ الْقَلْبِ فَقَالَ لَهُ عَلَيْكَ بِالْعَدَسِ فَإِنَّهُ يُرِقُّ الْقَلْبَ وَ يُسْرِعُ الدَّمْعَةَ.

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said that once a man complained before the Holy Prophet, about hardheartedness. He (the Messenger of Allah) told him to eat lintels; it softens the heart and makes tears to flow quicker.’”

أَكَلْتُ عِنْدَ أَبِي عَبْدِ اللَّهِ‌ ع مَرَقَةً بِعَدَسٍ فَقُلْتُ جُعِلْتُ فِدَاكَ إِنَّ هَؤُلَاءِ يَقُولُونَ إِنَّ الْعَدَسَ قَدَّسَ عَلَيْهِ ثَمَانُونَ نَبِيّاً قَالَ كَذَبُوا لَا وَ اللَّهِ وَ لَا عِشْرُونَ نَبِيّاً. - وَ رُوِيَ‌ أَنَّهُ يُرِقُّ الْقَلْبَ وَ يُسْرِعُ الدَّمْعَةَ.

“I once ate with abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), broth with lintels and I said, ‘I pray to Allah to keep my soul in service for your cause, these people say that lintels are blessed by seventy Prophets.’ He (the Imam) said, ‘They have spoken a lie, no, by Allah not even twenty Prophets have done so.’ It is narrated that it soft

أَكْلُ الْبَاقِلَّى يُمَخِّخُ السَّاقَيْنِ وَ يَزِيدُ فِي الدِّمَاغِ وَ يُوَلِّدُ الدَّمَ الطَّرِيَّ.

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said, ‘Eating broad beans grows bone marrows of the legs, adds in the brain and produces fresh blood.”’

أَكْلُ الْبَاقِلَّى يُمَخِّخُ السَّاقَيْنِ وَ يُوَلِّدُ الدَّمَ الطَّرِيَّ.

“Abu al-Hassan, al-Rida’ (a.s.), has said, ‘Eating broad beans grows the bone marrow of the legs and produces fresh blood.’”

سَمِعْتُ أَبَا عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع يَقُولُ‌ كُلُوا الْبَاقِلَّى بِقِشْرِهِ فَإِنَّهُ يَدْبُغُ الْمَعِدَةَ.

‘Eat broad beans with its peels. It cleanses (tans) the stomach.’”

اللُّوبِيَاءِ يَطْرُدُ الرِّيَاحَ الْمُسْتَبْطِنَةَ.

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said, ‘Kidney beans dispel gases from the belly.’”

شَكَا رَجُلٌ إِلَى أَبِي الْحَسَنِ ع الْبَهَقَ فَأَمَرَهُ أَنْ يَطْبُخَ الْمَاشَ وَ يَتَحَسَّاهُ وَ يَجْعَلَهُ فِي طَعَامِهِ.

“Once a man complained before abu al-Hassan (a.s.), about vitiligo (white spots on one’s skin) and he (the Imam) commanded him to cook al-Mash then drink it and make it a part of his food.”

أَمَا إِنَّهُ طَعَامٌ لَيْسَ فِيهِ ثِقَلٌ- وَ لَا لَهُ غَائِلَةٌ وَ إِنَّهُ أَعْجَبَنِي فَأَمَرْتُ أَنْ يُتَّخَذَ لِي وَ هُوَ بِاللَّبَنِ أَنْفَعُ وَ أَلْيَنُ فِي الْمَعِدَةِ.

“I once ate Harisah (mashed meat and grains) with al-Jawars with abu ‘ Abd Allah (a.s.), and he (the Imam) said, ‘It is a kind of food which is not heavy or troublesome. I like it so I ordered to use it with my food, however, with milk it is more beneficial and soft on stomach.”’

مَرِضْتُ بِالْمَدِينَةِ فَانْطَلَقَ بَطْنِي فَوَصَفَ لِي أَبُو عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع سَوِيقَ الْجَاوَرْسِ وَ أَمَرَنِي أَنْ آخُذَ سَوِيقَ الْجَاوَرْسِ وَ أَشْرَبَهُ بِمَاءِ الْكَمُّونِ فَفَعَلْتُ فَأَمْسَكَ بَطْنِي وَ عُوفِيتُ.

“I once became ill in al-Madinah because of diarrhea and abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), described for me how to prepare a sawiq (fried flour) of al-Jawars and commanded me to use sawiq of al- Jawars and drink it with water of al-Kamun (cumin). I followed the instruction and the diarrhea stopped.’”

فِي قَوْلِ اللَّهِ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ- فَلْيَنْظُرْ أَيُّها أَزْكى‌ طَعاماً فَلْيَأْتِكُمْ بِرِزْقٍ مِنْهُ‌[1] قَالَ أَزْكَى طَعَاماً التَّمْرُ.

“About the meaning of the words of Allah, most Majestic, most Glorious, ‘. . . he must find clean and pure food and must bring thereof for you for your sustenance 5 (18:9) abu Ja‘far, or abu ‘Abd Allah, ‘Alayhim al-Salam, has said, ‘Dates are the most pure food.’”

مَا قُدِّمَ إِلَى رَسُولِ اللَّهِ ع طَعَامٌ فِيهِ تَمْرٌ إِلَّا بَدَأَ بِالتَّمْرِ.

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said, ‘Whenever food was brought to the Messenger of Allah in which there were dates, he began with dates.’”

كَانَ عَلِيُّ بْنُ الْحُسَيْنِ ع يُحِبُّ أَنْ يَرَى الرَّجُلَ تَمْرِيّاً لِحُبِّ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ ص التَّمْرَ.

“Ali ibn al-Husayn, ‘Alayhim al-Salam, loved to see a man who liked (worked with) dates because of the love of the Messenger for Allah for dates.’”

دَخَلْنَا عَلَيْهِ فَاسْتَدْعَى بِتَمْرٍ فَأَكَلْنَا ثُمَّ ازْدَدْنَا مِنْهُ ثُمَّ قَالَ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ص إِنِّي أُحِبُّ الرَّجُلَ أَوْ قَالَ يُعْجِبُنِي الرَّجُلُ إِذَا كَانَ تَمْرِيّاً.

“Once we visited abu Ja‘far (a.s.), and he (the Imam) asked for dates which we then ate with him (the Imam), but quite a lot of it. The Imam then said that the Messenger of Allah has said, ‘I like a man who is a man of dates (likes dates).”’

خَيْرُ تُمُورِكُمُ الْبَرْنِيُّ يَذْهَبُ بِالدَّاءِ وَ لَا دَاءَ فِيهِ وَ يَذْهَبُ بِالْإِعْيَاءِ وَ لَا ضَرَرَ لَهُ وَ يَذْهَبُ بِالْبَلْغَمِ وَ مَعَ كُلِّ تَمْرَةٍ حَسَنَةٌ وَ فِي رِوَايَةٍ أُخْرَى يَهْنَأُ وَ يَمْرَأُ وَ يَذْهَبُ بِالْإِعْيَاءِ وَ يُشْبِعُ.

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said, ‘The best of your dates is al- Barniy (a certain kind of date) which removes illnesses and there is no illness in it. It takes away fatigue, there is no harm in it, and it dissolves phlegm. With every date there is one good deed.’ In another Hadith it is said that dates give one deligh

دَخَلْتُ عَلَى أَبِي الْحَسَنِ الرِّضَا ع وَ بَيْنَ يَدَيْهِ تَمْرٌ بَرْنِيٌّ وَ هُوَ مُجِدٌّ فِي أَكْلِهِ يَأْكُلُهُ بِشَهْوَةٍ فَقَالَ لِي يَا سُلَيْمَانُ ادْنُ فَكُلْ قَالَ فَدَنَوْتُ مِنْهُ فَأَكَلْتُ مَعَهُ وَ أَنَا أَقُولُ لَهُ جُعِلْتُ فِدَاكَ إِنِّي أَرَاكَ تَأْكُلُ هَذَا التَّمْرَ بِشَهْوَةٍ فَقَالَ نَعَمْ إِنِّي لَأُحِبُّهُ قَالَ قُلْتُ وَ لِمَ ذَاكَ قَالَ لِأَنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ ص كَانَ تَمْرِيّاً وَ كَانَ

“Once I visited abu al-Hassan, al-Rida’ (a.s.), and there were barniy dates in front of him. He (the Imam) seemed assiduous in eating it with zest. He (the Imam) said, ‘O Sulayman come close and eat.’ I then went close and ate thereof saying, ‘I pray to Allah to keep my soul in service for your cause, I see you eat it

التَّمْرُ الْبَرْنِيُّ يُشْبِعُ وَ يَهْنَأُ وَ يَمْرَأُ وَ هُوَ الدَّوَاءُ وَ لَا دَاءَ لَهُ يَذْهَبُ بِالْعَيَاءِ وَ مَعَ كُلِّ تَمْرَةٍ حَسَنَةٌ.

Al-Barniy dates give one delight, and palatability. It is a medicine without illness. It takes away fatigue and with every date there is one good deed.’”

قَالَ لِي أَبُو عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع يَا عَلَاءُ هَلْ تَدْرِي مَا أَوَّلُ شَجَرَةٍ نَبَتَتْ عَلَى وَجْهِ الْأَرْضِ قُلْتُ اللَّهُ وَ رَسُولُهُ وَ ابْنُ رَسُولِهِ أَعْلَمُ قَالَ إِنَّهَا الْعَجْوَةُ[2] فَمَا خَلَصَ فَهُوَ الْعَجْوَةُ وَ مَا كَانَ غَيْرَ ذَلِكَ فَإِنَّمَا هُوَ مِنَ الْأَشْبَاهِ.

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), once said to me, ‘O ‘Ala’, do you know what was the first tree that grew on earth?’ I replied, ‘Allah, His Messenger and the child of His Messenger know best. He (the Imam) said, ‘It was al-‘Ajwah. What is pure is al-‘Ajwah (a certain kind of date) and whatever is other than this they are only o

أَنْزَلَ اللَّهُ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ الْعَجْوَةَ وَ الْعَتِيقَ‌[3] مِنَ السَّمَاءِ قُلْتُ وَ مَا الْعَتِيقُ قَالَ الْفَحْلُ.

“Abu Ja‘far (a.s.), has said, ‘Allah, most Majestic, most Glorious, sent al-‘Ajwah and al-‘Atiq from the sky.’ I then asked, ‘What is al-‘Atiq ?’ He (the Imam) said, ‘It is the male.’”

الْعَجْوَةُ هِيَ أُمُّ التَّمْرِ الَّتِي أَنْزَلَهَا اللَّهُ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ لآِدَمَ ع مِنَ الْجَنَّةِ.

‘al-‘Ajxvah is the mother of dates which Allah, most Majestic, most Glorious, sent for Adam from paradise.’”

الْعَجْوَةُ أُمُّ التَّمْرِ وَ هِيَ الَّتِي أَنْزَلَهَا اللَّهُ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ مِنَ الْجَنَّةِ لآِدَمَ ع وَ هُوَ قَوْلُ اللَّهِ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ- ما قَطَعْتُمْ مِنْ لِينَةٍ أَوْ تَرَكْتُمُوها قائِمَةً عَلى‌ أُصُولِها[1] قَالَ يَعْنِي الْعَجْوَةَ.

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said, ‘al-‘Ajwah is the mother of dates. It is the date that Allah, most Majestic, most Glorious, sent from paradise for Adam (a.s.), as mentioned in His words, ‘. . . whatever you cut down of palm trees and left standing on their trunks’ is a reference to al-‘Ajwah.’”