The Eggplant (Aubergine)

كُلُوا الْبَاذَنْجَانَ فَإِنَّهُ يُذْهِبُ الدَّاءَ وَ لَا دَاءَ لَهُ.

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said, ‘Eat eggplant because it removes illnesses and does not cause any illness/”

قَالَ أَبُو الْحَسَنِ الثَّالِثِ ع لِبَعْضِ قَهَارِمَتِهِ‌[2] اسْتَكْثِرُوا لَنَا مِنَ الْبَاذَنْجَانِ فَإِنَّهُ حَارٌّ فِي وَقْتِ الْحَرَارَةِ وَ بَارِدٌ فِي وَقْتِ الْبُرُودَةِ مُعْتَدِلٌ فِي الْأَوْقَاتِ كُلِّهَا جَيِّدٌ عَلَى كُلِّ حَالٍ.

“Abu al-Hassan, al-Thalith (a.s.), would say to certain ones of his workers, ‘Bring more eggplant for us because it is warm in hot season and it is cool in cold season and it is balanced in all seasons. It is fine in all conditions/”

قَالَ لِبَعْضِ مَوَالِيهِ أَقْلِلْ لَنَا مِنَ الْبَصَلِ وَ أَكْثِرْ لَنَا مِنَ الْبَاذَنْجَانِ فَقَالَ لَهُ مُسْتَفْهِماً الْبَاذَنْجَانِ قَالَ نَعَمْ الْبَاذَنْجَانُ جَامِعُ الطَّعْمِ مَنْفِيُّ الدَّاءِ صَالِحٌ لِلطَّبِيعَةِ مُنْصِفٌ فِي أَحْوَالِهِ صَالِحٌ لِلشَّيْخِ وَ الشَّابِّ مُعْتَدِلٌ فِي حَرَارَتِهِ وَ بُرُودَتِهِ حَارٌّ فِي مَكَانِ الْحَرَارَةِ وَ بَارِدٌ فِي مَكَانِ الْبُرُودَةِ.

“He (the Imam), Alayhi al-Salam, once said to a certain one of his servants, ‘You must bring for us less onion and more eggplant/ He inquired saying, ‘Do you mean eggplant? 5 He (the Imam) said, ‘Yes, eggplant, it is wholesome in taste, removes illness, is suitable for one’s health, balanced in its condition and it is