The Book of Food

لَمَّا حَسَرَ الْمَاءُ[1] عَنْ عِظَامِ الْمَوْتَى فَرَأَى ذَلِكَ نُوحٌ ع جَزِعَ جَزَعاً شَدِيداً وَ اغْتَمَّ لِذَلِكَ فَأَوْحَى اللَّهُ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ إِلَيْهِ هَذَا عَمَلُكَ بِنَفْسِكَ أَنْتَ دَعَوْتَ عَلَيْهِمْ فَقَالَ يَا رَبِّ إِنِّي أَسْتَغْفِرُكَ وَ أَتُوبُ إِلَيْكَ فَأَوْحَى اللَّهُ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ إِلَيْهِ أَنْ كُلِ الْعِنَبَ الْأَسْوَدَ لِيَذْهَبَ غَمُّكَ.

“Abu ‘ Abd Allah (a.s.), has said, ‘When water dried up and bones of the dead bodies were unveiled, Nuh (a.s.), became extremely unhappy and sad. Allah, most Majestic, most Glorious, sent him revelation that said, ‘This is your own act. It was you who prayed against them.’ Nuh said, ‘My Lord, I ask You to forgive me an

كَانَ عَلِيُّ بْنُ الْحُسَيْنِ ع يُعْجِبُهُ الْعِنَبُ فَكَانَ يَوْماً صَائِماً فَلَمَّا أَفْطَرَ كَانَ أَوَّلُ مَا جَاءَ الْعِنَبُ أَتَتْهُ أُمُّ وَلَدٍ لَهُ بِعُنْقُودِ عِنَبٍ فَوَضَعَتْهُ بَيْنَ يَدَيْهِ فَجَاءَ سَائِلٌ فَدَفَعَهُ إِلَيْهِ فَدَسَّتْ‌[2] أُمُّ وَلَدِهِ إِلَى السَّائِلِ فَاشْتَرَتْهُ مِنْهُ ثُمَّ أَتَتْهُ بِهِ فَوَضَعَتْهُ بَيْنَ يَدَيْهِ فَجَاءَ سَائِلٌ آخَرُ فَأَعْطَاهُ إِيَّاهُ فَفَعَلَتْ أُمُّ ال

“Ali ibn al-Husayn, ‘Alayhim al-Salam, liked grapes. One day he fasted and when it was the time to break his fast, the first thing that was brought to him was grapes. A mother of his child brought a bunch of grapes and placed before him. A beggar came and he (the Imam) give it to him. The mother of his child managed to

شَكَا نَبِيٌّ مِنَ الْأَنْبِيَاءِ إِلَى اللَّهِ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ الْغَمَّ فَأَمَرَهُ اللَّهُ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ بِأَكْلِ الْعِنَبِ.

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said, ‘One of the Prophets complained before Allah, most Majestic, most Glorious, about sadness and Allah, most Majestic, most Glorious, commanded him to eat grapes.’”

كُنْتُ أَرْعَى جِمَالِي فِي طَرِيقِ الْخَوَرْنَقِ فَبَصُرْتُ بِقَوْمٍ قَادِمِينَ فَمِلْتُ إِلَى بَعْضِ مَنْ مَعَهُمْ فَقُلْتُ مَنْ هَؤُلَاءِ فَقَالَ جَعْفَرُ بْنُ مُحَمَّدٍ ع وَ عَبْدُ اللَّهِ بْنُ الْحَسَنِ قُدِّمَ بِهِمَا عَلَى الْمَنْصُورِ قَالَ فَسَأَلْتُ عَنْهُمْ مِنْ بَعْدُ فَقِيلَ لِي إِنَّهُمْ نَزَلُوا بِالْحِيرَةِ فَبَكَّرْتُ لِأُسَلِّمَ عَلَيْهِمْ فَدَخَلْتُ فَإِذَا قُدَّامَهُمْ سِلَالٌ‌[1] فِيهَا رُطَبٌ قَ

“I once was grazing my camels on the road of al-Khawarnaq (name of a place) and I saw a group of people coming. I then asked a man among them, ‘Who are these people?’ He replied, ‘They are Ja‘far ibn Muhammad (a.s.), and ‘Abd Allah ibn al-Hassan who are summoned by al-Mansur.’ Afterward I asked about them and it was sa

دَخَلَ أَبُو عُكَّاشَةَ بْنُ مِحْصَنٍ الْأَسَدِيُّ عَلَى أَبِي جَعْفَرٍ ع فَقَدَّمَ إِلَيْهِ عِنَباً وَ قَالَ لَهُ حَبَّةً حَبَّةً يَأْكُلُ الشَّيْخُ الْكَبِيرُ وَ الصَّبِيُّ الصَّغِيرُ وَ ثَلَاثَةً وَ أَرْبَعَةً يَأْكُلُ مَنْ يَظُنُّ أَنَّهُ لَا يَشْبَعُ وَ كُلْهُ حَبَّتَيْنِ حَبَّتَيْنِ فَإِنَّهُ مُسْتَحَبٌّ.

“Once abu ‘Ukashah ibn Mihsan al-Asadiy visited abu Ja‘far (a.s.), then grapes were brought for him and he (the Imam) said to him, ‘An old man and small children eat one piece after one piece. Three and three pieces or four pieces at a time eating is the manner of a person who thinks that he cannot become satisfied but

قَالَ أَمِيرُ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ ع‌ مَنِ اصْطَبَحَ بِإِحْدَى وَ عِشْرِينَ زَبِيبَةً حَمْرَاءَ لَمْ يَمْرَضْ إِلَّا مَرَضَ الْمَوْتِ إِنْ شَاءَ اللَّهُ‌[2].

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said that ’Amir al-Mu’minin has said, ‘One who eats twenty- one pieces of red raisins every morning before breakfast will not become ill except the illness to die, by the will of Allah.”’

قَالَ أَمِيرُ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ ع‌ إِحْدَى وَ عِشْرُونَ زَبِيبَةً حَمْرَاءَ فِي كُلِّ يَوْمٍ عَلَى الرِّيقِ تَدْفَعُ جَمِيعَ الْأَمْرَاضِ إِلَّا مَرَضَ الْمَوْتِ.

‘Eating twenty-one pieces of red raisins every day before breakfast dispels all kinds of illnesses except the illness of death.’”

الزَّبِيبُ يَشُدُّ الْعَصَبَ وَ يَذْهَبُ بِالنَّصَبِ وَ يُطَيِّبُ النَّفْسَ‌[1].

‘Raisins strengthen nerves, dispels illness and make one’s breathe pleasant.’”

الزَّبِيبُ الطَّائِفِيُّ يَشُدُّ الْعَصَبَ وَ يَذْهَبُ بِالنَّصَبِ وَ يُطَيِّبُ النَّفْسَ.

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said, ‘Raisin of Taef strengthens nerves, removes troubles and makes one’s breath pleasant.’”

سَمِعْتُ أَبَا عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع يَقُولُ‌ عَلَيْكُمْ بِالرُّمَّانِ فَإِنَّهُ لَمْ يَأْكُلْهُ جَائِعٌ إِلَّا أَجْزَأَهُ وَ لَا شَبْعَانُ إِلَّا أَمْرَأَهُ.

'You should eat pomegranate, for no one who is hungry eats it except that it will satisfy him, and no one who is full eats it except that it will make him feel more fulfilled.'"

الْفَاكِهَةُ مِائَةٌ وَ عِشْرُونَ لَوْناً سَيِّدُهَا الرُّمَّانُ.

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said, ‘Fruits are of one hundred twenty colors [kinds] and the best of them is the pomegranate.’”

سَمِعْتُ أَبَا جَعْفَرٍ وَ أَبَا عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع يَقُولَانِ‌ مَا عَلَى وَجْهِ الْأَرْضِ ثَمَرَةٌ كَانَتْ أَحَبَّ إِلَى رَسُولِ اللَّهِ ص مِنَ الرُّمَّانِ وَ كَانَ وَ اللَّهِ إِذَا أَكَلَهَا أَحَبَّ أَنْ لَا يَشْرَكَهُ فِيهَا أَحَدٌ.

“I once heard Aba Ja‘far, and Aba ‘Abdillah AS, saying, ‘No other fruit on earth was as much desirable to the Messenger of Allah SAW, as pomegranate and by Allah, he [the Messenger of Allah] preferred to not share it with anyone.’”

مِمَّا أَوْصَى بِهِ آدَمُ ع هِبَةَ اللَّهِ أَنْ قَالَ لَهُ عَلَيْكَ بِالرُّمَّانِ فَإِنَّكَ إِنْ أَكَلْتَهُ وَ أَنْتَ جَائِعٌ أَجْزَأَكَ وَ إِنْ أَكَلْتَهُ وَ أَنْتَ شَبْعَانُ أَمْرَأَكَ.

“Abu al-Hassan (a.s.), has said, ‘Of the matters that Adam said in his will to Hibbatullah was his saying, ‘You must eat pomegranate; if you eat it when you are hungry, it is sufficient; and if you eat when satisfied it is pleasant to you.’”

مَا مِنْ شَيْ‌ءٍ أُشَارَكُ فِيهِ أَبْغَضَ إِلَيَّ مِنَ الرُّمَّانِ وَ مَا مِنْ رُمَّانَةٍ إِلَّا وَ فِيهَا حَبَّةٌ مِنَ الْجَنَّةِ فَإِذَا أَكَلَهَا الْكَافِرُ بَعَثَ اللَّهُ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ إِلَيْهِ مَلَكاً فَانْتَزَعَهَا مِنْهُ.

‘There is nothing I hate sharing more than pomegranate and in every pomegranate there is one seed from paradise, thus when an unbeliever eats it, Allah, most Majestic, most Glorious, sends an angel to take it from him.’”

سَمِعْتُ أَبَا عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع يَقُولُ‌ مَا مِنْ طَعَامٍ آكُلُهُ إِلَّا وَ أَنَا أَشْتَهِي أَنْ أُشَارَكَ فِيهِ أَوْ قَالَ يَشْرَكَنِي فِيهِ إِنْسَانٌ إِلَّا الرُّمَّانَ فَإِنَّهُ لَيْسَ مِنْ رُمَّانَةٍ إِلَّا وَ فِيهَا حَبَّةٌ مِنَ الْجَنَّةِ.

“I once heard abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), state this Hadith. ‘I like to share with someone every food that I eat,’ or that he (the Imam) said, ‘A human being shares with me except pomegranate. In every pomegranate there is a grain from paradise.’”

كَانَ أَمِيرُ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ ع إِذَا أَكَلَ الرُّمَّانَ بَسَطَ تَحْتَهُ مِنْدِيلًا فَسُئِلَ عَنْ ذَلِكَ فَقَالَ إِنَّ فِيهِ حَبَّاتٍ مِنَ الْجَنَّةِ فَقِيلَ لَهُ إِنَّ الْيَهُودَ وَ النَّصَارَى وَ مَنْ سِوَاهُمْ يَأْكُلُونَهُ فَقَالَ إِذَا كَانَ ذَلِكَ بَعَثَ اللَّهُ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ إِلَيْهِ مَلَكاً فَانْتَزَعَهَا مِنْهُ لِكَيْلَا يَأْكُلَهَا.

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said that ’Amir al-Mu’minin when eating pomegranate would spread a handkerchief. He was asked about it and he replied, ‘There is a grain from paradise in it.’ It was said that Jews, Christians and others eat it. He (the Imam) said, ‘When that happens Allah, most Majestic, most Glorious, send

مَنْ أَكَلَ حَبَّةً مِنْ رُمَّانٍ أَمْرَضَتْ شَيْطَانَ الْوَسْوَسَةِ أَرْبَعِينَ يَوْماً.

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said, ‘If one eats a grain of pomegranate it makes the Satan of temptation sick for forty days.’”

دَخَلْتُ عَلَى أَبِي عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع وَ فِي يَدِهِ رُمَّانَةٌ فَقَالَ يَا مُعَتِّبُ أَعْطِهِ رُمَّانَةً فَإِنِّي لَمْ أُشْرَكْ فِي شَيْ‌ءٍ أَبْغَضَ إِلَيَّ مِنْ أَنْ أُشْرَكَ فِي رُمَّانَةٍ ثُمَّ احْتَجَمَ وَ أَمَرَنِي أَنْ أَحْتَجِمَ فَاحْتَجَمْتُ ثُمَّ دَعَا بِرُمَّانَةٍ أُخْرَى ثُمَّ قَالَ يَا يَزِيدُ أَيُّمَا مُؤْمِنٍ أَكَلَ رُمَّانَةً حَتَّى يَسْتَوْفِيَهَا أَذْهَبَ اللَّهُ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ الشَّيْطَانَ عَنْ إِنَ

“I once visited abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), and there was a pomegranate in his hand. He (the Imam) said, ‘O Mu‘attib give him a pomegranate; sharing of no other thing is more hateful to me than sharing a pomegranate.’ He (the Imam) then applied cupping and I also applied cupping. He (the Imam) then asked for another pomegra

سَمِعْتُ أَبَا عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع يَقُولُ‌ عَلَيْكُمْ بِالرُّمَّانِ الْحُلْوِ فَكُلُوهُ فَإِنَّهُ لَيْسَتْ مِنْ حَبَّةٍ تَقَعُ فِي مَعِدَةِ مُؤْمِنٍ إِلَّا أَبَادَتْ دَاءً وَ أَطْفَأَتْ شَيْطَانَ الْوَسْوَسَةِ عَنْهُ‌[1].

‘You must eat sweet pomegranate. Every grain that reaches the stomach of a believing person; it abolishes the illnesses and extinguishes the temptation of Satan thereof.’”

سَمِعْتُهُ يَقُولُ‌ مَنْ أَكَلَ رُمَّانَةً عَلَى الرِّيقِ أَنَارَتْ قَلْبَهُ أَرْبَعِينَ يَوْماً.

‘If one eats a pomegranate before breakfast his heart remains bright for forty days.’”

سَمِعْتُ أَبَا عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع يَقُولُ‌ كُلُوا الرُّمَّانَ بِشَحْمِهِ فَإِنَّهُ يَدْبُغُ الْمَعِدَةَ وَ يَزِيدُ فِي الذِّهْنِ.

‘Eat pomegranate with its flesh; it tans (cleans) the stomach and increases the brain’s ability.’”

كُلُوا الرُّمَّانَ الْمُزَّ بِشَحْمِهِ‌[2] فَإِنَّهُ دِبَاغٌ لِلْمَعِدَةِ.

‘Eat sour-sweet pomegranate with its flesh; it tans (cleanses) the stomach.’”

ذُكِرَ الرُّمَّانُ الْحُلْوُ فَقَالَ الْمُزُّ أَصْلَحُ فِي الْبَطْنِ. - مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ إِسْمَاعِيلَ عَنِ الْفَضْلِ بْنِ شَاذَانَ عَنِ ابْنِ أَبِي عُمَيْرٍ عَنْ إِبْرَاهِيمَ بْنِ عَبْدِ الْحَمِيدِ عَنِ الْوَلِيدِ بْنِ صَبِيحٍ عَنْ أَبِي عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع‌ مِثْلَهُ.

14. Ali ibn Ibrahim has narrated from his father from ibn abu ‘Umayr from Ibrahim ibn ‘Abd al-Hamid from al-Walid ibn Sabih who has said the following: “Once sweet pomegranate was mentioned and abu ‘Abd Allah, ‘Alayhi al-Salam, said, ‘Sour-sweet pomegranate is more suitable for the stomach.’” Muhammad ibn ’Isma‘il has

سَمِعْتُ أَبَا عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع يَقُولُ‌ مَنْ أَكَلَ رُمَّانَةً أَنَارَتْ قَلْبَهُ وَ مَنْ أَنَارَ اللَّهُ قَلْبَهُ بَعُدَ الشَّيْطَانُ عَنْهُ قُلْتُ أَيَّ الرُّمَّانِ جُعِلْتُ فِدَاكَ فَقَالَ سُورَانِيَّكُمْ هَذَا[3].

‘If one eats pomegranate his heart becomes bright and whosoever’s heart Allah brightens Satan is kept away from him.’ I then asked, ‘What kind of pomegranate is this? I pray to Allah to keep my soul in service for your cause? He (the Imam) said, ‘It is the one from Sur (name of a place near Baghdad), this one?”

سَمِعْتُ أَبَا الْحَسَنِ ع يَعْنِي الْأَوَّلَ يَقُولُ‌ مَنْ أَكَلَ رُمَّانَةً يَوْمَ الْجُمُعَةِ عَلَى الرِّيقِ نَوَّرَتْ قَلْبَهُ أَرْبَعِينَ صَبَاحاً فَإِنْ أَكَلَ رُمَّانَتَيْنِ فَثَمَانِينَ يَوْماً فَإِنْ أَكَلَ ثَلَاثاً فَمِائَةً وَ عِشْرِينَ يَوْماً وَ طَرَدَتْ عَنْهُ وَسْوَسَةَ الشَّيْطَانِ وَ مَنْ طُرِدَتْ عَنْهُ وَسْوَسَةُ الشَّيْطَانِ لَمْ يَعْصِ اللَّهَ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ وَ مَنْ لَمْ يَعْصِ اللَّهَ أَدْخَلَهُ

“I once heard abu al-Hassan, al-Awwal (a.s.), saying, ‘If one eats pomegranate on Friday before breakfast his heart becomes bright for forty mornings. If one eats two pomegranates, it then is eighty days, if one eats three pomegranates, it then is three hundred and twenty days and temptation of Satan is kept away from

أَكْلُ الرُّمَّانِ الْحُلْوِ يَزِيدُ فِي مَاءِ الرَّجُلِ وَ يُحَسِّنُ الْوَلَدَ.

“He (the Imam) (a.s.), has said, ‘Eating sweet pomegranate increases one’s seed and forms the child well?”

دُخَانُ شَجَرِ الرُّمَّانِ يَنْفِي الْهَوَامَّ.

“Abu al-Hassan (a.s.), has said, ‘Smoke from the tree of pomegranate dispels vermin?”

سَمِعْتُ أَبَا عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع يَقُولُ‌ التُّفَّاحُ نَضُوحُ الْمَعِدَةِ[3].

The apple is a stomach cleanser.’”

سَمِعْتُ أَبَا الْحَسَنِ مُوسَى ع يَقُولُ‌ التُّفَّاحُ يَنْفَعُ مِنْ خِصَالٍ عِدَّةٍ مِنَ السَّمِّ وَ السِّحْرِ وَ اللَّمَمِ‌[4] يَعْرِضُ مِنْ أَهْلِ الْأَرْضِ وَ الْبَلْغَمِ الْغَالِبِ وَ لَيْسَ شَيْ‌ءٌ أَسْرَعَ مِنْهُ مَنْفَعَةً.

The apple has several benefits. It is beneficial against poison, magic and slight mental derangement, which is caused (spread) from the people of the earth and increased phlegm. No other thing is so quickly beneficial.’”

بَعَثَنِي الْمُفَضَّلُ بْنُ عُمَرَ إِلَى أَبِي عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع بِلَطَفٍ‌[5]- فَدَخَلْتُ عَلَيْهِ فِي يَوْمٍ صَائِفٍ وَ قُدَّامَهُ طَبَقٌ فِيهِ تُفَّاحٌ أَخْضَرُ فَوَ اللَّهِ إِنْ صَبَرْتُ أَنْ‌[1] قُلْتُ لَهُ جُعِلْتُ فِدَاكَ أَ تَأْكُلُ مِنْ هَذَا وَ النَّاسُ يَكْرَهُونَهُ فَقَالَ لِي كَأَنَّهُ لَمْ يَزَلْ يَعْرِفُنِي وُعِكْتُ‌[2] فِي لَيْلَتِي هَذِهِ فَبَعَثْتُ فَأُتِيتُ بِهِ فَأَكَلْتُهُ وَ هُوَ يَقْلَعُ الْحُمَّ

“Al-Mufaddal ibn ’Umar once sent me to abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), for a favor (from the Imam). I went to him (the Imam) on a summer day and before him there was a tray with green apples in it and I by Allah could hardly wait until I asked saying, ’I pray to Allah to keep my soul in service for your cause, do you eat this w

دَخَلْتُ الْمَدِينَةَ وَ مَعِي أَخِي سَيْفٌ فَأَصَابَ النَّاسُ بِرُعَافٍ فَكَانَ الرَّجُلُ إِذَا رَعَفَ يَوْمَيْنِ مَاتَ فَرَجَعْتُ إِلَى الْمَنْزِلِ فَإِذَا سَيْفٌ يَرْعُفُ رُعَافاً شَدِيداً فَدَخَلْتُ عَلَى أَبِي الْحَسَنِ ع فَقَالَ يَا زِيَادُ أَطْعِمْ سَيْفاً التُّفَّاحَ فَأَطْعَمْتُهُ إِيَّاهُ فَبَرَأَ.

“I once entered al-Madinah with my brother Sayf. People suffered from nasal hemorrhage because of which a man after two days died. I returned to my lodging and found Sayf with nasal hemorrhage severely. I went to abu al-Hassan (a.s.). He (the Imam) said, ‘O Ziyad feed Sayf apples.’ I fed him apples and he got well.’”

أَصَابَ النَّاسَ وَبَاءٌ بِمَكَّةَ فَكَتَبْتُ إِلَى أَبِي الْحَسَنِ ع فَكَتَبَ إِلَيَّ كُلِ التُّفَّاحَ.

“People in Makkah suffered plague. I wrote to abu al-Hassan (a.s.), about it and he (the Imam) wrote to me and said to eat apples.”

رَعَفْتُ سَنَةً بِالْمَدِينَةِ فَسَأَلَ أَصْحَابُنَا أَبَا عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع عَنْ شَيْ‌ءٍ يُمْسِكُ الرُّعَافَ فَقَالَ لَهُمُ اسْقُوهُ سَوِيقَ التُّفَّاحِ فَسَقَوْنِي فَانْقَطَعَ عَنِّي الرُّعَافُ.

“I one year suffered nasal hemorrhage in al-Madinah and our people asked abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), about something that can stop nose bleeding. He (the Imam) said, ‘Make him drink sawiq of apples (soup of apples).’ They followed the instruction and my nose bleeding stopped.’”

مَا أَعْرِفُ لِلسُّمُومِ دَوَاءً أَنْفَعَ مِنْ سَوِيقِ التُّفَّاحِ.

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said, ‘I do not know of anything more beneficial against poisoning than sawiq of apples.’”

كَانَ إِذَا لَسَعَ إِنْسَاناً مِنْ أَهْلِ الدَّارِ حَيَّةٌ أَوْ عَقْرَبٌ قَالَ اسْقُوهُ سَوِيقَ التُّفَّاحِ.

“Whenever a poisonous thing like snake or scorpion would bite anyone in the family he (the Imam) would say, ‘Make him drink sawiq of apples.’”

ذُكِرَ لَهُ الْحُمَّى فَقَالَ ع إِنَّا أَهْلُ بَيْتٍ لَا نَتَدَاوَى إِلَّا بِإِفَاضَةِ الْمَاءِ الْبَارِدِ يُصَبُّ عَلَيْنَا وَ أَكْلِ التُّفَّاحِ.

“Once, fever was mentioned before abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.). He (the Imam) said, ‘We are the people of the family who do not use any medicine for it except pouring cold water on us and eating apples.’”

لَوْ يَعْلَمُ‌ النَّاسُ مَا فِي التُّفَّاحِ مَا دَاوَوْا مَرْضَاهُمْ إِلَّا بِهِ. - قَالَ وَ رَوَى بَعْضُهُمْ عَنْ أَبِي عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع قَالَ: أَطْعِمُوا مَحْمُومِيكُمُ التُّفَّاحَ فَمَا مِنْ شَيْ‌ءٍ أَنْفَعَ مِنَ التُّفَّاحِ.

“Feed apples to your people suffering from fever; no other thing is more beneficial than apples.’”

إِنَّ أَمِيرَ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ ع قَالَ: كُلُوا التُّفَّاحَ فَإِنَّهُ يَدْبُغُ الْمَعِدَةَ.

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said that ’Amir al-Mu’minin has said, ‘Eat apples; it tans (cleanses) the stomach.’”

قَالَ أَمِيرُ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ ع‌ أَكْلُ السَّفَرْجَلِ قُوَّةٌ لِلْقَلْبِ الضَّعِيفِ وَ يُطَيِّبُ الْمَعِدَةَ وَ يُذَكِّي الْفُؤَادَ وَ يُشَجِّعُ الْجَبَانَ.

’Eating quince strengthens the weak heart, cleanses the stomach, purifies the mind and emboldens the coward/”

كَانَ جَعْفَرُ بْنُ أَبِي طَالِبٍ عِنْدَ النَّبِيِّ ص فَأُهْدِيَ إِلَى النَّبِيِّ ص سَفَرْجَلٌ فَقَطَعَ مِنْهُ النَّبِيُّ ص قِطْعَةً وَ نَاوَلَهَا جَعْفَراً فَأَبَى أَنْ يَأْكُلَهَا فَقَالَ خُذْهَا وَ كُلْهَا فَإِنَّهَا تُذَكِّي الْقَلْبَ وَ تُشَجِّعُ الْجَبَانَ وَ فِي رِوَايَةٍ أُخْرَى كُلْ فَإِنَّهُ يُصَفِّي اللَّوْنَ وَ يُحَسِّنُ الْوَلَدَ[2].

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said that Ja‘far ibn abu Talib was with the Holy Prophet, O Allah, grant compensation to Muhammad and his family worthy of their services to Your cause, and he presented quince to the Holy Prophet. The Holy Prophet cut one piece from it and gave it to Ja‘far but he declined to eat it. The Ho

مَنْ أَكَلَ سَفَرْجَلَةً عَلَى الرِّيقِ طَابَ مَاؤُهُ وَ حَسُنَ وَلَدُهُ.

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said, ‘If one eats quince before breakfast his seed becomes fine and his child well-formed.’”

قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ص لِجَعْفَرٍ يَا جَعْفَرُ كُلِ السَّفَرْجَلَ فَإِنَّهُ يُقَوِّي الْقَلْبَ وَ يُشَجِّعُ الْجَبَانَ.

“Abu Ibrahim (a.s.), has said that the Messenger of Allah, O Allah, grant compensation to Muhammad and his family worthy of their services to Your cause, said to Ja‘far, ‘O Ja‘far, eat quince; it strengthens the heart and emboldens the coward heart.’”

مَنْ أَكَلَ سَفَرْجَلَةً أَنْطَقَ اللَّهُ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ الْحِكْمَةَ عَلَى لِسَانِهِ أَرْبَعِينَ صَبَاحاً.

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said, ‘If one eats quince Allah, most Majestic, most Glorious, makes his tongue to speak wisdom for forty mornings.’”

مَا بَعَثَ اللَّهُ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ نَبِيّاً إِلَّا وَ مَعَهُ رَائِحَةُ السَّفَرْجَلِ.

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said, ‘There has not been any Prophet sent from Allah, most Majestic, most Glorious, who did not have the fragrance of quince.’”

سَمِعْتُ جَعْفَرَ بْنَ مُحَمَّدٍ ع يَقُولُ‌ السَّفَرْجَلُ يَذْهَبُ بِهَمِّ الْحَزِينِ كَمَا تَذْهَبُ الْيَدُ بِعَرَقِ الْجَبِينِ.

“I once heard Ja‘far ibn Muhammad (a.s.), saying, ‘Eating quince removes the intensity of sadness just as the hand wipes perspiration from the forehead.’”

التِّينُ يَذْهَبُ بِالْبَخَرِ وَ يَشُدُّ الْفَمَ وَ الْعَظْمَ وَ يُنْبِتُ الشَّعْرَ وَ يَذْهَبُ بِالدَّاءِ وَ لَا يُحْتَاجُ مَعَهُ إِلَى دَوَاءٍ وَ قَالَ ع التِّينُ أَشْبَهُ شَيْ‌ءٍ بِنَبَاتِ الْجَنَّةِ. - وَ رَوَاهُ سَهْلُ بْنُ زِيَادٍ عَنْ أَحْمَدَ بْنِ الْأَشْعَثِ‌[1] عَنْ أَحْمَدَ بْنِ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ أَبِي نَصْرٍ أَيْضاً مِثْلَهُ.

كُلُوا الْكُمَّثْرَى فَإِنَّهُ يَجْلُو الْقَلْبَ وَ يُسَكِّنُ أَوْجَاعَ الْجَوْفِ بِإِذْنِ اللَّهِ تَعَالَى.

‘You can eat pears; it brightens the heart (mind) and calms down pains by the permission of Allah.’”

الْكُمَّثْرَى يَدْبُغُ الْمَعِدَةَ وَ يُقَوِّيهَا هُوَ وَ السَّفَرْجَلُ سَوَاءٌ وَ هُوَ عَلَى الشِّبَعِ أَنْفَعُ مِنْهُ عَلَى الرِّيقِ وَ مَنْ أَصَابَهُ طَخَاءٌ[2] فَلْيَأْكُلْهُ يَعْنِي عَلَى الطَّعَامِ.

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said, ‘Pears tan (cleanses) the stomach and makes it strong. Pears and quince are the same. On a full stomach, it is more beneficial than before breakfast. If one feels depression and sadness in his heart he should eat pears after food.’”

دَخَلْتُ عَلَى أَبِي الْحَسَنِ الْأَوَّلِ ع وَ بَيْنَ يَدَيْهِ تَوْرُ[3] مَاءٍ فِيهِ إِجَّاصٌ أَسْوَدُ فِي إِبَّانِهِ فَقَالَ إِنَّهُ هَاجَتْ بِي حَرَارَةٌ وَ إِنَّ الْإِجَّاصَ الطَّرِيَّ يُطْفِئُ الْحَرَارَةَ وَ يُسَكِّنُ الصَّفْرَاءَ وَ إِنَّ الْيَابِسَ مِنْهُ يُسَكِّنُ الدَّمَ وَ يَسُلُّ الدَّاءَ الدَّوِيَّ.

1. Muhammad ibn Yahya has narrated from ‘Abd Allah ibn Ja‘far from Ya’qub ibn Yazid from Ziyad al-Qandiy who has said the following: “I once went to see abu al-Hassan, al-Awwal, ‘Alayhi al-Salam, and before him (the Imam) there was a bowl with black plums in its time (season). He (the Imam) said, ‘It is because fever i

كَانَ عِنْدِي ضَيْفٌ فَتَشَهَّى أُتْرُجّاً بِعَسَلٍ فَأَطْعَمْتُهُ وَ أَكَلْتُ مَعَهُ ثُمَّ مَضَيْتُ إِلَى أَبِي عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع وَ إِذَا الْمَائِدَةُ بَيْنَ يَدَيْهِ فَقَالَ لِي ادْنُ فَكُلْ فَقُلْتُ إِنِّي أَكَلْتُ قَبْلَ أَنْ آتِيَكَ أُتْرُجّاً بِعَسَلٍ وَ أَنَا أَجِدُ ثِقْلَهُ لِأَنِّي أَكْثَرْتُ مِنْهُ فَقَالَ يَا غُلَامُ انْطَلِقْ إِلَى الْجَارِيَةِ فَقُلْ لَهَا ابْعَثِي إِلَيْنَا بِحَرْفِ‌[4] رَغِيفٍ يَابِسٍ

1. Muhammad ibn Yahya has narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad from Ali ibn al-Hakam from al-Washsha’ all from Ali ibn abu Hamzah from abu Basir who has said the following: “There was a guest in my house who liked citron with honey. I served him and I ate with him; then I went to visit abu ‘ Abd Allah, ‘Alayhi al-Salam, wh