The Book of Food

بِأَيِّ شَيْ‌ءٍ يَأْمُرُكُمْ أَطِبَّاؤُكُمْ فِي الْأُتْرُجِّ فَقُلْتُ يَأْمُرُونَنَا أَنْ نَأْكُلَهُ قَبْلَ الطَّعَامِ فَقَالَ إِنِّي آمُرُكُمْ بِهِ بَعْدَ الطَّعَامِ.

2. Muhammad ibn Yahya has narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad from Bakr ibn Salih from ‘Abd Allah ibn Ibrahim al-Ja‘fariy who has said the following: “Abu ’Abd Allah, ‘Alayhi al-Salam, once asked, ‘What do your physicians recommend for you about citron?’ I replied, ‘They recommend us to eat citron before food.’ He (the Im

كُلُوا الْأُتْرُجَّ بَعْدَ الطَّعَامِ فَإِنَّ آلَ مُحَمَّدٍ ع يَفْعَلُونَ ذَلِكَ.

3. A number of our people have narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad ibn Khalid, from al-Qasim ibn Yahya, from his grandfather, al- Hassan ibn Rashid, from abu Basir who has said the following: “Abu ‘Abd Allah, ‘Alayhi al-Salam, has said, ‘Eat citron after food; because Ale Muhammad, O Allah, grant compensation to Muhammad

الْخُبْزُ الْيَابِسُ يَهْضِمُ الْأُتْرُجَّ.

4. A number of our people have narrated from Sahl ibn Ziyad from Ahmad ibn Muhammad from ibn abu Nasr who has said the following: “Abu al-Hassan, al-Rida’, ‘Alayhi al-Salam, has said, ‘Dry bread helps one to digests citron.’”

قُلْتُ لِأَبِي عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع إِنَّهُمْ يَزْعُمُونَ أَنَّ الْأُتْرُجَّ عَلَى الرِّيقِ أَجْوَدُ مَا يَكُونُ فَقَالَ أَبُو عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع إِنْ كَانَ قَبْلَ الطَّعَامِ خَيْرٌ فَهُوَ بَعْدَ الطَّعَامِ خَيْرٌ وَ خَيْرٌ وَ أَجْوَدُ.

5. Muhammad ibn Yahya has narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad from al-Husayn ibn Sa‘id from Hammad ibn ‘Isa from Ibrahim ibn ‘Umar al-Yamaniy who has said the following: “I once said to abu ‘Abd Allah, ‘Alayhi al-Salam, ‘They think that citron before breakfast is in its best.’ Abu ‘Abd Allah, ‘Alayhi al-Salam, said, ‘Befo

أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ ص كَانَ يُعْجِبُهُ النَّظَرُ إِلَى الْأُتْرُجِّ الْأَخْضَرِ وَ التُّفَّاحِ الْأَحْمَرِ.

6. Ali ibn Ibrahim has narrated from his father from Ali ibn Muhammad al-Qasaniy from abu Ayyub al-Madiniy from Sulayman ibn Ja‘far al-Ja‘fariy who has said the following: “Abu al-Hassan, al-Rida’, has said that the Messenger of Allah, O Allah, grant compensation to Muhammad and his family worthy of their services to Y

دَخَلْتُ عَلَى أَبِي الْحَسَنِ الرِّضَا ع بِمِنًى وَ أَبُو جَعْفَرٍ الثَّانِي ع عَلَى فَخِذِهِ وَ هُوَ يُقَشِّرُ لَهُ مَوْزاً وَ يُطْعِمُهُ.

1. A number of our people have narrated from Ahmad ibn abu ‘Abd Allah from his father from Muhammad ibn abu ‘Umayr from Yahya ibn Musa, San’aniy who has said the following: “I once visited abu al-Hassan, al-Rida’, ‘Alayhi al-Salam, in Mina and abu Ja‘far, al-Thaniy was in his lap. He (the Imam) peeled banana and fed hi

دَخَلْتُ عَلَى أَبِي عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع فَقَرَّبَ إِلَيَّ مَوْزاً فَأَكَلْتُهُ.

2. Abu Ali al-Ash‘ariy has narrated from Muhammad ibn ‘Abd al-Jabbar from Safwan from abu ‘Usamah who has said the following: “I once visited abu ‘Abd Allah, ‘Alayhi al-Salam. He brought banana nearer to me and I ate.’”

دَخَلْتُ عَلَى أَبِي الْحَسَنِ الرِّضَا ع وَ هُوَ بِمَكَّةَ وَ هُوَ يُقَشِّرُ مَوْزاً وَ يُطْعِمُهُ أَبَا جَعْفَرٍ ع فَقُلْتُ لَهُ جُعِلْتُ فِدَاكَ هَذَا الْمَوْلُودُ الْمُبَارَكُ قَالَ نَعَمْ يَا يَحْيَى هَذَا الْمَوْلُودُ الَّذِي لَمْ يُولَدْ فِي الْإِسْلَامِ مِثْلُهُ مَوْلُودٌ أَعْظَمُ بَرَكَةً عَلَى شِيعَتِنَا مِنْهُ.

3. A number of our people have narrated from Sahl ibn Ziyad Ali ibn Asbat from Yahya al-San’aniy who has said the following: “I once visited abu al-Hassan, al-Rida’, ‘Alayhi al-Salam, in Makkah. He (the Imam) peeled banana and fed it to abu Ja‘far, al-Thaniy, ‘Alayhi al-Salam. I then said, ‘I pray to Allah to keep my s

أَنَّهُ سَمِعَ أَبَا عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع يَقُولُ‌ الْغُبَيْرَاءُ لَحْمُهُ يُنْبِتُ اللَّحْمَ وَ عَظْمُهُ يُنْبِتُ الْعَظْمَ وَ جِلْدُهُ يُنْبِتُ الْجِلْدَ وَ مَعَ ذَلِكَ [فَإِنَّهُ‌] يُسَخِّنُ الْكُلْيَتَيْنِ وَ يَدْبُغُ الْمَعِدَةَ وَ هُوَ أَمَانٌ مِنَ الْبَوَاسِيرِ وَ التَّقْتِيرِ وَ يُقَوِّي السَّاقَيْنِ وَ يَقْمَعُ عِرْقَ الْجُذَامِ.

“I once heard abu ‘ Abd Allah (a.s.), saying, ‘The flesh of Rowan, mountain ash berry grows flesh, its bones grow bones and its peels grow skin, besides it warms up kidneys, tans (cleanses) the stomach and it is protection against hemorrhoid and al-Taqtir (intense anger, stint). It brings firmness to the legs and uproo

الْبِطِّيخُ عَلَى الرِّيقِ يُورِثُ الْفَالِجَ نَعُوذُ بِاللَّهِ مِنْهُ.

’Eating melons before breakfast causes paralysis, may Allah grant us protection against it!”’

كَانَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ص يَأْكُلُ الرُّطَبَ بِالْخِرْبِزِ.

would eat fresh dates with melons.’”

كَانَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ص يَأْكُلُ الْبِطِّيخَ بِالتَّمْرِ.

would eat melons with dates.’”

كَانَ النَّبِيُّ ص يُعْجِبُهُ الرُّطَبُ بِالْخِرْبِزِ.

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (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, liked fresh dates with melons.’”

أَكَلَ النَّبِيُّ ص الْبِطِّيخَ بِالسُّكَّرِ وَ أَكَلَ الْبِطِّيخَ بِالرُّطَبِ.

“Abu al-Hassan, al-Awwal (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, ate melons with sugar. He (the Messenger of Allah) ate melons with fresh dates.’”

بَعَثَ إِلَيَّ الْمَاضِي ع يَوْماً فَأَجْلَسَنِي لِلْغَدَاءِ فَلَمَّا جَاءُوا بِالْمَائِدَةِ لَمْ يَكُنْ عَلَيْهَا بَقْلٌ فَأَمْسَكَ يَدَهُ ثُمَّ قَالَ لِلْغُلَامِ أَ مَا عَلِمْتَ أَنِّي لَا آكُلُ عَلَى مَائِدَةٍ لَيْسَ فِيهَا خُضْرَةٌ فَأْتِنِي بِالْخُضْرَةِ قَالَ فَذَهَبَ الْغُلَامُ فَجَاءَ بِالْبَقْلِ فَأَلْقَاهُ عَلَى الْمَائِدَةِ فَمَدَّ يَدَهُ ع حِينَئِذٍ وَ أَكَلَ.

“Abu al-Hassan, al-Madiy (a.s.), once sent for me and he made me to stay for lunch. When they brought the table-spread with food there were no herbs in it. He (the Imam) held his hand and said to the boy, ’Did you not know that I do not eat until there are green herbs on the table-spread, so bring for me fresh herbs. 5

كُنْتُ مَعَ أَبِي عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع عَلَى الْمَائِدَةِ فَمَالَ عَلَى الْبَقْلِ وَ امْتَنَعْتُ أَنَا مِنْهُ لِعِلَّةٍ كَانَتْ بِي فَالْتَفَتَ إِلَيَّ فَقَالَ يَا حَنَانُ أَ مَا عَلِمْتَ أَنَّ أَمِيرَ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ ع لَمْ يُؤْتَ بِطَبَقٍ إِلَّا وَ عَلَيْهِ بَقْلٌ قُلْتُ وَ لِمَ جُعِلْتُ فِدَاكَ فَقَالَ لِأَنَّ قُلُوبَ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ خَضِرَةٌ وَ هِيَ تَحِنُّ إِلَى أَشْكَالِهَا.

“Once I was with abu ‘ Abd Allah (a.s.), on the table-spread of food and he (the Imam) ate fresh herbs but I abstained because of a certain illness. He (the Imam) turned to me and said, ‘O Hanan, did you not know that whenever a package of food was brought to ’Amir al-Mu’minin it neccessarily had herbs in it?’ I then a

مَنْ بَاتَ وَ فِي جَوْفِهِ سَبْعُ طَاقَاتٍ مِنَ الْهِنْدَبَاءِ أَمِنَ مِنَ الْقُولَنْجِ لَيْلَتَهُ تِلْكَ إِنْ شَاءَ اللَّهُ.

“Abu ‘ Abd Allah (a.s.), has said, ’If one goes to sleep with seven leaves of endives in his belly he will remain safe from colic (colitis) pain that night by the will of Allah.’”

مَنْ أَحَبَّ أَنْ يَكْثُرَ مَاؤُهُ وَ وُلْدُهُ فَلْيُدْمِنْ أَكْلَ الْهِنْدَبَاءِ[1].

“Abu ’Abd Allah (a.s.), has said, ’If one likes to increase his seed and children he should eat endives very often.’”

مَنْ أَحَبَّ أَنْ يَكْثُرَ مَاؤُهُ وَ وُلْدُهُ فَلْيُكْثِرْ أَكْلَ الْهِنْدَبَاءِ.

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said, ’If one likes to increase his seed and children he should eat endives very often.’”

نِعْمَ الْبَقْلُ الْهِنْدَبَاءُ وَ لَيْسَ مِنْ وَرَقَةٍ إِلَّا وَ عَلَيْهَا قَطْرَةٌ مِنَ الْجَنَّةِ فَكُلُوهَا وَ لَا تَنْفُضُوهَا عِنْدَ أَكْلِهَا قَالَ وَ كَانَ أَبِي ع يَنْهَانَا أَنْ نَنْفُضَهُ إِذَا أَكَلْنَاهُ.

‘The endive is a very good herb. On every one of its leaves there is a drop of paradise, so you should eat it and do not shake it off when eating.’ He (the Imam) has said, ’My father (a.s.), prohibited us from shaking off when we were eating it.’”

الْهِنْدَبَاءُ سَيِّدُ الْبُقُولِ.

‘The endive is the master of herbs.’”

عَلَيْكَ بِالْهِنْدَبَاءِ فَإِنَّهُ يَزِيدُ فِي الْمَاءِ وَ يُحَسِّنُ الْوَلَدَ وَ هُوَ حَارٌّ لَيِّنٌ يَزِيدُ فِي الْوَلَدِ الذُّكُورَةَ.

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), once said, ‘You must eat endives because it increases one’s seed and forms children well. It is hot, soft and increases male children.’”

تَغَدَّيْتُ مَعَ أَبِي عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع وَ عَلَى الْخِوَانِ بَقْلٌ وَ مَعَنَا شَيْخٌ فَجَعَلَ يَتَنَكَّبُ الْهِنْدَبَاءَ فَقَالَ أَبُو عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع أَمَّا أَنْتُمْ فَتَزْعُمُونَ أَنَّ الْهِنْدَبَاءَ بَارِدَةٌ وَ لَيْسَتْ كَذَلِكَ وَ لَكِنَّهَا مُعْتَدِلَةٌ وَ فَضْلُهَا عَلَى الْبُقُولِ كَفَضْلِنَا عَلَى النَّاسِ.

“I once had lunch with abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), and on the table-spread there were herbs and with us: there was an old man who avoided endive. Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), said, ‘You think that endive is of cold nature, in fact, it is not the way you think it is. It is balanced and its excellence over other herbs is like our e

قَالَ أَمِيرُ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ ع‌ كُلُوا الْهِنْدَبَاءَ فَمَا مِنْ صَبَاحٍ إِلَّا وَ تَنْزِلُ عَلَيْهَا قَطْرَةٌ مِنَ الْجَنَّةِ فَإِذَا أَكَلْتُمُوهَا فَلَا تَنْفُضُوهَا قَالَ وَ قَالَ أَبُو عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع كَانَ أَبِي ع يَنْهَانَا أَنْ نَنْفُضَهَا إِذَا أَكَلْنَاهَا.

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said that ’Amir al-Mu’minin has said, ‘You should eat endives. Every morning one drop descends on it from paradise and when you eat it do not shake it off.’ Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said, ‘My father (a.s.), prohibited us from shaking off when we ate endives.’”

سَمِعْتُ الرِّضَا ع يَقُولُ‌ الْهِنْدَبَاءُ شِفَاءٌ مِنْ أَلْفِ دَاءٍ مَا مِنْ دَاءٍ فِي جَوْفِ ابْنِ آدَمَ إِلَّا قَمَعَهُ الْهِنْدَبَاءُ قَالَ وَ دَعَا بِهِ يَوْماً لِبَعْضِ الْحَشَمِ وَ كَانَ تَأْخُذُهُ الْحُمَّى وَ الصُّدَاعُ فَأَمَرَ أَنْ يُدَقَّ وَ صَيَّرَهُ عَلَى قِرْطَاسٍ وَ صَبَّ عَلَيْهِ دُهْنَ الْبَنَفْسَجِ وَ وَضَعَهُ عَلَى جَبِينِهِ ثُمَّ قَالَ أَمَا إِنَّهُ يَذْهَبُ بِالْحُمَّى وَ يَنْفَعُ مِنَ الصُّدَا

9. A number of our people have narrated from Sahl ibn Ziyad from Muhammad ibn ’Isma‘il who has said the following: “I once heard al-Rida’ (a.s.), saying, ‘The endive is cure for a thousand illnesses. There is no illness in the belly of the sons of Adam that endives cannot dispel.’ He (the narrator) has said, ‘One day h

بَقْلَةُ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ ص الْهِنْدَبَاءُ وَ بَقْلَةُ أَمِيرِ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ ع الْبَاذَرُوجُ وَ بَقْلَةُ فَاطِمَةَ ع الْفَرْفَخُ.

‘The endive is the herb of the Messenger of Allah, O Allah, grant compensation to Muhammad and his family worthy of their services to Your cause. The herb of ’Amir al-Mu’minin (a.s.), is al-Badharuj (sweet basil) and the herb of Fatimah, ‘Alayha al-Salam, is al -Farfakh (purslane).

قَالَ أَمِيرُ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ ع‌ كَانَ يُعْجِبُ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ ص مِنَ الْبُقُولِ الْحَوْكُ‌[2].

“Abu ‘ Abd Allah (a.s.), has said that ’Amir al-Mu’minin has said the Messenger of Allah, O Allah, grant compensation to Muhammad and his family worthy of their services to Your cause, liked sweet basil. 5 ”

كَانَ أَمِيرُ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ ص يُعْجِبُهُ الْبَاذَرُوجُ.

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said that ’Amir al-Mu’minin (a.s.), liked al- Badharuj (sweet basil).’”

إِنِّي أُحِبُّ أَنْ أَسْتَفْتِحَ بِهِ الطَّعَامَ فَإِنَّهُ يَفْتَحُ السُّدَدَ وَ يُشَهِّي الطَّعَامَ وَ يَذْهَبُ بِالسُّبُلِ وَ مَا أُبَالِي إِذَا أَنَا افْتَتَحْتُ بِهِ مَا أَكَلْتُ بَعْدَهُ مِنَ الطَّعَامِ فَإِنِّي لَا أَخَافُ دَاءً وَ لَا غَائِلَةً فَلَمَّا فَرَغْنَا مِنَ الْغَدَاءِ دَعَا بِهِ أَيْضاً وَ رَأَيْتُهُ يَتَتَبَّعُ وَرَقَهُ عَلَى الْمَائِدَةِ وَ يَأْكُلُهُ وَ يُنَاوِلُنِي مِنْهُ وَ هُوَ يَقُولُ اخْتِمْ

“I once was with abu al-Hassan, al-Awwal on a table of food and he asked for sweet basil saying, ‘I like to begin my food with it because it opens up blockages, and strengthens one’s appetite for food and takes away al-Subul (the paths). If I begin my food with it I then do not mind what I eat thereafter of food; I wil

الْحَوْكُ بَقْلَةُ الْأَنْبِيَاءِ أَمَا إِنَّ فِيهِ ثَمَانَ خِصَالٍ يُمْرِئُ وَ يَفْتَحُ السُّدَدَ وَ يُطَيِّبُ الْجُشَاءَ وَ يُطَيِّبُ النَّكْهَةَ وَ يُشَهِّي الطَّعَامَ وَ يَسُلُّ الدَّاءَ وَ هُوَ أَمَانٌ مِنَ الْجُذَامِ إِذَا اسْتَقَرَّ فِي جَوْفِ الْإِنْسَانِ قَمَعَ الدَّاءَ كُلَّهُ.

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said, ‘Al-Hawk (sweet basil) is the herb of the Prophets. There are eight qualities in it; It is pleasant, opens up blockages, makes burping pleasant, freshens one’s breath, increases appetite for food, pulls out illness and it is protection against leprosy and when it settles down in one’s

اشْتَكَى غُلَامٌ لِأَبِي الْحَسَنِ ع فَسَأَلَ عَنْهُ فَقِيلَ بِهِ طُحَالٌ فَقَالَ أَطْعِمُوهُ الْكُرَّاثَ ثَلَاثَةَ أَيَّامٍ فَأَطْعَمْنَاهُ فَقَعَدَ الدَّمُ ثُمَّ بَرَأَ.

Teed him leeks for three days.’ We fed him, blood formed and he became well.’”

يَأْكُلُ الْكُرَّاثَ فِي الْمَشَارَةِ وَ يَغْسِلُهُ بِالْمَاءِ وَ يَأْكُلُهُ‌[1].

“One who had seen abu al-Hassan (a.s.), narrated to me that abu al-Hassan (a.s.), ate leeks from the carriage from the farm and washed it with water.’”

رَأَيْتُ أَبَا الْحَسَنِ ع يَقْطَعُ الْكُرَّاثَ بِأُصُولِهِ فَيَغْسِلُهُ بِالْمَاءِ وَ يَأْكُلُهُ.

cut leeks from their roots, wash with water and eat.”

سُئِلَ أَبُو عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع عَنِ الْكُرَّاثِ فَقَالَ كُلْهُ فَإِنَّ فِيهِ أَرْبَعَ خِصَالٍ يُطَيِّبُ النَّكْهَةَ وَ يَطْرُدُ الرِّيَاحَ وَ يَقْطَعُ الْبَوَاسِيرَ وَ هُوَ أَمَانٌ مِنَ الْجُذَامِ لِمَنْ أَدْمَنَ عَلَيْهِ.

Tat it because it has four qualities. It refreshes one’s breath, dispels gases, cuts down hemorrhoids and it is protection against leprosy for one who eats it very often.’”

ذُكِرَتِ الْبُقُولُ عِنْدَ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ ص فَقَالَ كُلُوا الْكُرَّاثَ فَإِنَّ مَثَلَهُ فِي الْبُقُولِ كَمَثَلِ الْخُبْزِ فِي سَائِرِ الطَّعَامِ أَوْ قَالَ الْإِدَامِ. الشَّكُّ مِنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ يَعْقُوبَ‌[2].

Tat leeks because its likeness in herbs is like bread in other foods’ or he said ‘sauce.’” Uncertainty is from Muhammad ibn Ya‘qub.

ع لَا تَعَلَّقُ بِهِ مِنْهُ شَيْ‌ءٌ وَ هُوَ جَيِّدٌ لِلْبَوَاسِيرِ.

“A man had seen abu al-Hassan (a.s.), in Khurasan eating leeks from the garden as it was and it was said to him (the Imam), ‘There is fertilizer with it.’ He (the Imam) said, ‘It does not stick to it and it is very good for hemorrhoids.’”

كُنْتُ مَعَ أَبِي عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع عَلَى الْمَائِدَةِ فَمِلْتُ عَلَى الْهِنْدَبَاءِ فَقَالَ لِي يَا حَنَانُ لِمَ لَا تَأْكُلُ الْكُرَّاثَ قُلْتُ لِمَا جَاءَ عَنْكُمْ مِنَ الرِّوَايَةِ فِي الْهِنْدَبَاءِ فَقَالَ وَ مَا الَّذِي جَاءَ عَنَّا قُلْتُ إِنَّهُ قِيلَ عَنْكُمْ إِنَّكُمْ قُلْتُمْ إِنَّهُ يُقَطَّرُ عَلَيْهِ مِنَ الْجَنَّةِ فِي كُلِّ يَوْمٍ قَطْرَةٌ قَالَ فَقَالَ ع فَعَلَى الْكُرَّاثِ إِذَنْ سَبْعُ قَطَرَاتٍ قُل

“I once was with abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), around the table-spread of food. I reached for the endives and he (the Imam) said to me, ‘O Hanan, why do you not eat leeks?’ I replied, ‘It is because of what is narrated from you in the Hadith about endives.’ He (the Imam) then asked, ‘What is narrated about it from us?’ I repl

كَانَ أَمِيرُ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ ع يَأْكُلُ الْكُرَّاثَ بِالْمِلْحِ الْجَرِيشِ‌[1].

“’Amir al-Mu’minin (a.s.), would eat leeks with not so finely powdered salt.’”

قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ص‌ عَلَيْكُمْ بِالْكَرَفْسِ فَإِنَّهُ طَعَامُ إِلْيَاسَ وَ الْيَسَعِ وَ يُوشَعَ بْنِ نُونٍ.

‘You must eat celery because it is the food of Elias, al-Yasa‘ and Usha‘ ibn Nun (names of Israelite prophets).”’

ذَكَرَ أَبُو الْحَسَنِ ع الْكَرَفْسَ فَقَالَ أَنْتُمْ تَشْتَهُونَهُ وَ لَيْسَ مِنْ دَابَّةٍ إِلَّا وَ هِيَ تَحْتَكُّ بِهِ‌[3].

“Abu al-Hassan (a.s.), once mentioned celery and said, ‘You desire to eat celery and there is no living thing that does not rub against it.’” (It can be for or against it depending on if, they rub for cure or to leave poison).

أَكْلُ التُّفَّاحِ وَ الْكُزْبُرَةِ يُورِثُ النِّسْيَانَ.

“Abu al-Hassan (a.s.), has said, ’Eating apple and coriander causes forgetfulness.’”

سَمِعْتُ أَبَا عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع يَقُولُ‌ لَيْسَ عَلَى وَجْهِ الْأَرْضِ بَقْلَةٌ أَشْرَفُ وَ لَا أَنْفَعُ مِنَ الْفَرْفَخِ وَ هُوَ بَقْلَةُ فَاطِمَةَ ع ثُمَّ قَالَ لَعَنَ اللَّهُ بَنِي أُمَيَّةَ هُمْ سَمَّوْهَا بَقْلَةَ الْحَمْقَاءِ بُغْضاً لَنَا وَ عَدَاوَةً لِفَاطِمَةَ ع.

’On the face of earth there is no herb more beneficial and graceful than al-Farfakh (purslane) and it is the herb of Fatimah, ‘Alayha al-Salam .’ He (the Imam) then said, ‘May Allah condemn banu ’Umayyah who named it foolish herb due to their animosity toward Fatimah, Alayhi al-Salam.’”

وَطِئَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ص الرَّمْضَاءَ فَأَحْرَقَتْهُ فَوَطِئَ عَلَى الرِّجْلَةِ وَ هِيَ الْبَقْلَةُ الْحَمْقَاءُ فَسَكَنَ عَنْهُ حَرُّ الرَّمْضَاءِ فَدَعَا لَهَا وَ كَانَ يُحِبُّهَا ص وَ يَقُولُ مِنْ بَقْلَةٍ مَا أَبْرَكَهَا[1].

“Abu ‘Abd Allah, Alayhi al-Salam, has said that once the Messenger of Allah, O Allah, grant compensation to Muhammad and his family worthy of their services to Your cause, set foot on a sun- baked ground which burned him. He (the Messenger of Allah) then set foot on purslane and it calmed down the heat and he (the Mess

عَلَيْكُمْ بِالْخَسِ‌[2] فَإِنَّهُ يُصَفِّي الدَّمَ.

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said, ‘You must eat lettuce because it cleanses blood.’”

السَّدَابُ‌[3] يَزِيدُ فِي الْعَقْلِ.

“Abu al-Hassan (a.s.), has said, ‘Al-Sadab (Rue herb of grace) increases the power of understanding.’”

ذُكِرَ السَّدَابُ فَقَالَ أَمَا إِنَّ فِيهِ مَنَافِعَ زِيَادَةٌ فِي الْعَقْلِ وَ تَوْفِيرٌ فِي الدِّمَاغِ غَيْرَ أَنَّهُ يُنَتِّنُ مَاءَ الظَّهْرِ. - وَ رُوِيَ‌ أَنَّهُ جَيِّدٌ لِوَجَعِ الْأُذُنِ.

“Abu Ja’far, or abu al-Hassan, ‘Alayhim al-Salam, -uncertainty is from Muhammad ibn Musa- has said, ‘Once al-Sadab was mentioned and He (the Imam) said, ‘There are benefits in it. It increases the power of understanding, increases in the brain except that it putrefies one’s back’s water.’ It is narrated that it is very

مَا تَضْلَعُ‌[2] الرَّجُلُ مِنَ الْجِرْجِيرِ بَعْدَ أَنْ يُصَلِّيَ الْعِشَاءَ الْآخِرَةَ فَبَاتَ تِلْكَ اللَّيْلَةَ إِلَّا وَ نَفْسُهُ تُنَازِعُهُ إِلَى الْجُذَامِ.

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said, ‘If one fills himself up with watercress after performing Salat (prayer) of al-‘Isha’ he will spend the night while his soul invites him to leprosy. 5 ”

مَنْ أَكَلَ الْجِرْجِيرَ بِاللَّيْلِ ضَرَبَ عَلَيْهِ عِرْقُ الْجُذَامِ مِنْ أَنْفِهِ وَ بَاتَ يُنْزَفُ‌[3] الدَّمُ.

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said, ‘If one eats watercress during the night the vein of leprosy will hit him from his nose and blood will flow thereof.”’

سَأَلَ رَجُلٌ أَبَا عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع عَنِ الْبَقْلِ الْهِنْدَبَاءِ وَ الْبَاذَرُوجِ وَ الْجِرْجِيرِ فَقَالَ الْهِنْدَبَاءُ وَ الْبَاذَرُوجُ لَنَا وَ الْجِرْجِيرُ لِبَنِي أُمَيَّةَ.

“Once, a man asked abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), about endives, sweet basil and watercress. He (the Imam) said, ‘Endives and sweet basil are for us and watercress is for banu ’Umayyah.’”

كَانَ مَوْلَايَ أَبُو الْحَسَنِ ع إِذَا أَمَرَ بِشِرَاءِ الْبَقْلِ يَأْمُرُ بِالْإِكْثَارِ مِنْهُ وَ مِنَ الْجِرْجِيرِ فَيُشْتَرَى لَهُ وَ كَانَ يَقُولُ ع مَا أَحْمَقَ بَعْضَ النَّاسِ يَقُولُونَ إِنَّهُ يَنْبُتُ فِي وَادٍ فِي جَهَنَّمَ وَ اللَّهُ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ يَقُولُ- وَقُودُهَا النَّاسُ وَ الْحِجارَةُ فَكَيْفَ تَنْبُتُ الْبَقْلُ.

“When my master ordered buying herbs he ordered quite a large amount and also watercress. It then would have been purchased for him and he (the Imam) would say, ‘How dimwitted certain people are when they say that it grows in a valley of hell and Allah, most Majestic, most Glorious, says, ‘Its fuel is people and stones