The Book of Food

السَّوِيقُ يُنْبِتُ اللَّحْمَ وَ يَشُدُّ الْعَظْمَ.

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said, sawiq grows flesh and strengthens the bones .’”

السَّوِيقُ طَعَامُ الْمُرْسَلِينَ أَوْ قَالَ النَّبِيِّينَ.

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said, sawiq is the food of the messengers’ or he (the Imam) said, ‘the food of the Prophets.’”

سَمِعْتُهُ يَقُولُ‌ إِنَّمَا أُنْزِلَ السَّوِيقُ بِالْوَحْيِ مِنَ السَّمَاءِ.

sawiq was made by the instruction from the heavens.’”

السَّوِيقُ الْجَافُّ يَذْهَبُ بِالْبَيَاضِ‌[1].

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said, ‘Dry sawiq removes whiteness (albinism).”’

سَمِعْتُ أَبَا عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع يَقُولُ‌ شُرْبُ السَّوِيقِ بِالزَّيْتِ يُنْبِتُ اللَّحْمَ وَ يَشُدُّ الْعَظْمَ وَ يُرِقُّ الْبَشَرَةَ وَ يَزِيدُ فِي الْبَاهِ.

“I once heard abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), saying, ‘Drinking sawiq with oil grows flesh, strengthens the bones, softens the skin and increases al-Bah (sexual desire).”’

ثَلَاثُ رَاحَاتِ سَوِيقٍ جَافٍّ عَلَى الرِّيقِ يُنَشِّفُ الْبَلْغَمَ وَ الْمِرَّةَ حَتَّى لَا يَكَادَ يَدَعُ شَيْئاً.

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said, ‘Three handfuls of dry sawiq before breakfast absorbs phlegm and bile and it almost does not leave anything behind.’”

قَالَ أَبُو الْحَسَنِ الْمَاضِي ع‌ السَّوِيقُ إِذَا غَسَلْتَهُ سَبْعَ مَرَّاتٍ وَ قَلَّبْتَهُ مِنْ إِنَاءٍ إِلَى إِنَاءٍ آخَرَ فَهُوَ يَذْهَبُ بِالْحُمَّى وَ يُنْزِلُ الْقُوَّةَ فِي السَّاقَيْنِ وَ الْقَدَمَيْنِ.

“Abu al-Hassan, al-Awwal (a.s.), has said, ‘If you turn sawiq seven times upside down and change its place from one pot into the other it then can remove fever and send power to the legs and feet.’”

السَّوِيقُ يَهْضِمُ الرُّءُوسَ.

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said, sawiq digests heads (hard to digest food).”’ (See also Hadith 1 above).

السَّوِيقُ يَجْرُدُ الْمِرَّةَ[2] وَ الْبَلْغَمَ مِنَ الْمَعِدَةِ جَرْداً وَ يَدْفَعُ سَبْعِينَ نَوْعاً مِنْ أَنْوَاعِ الْبَلَاءِ.

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said, sawiq removes bitterness (bile) and phlegm from the stomach and dispels seventy kinds of illness.’”

قَالَ أَبُو عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع‌ مَنْ شَرِبَ السَّوِيقَ أَرْبَعِينَ صَبَاحاً امْتَلَأَ كَتِفَاهُ قُوَّةً.

“If one drinks sawiq for forty mornings his shoulder will fill up with strength.’”

كَتَبَ أَبُو الْحَسَنِ ع مِنْ خُرَاسَانَ إِلَى الْمَدِينَةِ لَا تَسْقُوا أَبَا جَعْفَرٍ الثَّانِيَ السَّوِيقَ بِالسُّكَّرِ فَإِنَّهُ رَدِيٌّ لِلرِّجَالِ. وَ فَسَّرَهُ السَّيَّارِيُّ عَنْ عُبَيْدِ اللَّهِ أَنَّهُ يُكْرَهُ لِلرِّجَالِ فَإِنَّهُ يَقْطَعُ النِّكَاحَ مِنْ شِدَّةِ بَرْدِهِ مَعَ السُّكَّرِ.

13. Muhammad ibn Yahya has narrated from Musa ibn al-Hassan from al-Sayyariy from ‘Ubayd Allah ibn abu ‘Abd Allah who has said the following: “Abu al-Hassan, ‘Alayhi al-Salam, wrote from Khurasan to al-Madinah, ‘Do not make abu Ja‘far al- Thaniy to drink sawiq with sugar because it is bad for man.’ “Al-Sayyariy has exp

مَرِضَ بَعْضُ رُفَقَائِنَا بِمَكَّةَ وَ بُرْسِمَ‌[1] فَدَخَلْتُ عَلَى أَبِي عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع فَأَعْلَمْتُهُ فَقَالَ لِي اسْقِهِ سَوِيقَ الشَّعِيرِ فَإِنَّهُ يُعَافَى إِنْ شَاءَ اللَّهُ وَ هُوَ غِذَاءٌ فِي جَوْفِ الْمَرِيضِ قَالَ فَمَا سَقَيْنَاهُ السَّوِيقَ إِلَّا يَوْمَيْنِ أَوْ قَالَ مَرَّتَيْنِ حَتَّى عُوفِيَ صَاحِبُنَا.

“One of our friends became ill in Makkah and began to hallucinate. I went to see abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), and informed him (the Imam) about him. He (the Imam) said, ‘Make him drink sawiq of barley; it will cure him by the will of Allah and it is the food for the stomach of patients.’ He (the narrator) has said, ‘We made

سَوِيقُ الْعَدَسِ يَقْطَعُ الْعَطَشَ وَ يُقَوِّي الْمَعِدَةَ وَ فِيهِ شِفَاءٌ مِنْ سَبْعِينَ دَاءً وَ يُطْفِئُ الصَّفْرَاءَ وَ يُبَرِّدُ الْجَوْفَ وَ كَانَ إِذَا سَافَرَ ع لَا يُفَارِقُهُ وَ كَانَ يَقُولُ ع إِذَا هَاجَ الدَّمُ بِأَحَدٍ مِنْ حَشَمِهِ‌[2] قَالَ لَهُ اشْرَبْ مِنْ سَوِيقِ الْعَدَسِ فَإِنَّهُ يُسَكِّنُ هَيَجَانَ الدَّمِ وَ يُطْفِئُ الْحَرَارَةَ.

“Abu ‘ Abd Allah (a.s.), has said, sawiq of lintels calms down thirst, makes the stomach strong and there is cure for seventy illnesses in it. It abolishes yellowish fluid and gives coolness to the stomach. He (the Imam) would not travel without it. He (the Imam) said that when blood becomes excited with any of one’s a

إِنَّ جَارِيَةً لَنَا أَصَابَهَا الْحَيْضُ وَ كَانَ لَا يَنْقَطِعُ عَنْهَا حَتَّى أَشْرَفَتْ عَلَى الْمَوْتِ فَأَمَرَ أَبُو جَعْفَرٍ ع أَنْ تُسْقَى سَوِيقَ الْعَدَسِ فَسُقِيَتْ فَانْقَطَعَ عَنْهَا وَ عُوفِيَتْ.

“We had a girl whose Hayd (menses) would not stop and she was about to die. Abu Ja’far (a.s.), instructed to make her drink sawiq of lintels. She used the drink, the bleeding stopped and she was cured.’”

بَعَثَ إِلَيْنَا الرِّضَا ع وَ هُوَ عِنْدَنَا يَطْلُبُ السَّوِيقَ فَبَعَثْنَا إِلَيْهِ بِسَوِيقٍ مَلْتُوتٍ‌[3] فَرَدَّهُ وَ بَعَثَ إِلَيَّ أَنَّ السَّوِيقَ إِذَا شُرِبَ عَلَى الرِّيقِ وَ هُوَ جَافٌّ أَطْفَأَ الْحَرَارَةَ وَ سَكَّنَ الْمِرَّةَ وَ إِذَا لُتَّ لَمْ يَفْعَلْ ذَلِكَ‌[1].

“Abu al-Hassan, al-Rida’ (a.s.), once sent to us someone asking for sawiq and we sent to him (the Imam) sawiq mixed with ghee or oil. He (the Imam) returned it saying, ‘If one takes dry sawiq before breakfast it dispels temperature, calms down bitterness but when it is mixed it then does not have that effect.’”

سَأَلْتُ أَبَا عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع عَنْ سَيِّدِ الْآدَامِ فِي الدُّنْيَا وَ الْآخِرَةِ فَقَالَ اللَّحْمُ أَ مَا سَمِعْتَ قَوْلَ اللَّهِ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ- وَ لَحْمِ طَيْرٍ مِمَّا يَشْتَهُونَ‌[2].

‘It is meat. Have you not heard the words of Allah, most Majestic, most Glorious, ‘. . . meat of bird from that which they desire. 5 (56:21)”

قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ص‌ اللَّحْمُ سَيِّدُ الطَّعَامِ فِي الدُّنْيَا وَ الْآخِرَةِ.

2. Ali ibn Muhammad ibn Bandar has narrated from Ahmad ibn abu ‘Abd Allah from Muhammad ibn Ali from ‘Isa ibn ‘Abd Allah al-‘Alawiy from his father from his grandfather who has said the following: “Ali (a.s.), has said that the Messenger of Allah, O Allah, grant compensation to Muhammad and his family worthy of their s

قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ص‌ سَيِّدُ آدَامِ الْجَنَّةِ اللَّحْمُ.

“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, has said, ‘The master food in paradise is meat.’”

سَيِّدُ الطَّعَامِ اللَّحْمُ.

“Abu Ja‘far (a.s.), has said, ‘The master food is meat.’”

قُلْتُ لِأَبِي عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع إِنَّا نُرْوَى عِنْدَنَا عَنْ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ ص أَنَّهُ قَالَ إِنَّ اللَّهَ تَبَارَكَ وَ تَعَالَى يُبْغِضُ الْبَيْتَ اللَّحِمَ فَقَالَ ع كَذَبُوا إِنَّمَا قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ص الْبَيْتَ الَّذِي يَغْتَابُونَ فِيهِ النَّاسَ وَ يَأْكُلُونَ لُحُومَهُمْ وَ قَدْ كَانَ أَبِي ع لَحِماً[3] وَ لَقَدْ مَاتَ يَوْمَ مَاتَ وَ فِي كُمِّ أُمِّ وَلَدِهِ ثَلَاثُونَ دِرْهَماً لِلَّحْمِ.

“I once said to abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), ‘We narrate among us that the Messenger of Allah, O Allah, grant compensation to Muhammad and his family worthy of their services to Your cause, has said, ‘Allah, most Blessed, most High, disliked the house of meat.’ He (the Imam) said, ‘They have lied. The Messenger of Allah spok

لَهُ إِنَّ مَنْ قِبَلَنَا يَرْوُونَ أَنَّ اللَّهَ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ يُبْغِضُ بَيْتَ اللَّحِمِ فَقَالَ صَدَقُوا وَ لَيْسَ حَيْثُ ذَهَبُوا إِنَّ اللَّهَ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ يُبْغِضُ الْبَيْتَ الَّذِي تُؤْكَلُ فِيهِ لُحُومُ النَّاسِ.

6. It is narrated from the narrator of the previous Hadith from ‘Uthman ibn ‘Isa from Misma‘ abu Sayyar who has said the following: “Once, a man said to abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), ‘People before us narrate that Allah, most Majestic, most Glorious, dislikes the house of meat.’ He (the Imam) said, ‘They have spoken the truth

كَانَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ص لَحِماً يُحِبُّ اللَّحْمَ.

‘Liked meat a great deal.’”

تَرَكَ أَبُو جَعْفَرٍ ع ثَلَاثِينَ دِرْهَماً لِلَّحْمِ يَوْمَ تُوُفِّيَ وَ كَانَ رَجُلًا لَحِماً.

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said, ‘Abu Ja‘far (a.s.), on the day he passed away, left thirty dirham to buy meat, because he was a man who liked meat.’”

قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ص‌ إِنَّا مَعَاشِرَ قُرَيْشٍ قَوْمٌ لَحِمُونَ.

“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, has said, ‘We members of Quraysh people like meat a great deal.’”

اللَّحْمُ يُنْبِتُ اللَّحْمَ وَ مَنْ تَرَكَ اللَّحْمَ أَرْبَعِينَ يَوْماً سَاءَ خُلُقُهُ وَ مَنْ سَاءَ خُلُقُهُ فَأَذِّنُوا فِي أُذُنِهِ.

“Abu ‘ Abd Allah (a.s.), has said, ‘Meat grows meat and one who does not eat meat for forty days his manners change to worse, you must say Adhan in the ears of one whose manners change to worse.’”

قُلْتُ لِأَبِي الْحَسَنِ الرِّضَا ع إِنَّ النَّاسَ يَقُولُونَ إِنَّ مَنْ لَمْ يَأْكُلِ اللَّحْمَ ثَلَاثَةَ أَيَّامٍ سَاءَ خُلُقُهُ فَقَالَ كَذَبُوا وَ لَكِنْ مَنْ لَمْ يَأْكُلِ اللَّحْمَ أَرْبَعِينَ يَوْماً تَغَيَّرَ خُلُقُهُ وَ بَدَنُهُ وَ ذَلِكَ لِانْتِقَالِ النُّطْفَةِ فِي مِقْدَارِ أَرْبَعِينَ يَوْماً.

‘They have spoken lies. However, one who does not eat meat for forty days his manners change and it is because the seed (sperm) transfers (from one stage of development to another) within the duration of forty days.”

قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ص‌ مَنْ أَتَى عَلَيْهِ أَرْبَعُونَ يَوْماً وَ لَمْ يَأْكُلِ اللَّحْمَ فَلْيَسْتَقْرِضْ عَلَى اللَّهِ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ وَ لْيَأْكُلْهُ.

“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, has said, ‘One with whom forty days pass and has not eaten meat should borrow, on the credit of Allah, most Majestic, most Glorious, to buy meat to eat.’”

ذَكَرَ بَعْضُنَا اللُّحْمَانَ عِنْدَ أَبِي الْحَسَنِ الرِّضَا ع فَقَالَ مَا لَحْمٌ بِأَطْيَبَ مِنْ لَحْمِ الْمَاعِزِ قَالَ فَنَظَرَ إِلَيْهِ أَبُو الْحَسَنِ ع وَ قَالَ لَوْ خَلَقَ اللَّهُ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ مُضْغَةً هِيَ أَطْيَبُ مِنَ الضَّأْنِ لَفَدَى بِهَا إِسْمَاعِيلَ ع.

“Certain ones among us mentioned two kinds of meat before abu al-Hassan, al-Rida’ (a.s.). He said, ‘No other meat is better than the meat of goat.’ Abu al-Hassan (a.s.), looked at him and said, ‘Had Allah, most Majestic, most Glorious, created any chunk of meat finer than that of sheep He would have presented that inst

قُلْتُ لِأَبِي الْحَسَنِ ع إِنَّ أَهْلَ بَيْتِي لَا يَأْكُلُونَ لَحْمَ الضَّأْنِ قَالَ فَقَالَ وَ لِمَ قَالَ قُلْتُ إِنَّهُمْ يَقُولُونَ إِنَّهُ يُهَيِّجُ بِهِمُ الْمِرَّةَ السَّوْدَاءَ وَ الصُّدَاعَ وَ الْأَوْجَاعَ فَقَالَ لِي يَا سَعْدُ فَقُلْتُ لَبَّيْكَ قَالَ لَوْ عَلِمَ اللَّهُ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ شَيْئاً أَكْرَمَ مِنَ الضَّأْنِ لَفَدَى بِهِ إِسْمَاعِيلَ ع.

“I once said to abu al-Hassan (a.s.), ‘My family does not like the meat of sheep.’ He (the Imam) then asked, ‘Why do they not like it?’ I replied, ‘They say that it accelerates bitterness, headache and pains.’ He (the Imam) said, ‘O Sa‘d.’ I replied, ‘Yes, my Imam.’ He (the Imam) said, ‘Had Allah, most Majestic, most G

قُلْتُ لِأَبِي الْحَسَنِ الرِّضَا ع إِنَّ أَهْلَ بَيْتِي يَأْكُلُونَ لَحْمَ الْمَاعِزِ وَ لَا يَأْكُلُونَ لَحْمَ الضَّأْنِ قَالَ وَ لِمَ قُلْتُ يَقُولُونَ إِنَّهُ لَحْمٌ يُهَيِّجُ الْمِرَارَ فَقَالَ ع لَوْ عَلِمَ اللَّهُ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ خَيْراً مِنَ الضَّأْنِ لَفَدَى بِهِ يَعْنِي إِسْحَاقَ. هَكَذَا جَاءَ فِي الْحَدِيثِ.

‘My family eats the meat of goats but not that of sheep.’ He (the Imam) asked, ‘Why they do so?’ I replied, ‘They say that it excites bitterness (stomach acid).’ He (the Imam) said, ‘Had Allah, most Majestic, most Glorious, known anything better than sheep He would have presented it as ransom for Ishaq.’” This is how i

إِنَّ بَنِي إِسْرَائِيلَ شَكَوْا إِلَى مُوسَى ع مَا يَلْقَوْنَ مِنَ الْبَيَاضِ فَشَكَا ذَلِكَ إِلَى اللَّهِ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ فَأَوْحَى اللَّهُ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ إِلَيْهِ مُرْهُمْ يَأْكُلُوا لَحْمَ الْبَقَرِ بِالسِّلْقِ‌[2].

“Abu Ja‘far (a.s.), has said that the Israelites complained before Musa (a.s.), against illness of whiteness (albinism) and he (Moses) complained before Allah, most Majestic, most Glorious, and Allah, most Majestic, most Glorious, sent him revelation that said, ’Command them to eat cow meat with (white) beets.”’

مَرَقُ لَحْمِ الْبَقَرِ يَذْهَبُ بِالْبَيَاضِ.

2. A number of our people have narrated from Sahl ibn Ziyad from Yahya ibn al-Mubarak saw it to be from ‘Abd Allah ibn Jabalah from abu al-Sabbah al-Kinaniy who has said the following: “Abu ’Abd Allah (a.s.), has said, ’Broth of cow meat expels whiteness (Albinism) illness.’”

أَلْبَانُ الْبَقَرِ دَوَاءٌ وَ سُمُونُهَا شِفَاءٌ وَ لُحُومُهَا دَاءٌ.

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said, ‘Cow milk and ghee (or fat) are cures but their meat is illness.’”

سَمِعْتُ أَبَا الْحَسَنِ ع يَقُولُ‌ اللَّحْمُ يُنْبِتُ اللَّحْمَ وَ مَنْ أَدْخَلَ فِي جَوْفِهِ لُقْمَةَ شَحْمٍ أَخْرَجَتْ مِثْلَهَا مِنَ الدَّاءِ.

“I once heard abu al-Hassan (a.s.), saying, ‘Meat grows meat, but if one sends a morsel of shahm (fat) inside it expels the same amount of illness out.’”

مَنْ أَكَلَ لُقْمَةَ شَحْمٍ أَخْرَجَتْ مِثْلَهَا مِنَ الدَّاءِ.

‘If one eats a morsel of shahm (fat) it expels the same amount of illness out.’”

قُلْتُ لِأَبِي عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع جُعِلْتُ فِدَاكَ الشَّحْمَةُ الَّتِي تُخْرِجُ مِثْلَهَا مِنَ الدَّاءِ أَيُّ شَحْمَةٍ هِيَ قَالَ هِيَ شَحْمَةُ الْبَقَرِ وَ مَا سَأَلَنِي يَا زُرَارَةُ عَنْهَا أَحَدٌ قَبْلَكَ.

‘It is shahmah of al-Baqar (cow) and no one before you has asked me about it.’”

السَّوِيقُ وَ مَرَقُ لَحْمِ الْبَقَرِ يَذْهَبَانِ بِالْوَضَحِ‌[1].

sawiq and broth of cow meat remove al-Bars (Albinism) illness.’”

كَتَبْتُ إِلَى أَبِي الْحَسَنِ ع أَسْأَلُهُ عَنْ لُحُومِ الْبُخْتِ‌[2] وَ أَلْبَانِهِنَّ فَقَالَ لَا بَأْسَ بِهِ.

“I once wrote to abu al-Hassan (a.s.), and ask about the meat of camels of Khurasan and their milk. He (the Imam) said, ’It is not unlawful.”’

قُلْتُ لِأَبِي عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع جُعِلْتُ فِدَاكَ إِنَّ رَجُلًا مِنْ أَصْحَابِ أَبِي الْخَطَّابِ نَهَى عَنْ أَكْلِ الْبُخْتِ وَ عَنْ أَكْلِ لُحُومِ الْحَمَامِ الْمُسَرْوَلَةِ فَقَالَ أَبُو عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع لَا بَأْسَ بِرُكُوبِ الْبُخْتِ وَ شُرْبِ أَلْبَانِهِنَّ وَ أَكْلِ لُحُومِ الْحَمَامِ الْمُسَرْوَلِ.

“I once said to abu ‘ Abd Allah (a.s.), ‘I pray to Allah to keep my soul in service for your cause, a man from the companions of abu al-Khattab prohibited eating the meat of camels of Khurasan and the meat of al-Musarwal (pigeons that have feathers on their legs). He (the Imam) said, ‘It is not unlawful to ride camel o

قَالَ أَمِيرُ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ ع‌ الْإِوَزُّ جَامُوسُ الطَّيْرِ وَ الدَّجَاجُ خِنْزِيرُ الطَّيْرِ وَ الدُّرَّاجُ حَبَشُ الطَّيْرِ وَ أَيْنَ أَنْتَ عَنْ فَرْخَيْنِ نَاهِضَيْنِ رَبَّتْهُمَا امْرَأَةٌ مِنْ رَبِيعَةَ بِفَضْلِ قُوتِهَا[1].

“’Amir al-Mu’minin has said, ’Duck is the buffalo of birds, a hen is like the pig in birds and black partridge is the turkey in birds. You should not miss the two fledgling that were brought up by the woman of Rabi’ah with the leftover of her sustenance/”

إِنَّهُ ذُكِرَتِ اللُّحْمَانُ بَيْنَ يَدَيْ عُمَرَ فَقَالَ عُمَرُ إِنَّ أَطْيَبَ اللُّحْمَانِ لَحْمُ الدَّجَاجِ فَقَالَ أَمِيرُ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ ع كَلَّا إِنَّ ذَلِكَ خَنَازِيرُ الطَّيْرِ وَ إِنَّ أَطْيَبَ اللُّحْمَانِ لَحْمُ فَرْخٍ قَدْ نَهَضَ أَوْ كَادَ أَنْ يَنْهَضَ.

“Two kinds of meat were mentioned before ‘Umar and ’Umar said, ‘The better of the two kinds of meat is the meat of hen. ’Amir al-Mu’minin (a.s.), said, ‘No, it is like pigs in birds and the better of the two kinds of meat is the meat of the chick that has just risen or is about to rise.”’

قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ص‌ مَنْ سَرَّهُ أَنْ يَقِلَّ غَيْظُهُ فَلْيَأْكُلْ لَحْمَ الدُّرَّاجِ‌[2].

‘If reducing one’s anger makes him happy he should eat partridge meat.’”

أَطْعِمُوا الْمَحْمُومَ لَحْمَ الْقِبَاجِ‌[3] فَإِنَّهُ يُقَوِّي السَّاقَيْنِ وَ يَطْرُدُ الْحُمَّى طَرْداً.

“Abu al-Hassan, al-Awwal (a.s.), has said, ‘Feed one who is suffering from fever with the meat of al-Qabaj (a kind of partridge) because it strengthens the legs and dispels fever completely.’”

تَغَدَّيْتُ مَعَ أَبِي جَعْفَرٍ ع فَأُتِيَ بِقَطَاةٍ فَقَالَ إِنَّهُ مُبَارَكٌ وَ كَانَ أَبِي ع يُعْجِبُهُ وَ كَانَ يَأْمُرُ أَنْ يُطْعَمَ صَاحِبَ الْيَرَقَانِ يُشْوَى لَهُ فَإِنَّهُ يَنْفَعُهُ.

“I once had lunch with abu Ja’far (a.s.), and sand grouse was brought. He (the Imam) said, ‘It is blessed; my father liked it and would instruct to feed roasted to one who suffers from jaundice; it benefits him.’”

سَمِعْتُ أَبَا الْحَسَنِ الْأَوَّلَ ع يَقُولُ‌ لَا أَرَى بِأَكْلِ الْحُبَارَى بَأْساً وَ إِنَّهُ جَيِّدٌ لِلْبَوَاسِيرِ وَ وَجَعِ الظَّهْرِ وَ هُوَ مِمَّا يُعِينُ عَلَى كَثْرَةِ الْجِمَاعِ.

“I once heard abu al-Hassan (a.s.), saying, ‘It is not unlawful to eat the meat of al- Habara ’ (bustard). It is good for hemorrhoids and back-pain and it helps increase the ability to go to bed with one’s wife.’”

كَتَبْتُ إِلَى أَبِي الْحَسَنِ ع أَسْأَلُهُ عَنْ لُحُومِ حُمُرِ الْوَحْشِ فَكَتَبَ ع يَجُوزُ أَكْلُهُ لِوَحْشَتِهِ وَ تَرْكُهُ عِنْدِي أَفْضَلُ‌[1].

‘It is not unlawful because of its being wild but not to eat is better to me.”’

سَمِعْتُ أَبَا الْحَسَنِ ع يَقُولُ‌ لَا بَأْسَ بِأَكْلِ لُحُومِ الْجَوَامِيسِ وَ شُرْبِ أَلْبَانِهَا وَ أَكْلِ سُمُونِهَا.

‘It is not unlawful to eat buffalo meat and the use of its milk and ghee for food.’”

سَأَلْتُ أَبَا الْحَسَنِ ع عَنْ لُحُومِ الْجَوَامِيسِ وَ أَلْبَانِهَا فَقَالَ لَا بَأْسَ بِهِمَا.

‘It is not unlawful to use such items for food.’”

إِنَّمَا تَأْكُلُهُ السِّبَاعُ- وَ لَكِنْ حَتَّى تُغَيِّرَهُ الشَّمْسُ أَوِ النَّارُ[1].

“Abu Ja‘far (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, prohibited eating fresh (raw) meat and said that beasts eat fresh meat, thus it must be used for food only after it is changed by sun or fire.’”

سَأَلْتُ أَبَا عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع عَنْ أَكْلِ لَحْمِ النِّي‌ءِ فَقَالَ هَذَا طَعَامُ السِّبَاعِ.

about eating fresh (raw) meat. He (the Imam) said, ‘It is the food of beasts.”’