The Book of Food

دَعَا بِتَمْرٍ فَأَكَلَهُ ثُمَّ قَالَ مَا بِي شَهْوَةٌ وَ لَكِنِّي أَكَلْتُ سَمَكاً ثُمَّ قَالَ مَنْ بَاتَ وَ فِي جَوْفِهِ سَمَكٌ لَمْ يُتْبِعْهُ بِتَمَرَاتٍ أَوْ عَسَلٍ لَمْ يَزَلْ عِرْقُ الْفَالِجِ يَضْرِبُ عَلَيْهِ حَتَّى يُصْبِحَ.

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), once asked for dates and ate it; then said, ‘I have no appetite for it but it is because I just ate fish. He (the Imam) then said, ‘If one goes to sleep for the night and there is fish in his stomach after which he has not made a few dates or honey to follow it the vein of paralysis continues to

كَانَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ص إِذَا أَكَلَ السَّمَكَ قَالَ- اللَّهُمَّ بَارِكْ لَنَا فِيهِ وَ أَبْدِلْنَا بِهِ خَيْراً مِنْهُ.

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 who has said the following: “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, when eati

قَالَ يَوْماً يَا مُعَتِّبُ اطْلُبْ لَنَا حِيتَاناً طَرِيَّةً فَإِنِّي أُرِيدُ أَنْ أَحْتَجِمَ فَطَلَبْتُهَا ثُمَّ أَتَيْتُهُ بِهَا فَقَالَ لِي يَا مُعَتِّبُ سَكْبِجْ‌[1] لَنَا شَطْرَهَا وَ اشْوِ لَنَا شَطْرَهَا فَتَغَدَّى مِنْهَا وَ تَعَشَّى أَبُو الْحَسَنِ ع. - عَلِيُّ بْنُ إِبْرَاهِيمَ عَنْ أَبِيهِ وَ عَلِيُّ بْنُ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ بُنْدَارَ عَنْ أَبِيهِ وَ أَحْمَدَ بْنِ أَبِي عَبْدِ اللَّهِ جَمِيعاً عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ ب

3. Al-Husayn from Muhammad has narrated from Mu‘alla’ ibn Muhammad from Muhammad ibn Ali al-Hamadaniy from Mu‘attib who has said the following: “Abu ‘Abd Allah, or abu al-Hassan, ‘Alayhim al-Salam, once said, ‘O Mu‘attib, order for us fresh fish; I want to apply cupping.’ I ordered fish and brought them. He (the Imam)

سَمِعْتُ أَبَا الْحَسَنِ ع يَقُولُ‌ عَلَيْكُمْ بِالسَّمَكِ فَإِنَّكَ إِنْ أَكَلْتَهُ بِغَيْرِ خُبْزٍ أَجْزَأَكَ وَ إِنْ أَكَلْتَهُ بِخُبْزٍ أَمْرَأَكَ.

‘You must eat fish; if you eat it without bread it is sufficient; and if you eat with bread it becomes more palatable for you.’”

قَالَ أَمِيرُ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ ع‌ لَا تُدْمِنُوا أَكْلَ السَّمَكِ فَإِنَّهُ يُذِيبُ الْجَسَدَ.

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said that ’Amir al-Mu’minin has said, ‘Do not eat fish very often; it melts the body.’”

أَكْلُ الْحِيتَانِ يُذِيبُ الْجِسْمَ.

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said, ‘Eating fish melts the body.’”

السَّمَكُ الطَّرِيُّ يُذِيبُ الْجَسَدَ.

“Abu al-Hassan (a.s.), has said, ‘Eating fresh fish melts the body.’”

السَّمَكُ الطَّرِيُّ يُذِيبُ شَحْمَ الْعَيْنِ.

“He (the Imam) (a.s.), has said, ‘Fresh fish melts the fat of the eye.’”

السَّمَكُ الطَّرِيُّ يُذِيبُ شَحْمَ الْعَيْنَيْنِ.

“Abu al-Hassan (a.s.), has said, ‘Fresh fish melts the fat of the eyes.’”

كَتَبَ بَعْضُ أَصْحَابِنَا إِلَى أَبِي مُحَمَّدٍ ع يَشْكُو إِلَيْهِ دَماً وَ صَفْرَاءَ فَقَالَ إِذَا احْتَجَمْتُ هَاجَتِ الصَّفْرَاءُ وَ إِذَا أَخَّرْتُ الْحِجَامَةَ أَضَرَّنِي الدَّمُ فَمَا تَرَى فِي ذَلِكَ فَكَتَبَ ع احْتَجِمْ وَ كُلْ عَلَى أَثَرِ الْحِجَامَةِ سَمَكاً طَرِيّاً كَبَاباً قَالَ فَأَعَدْتُ عَلَيْهِ الْمَسْأَلَةَ بِعَيْنِهَا فَكَتَبَ ع احْتَجِمْ وَ كُلْ عَلَى أَثَرِ الْحِجَامَةِ سَمَكاً طَرِيّاً كَبَابا

10. Muhammad ibn Yahya has narrated the following: “Certain persons of our people once wrote to abu Muhammad (a.s.), complaining about blood and yellowness, saying, ‘If I apply cupping, yellowness stirs up, when I delay it blood harms me, so what would you advise me in such case?’ He (the Imam) (a.s.), wrote, ‘Apply cu

ذَكَرَ أَبُو عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع الْبَيْضَ فَقَالَ أَمَا إِنَّهُ خَفِيفٌ يَذْهَبُ بِقَرَمِ اللَّحْمِ‌[1]. - قَالَ وَ رَوَاهُ مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ إِسْمَاعِيلَ بْنِ بَزِيعٍ عَنْ جَعْفَرِ بْنِ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ حَكِيمٍ عَنْ مُرَازِمٍ‌ أَنَّهُ زَادَ فِيهِ وَ لَيْسَتْ لَهُ غَائِلَةُ اللَّحْمِ‌[2].

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), once mentioned eggs and said, ‘It is light and it reduces the desire for meat.’ “He (the narrator) has said, ‘Muhammad ibn Tsma‘il ibn Bazi‘ has narrated from Ja‘far ibn Muhammad ibn Hakim from Murazim with an addition of, ‘it does not have the harmfulness of meat.”

شَكَوْتُ إِلَى أَبِي الْحَسَنِ ع قِلَّةَ الْوَلَدِ فَقَالَ لِي اسْتَغْفِرِ اللَّهَ وَ كُلِ الْبَيْضَ بِالْبَصَلِ.

“I once complained before abu al-Hassan (a.s.), about not having any children. He (the Imam) said, ‘Ask forgiveness from Allah and eat eggs with onion.”’

شَكَا نَبِيٌّ مِنَ الْأَنْبِيَاءِ ع إِلَى اللَّهِ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ قِلَّةَ النَّسْلِ فَقَالَ كُلِ اللَّحْمَ بِالْبَيْضِ.

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said, ‘One of the prophets complained before Allah, most Majestic, most Glorious, about not having any children. He (Allah) told him to eat meat with egg.’”

سَمِعْتُ أَبَا الْحَسَنِ ع يَقُولُ‌ كَثْرَةُ أَكْلِ الْبَيْضِ تَزِيدُ فِي الْوَلَدِ.

“I once heard abu al-Hassan (a.s.), saying, ‘Eating egg often increases the number of one’s children.’”

مُخُّ الْبَيْضِ خَفِيفٌ وَ الْبَيَاضُ ثَقِيلٌ.

The egg yoke is light and its white is heavy.’”

قُلْتُ لِأَبِي عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع إِنَّ الدَّجَاجَةَ تَكُونُ فِي الْمَنْزِلِ وَ لَيْسَ مَعَهَا دِيكٌ تَعْتَلِفُ مِنَ الْكُنَاسَةِ وَ غَيْرِهَا وَ تَبِيضُ مِنْ غَيْرِ أَنْ يَرْكَبَهَا الدِّيكُ فَمَا تَقُولُ فِي أَكْلِ ذَلِكَ الْبَيْضِ فَقَالَ لِي إِنَّ الْبَيْضَ إِذَا كَانَ مِمَّا يُؤْكَلُ لَحْمُهُ فَلَا بَأْسَ بِهِ وَ بِأَكْلِهِ وَ هُوَ حَلَالٌ.

“I once said to abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), that a domestic hen without a roster feeds on dump site and so on and gives eggs without mating with a rooster. ‘What do you say about such an egg and if such egg is edible? He (the Imam) said to me, ‘If such egg is from an edible bird it is not unlawful and eating it is permissib

سَأَلْتُ أَبَا عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع عَنِ الشَّاةِ وَ الْبَقَرَةِ رُبَّمَا دَرَّتِ اللَّبَنَ مِنْ غَيْرِ أَنْ يَضْرِبَهَا الْفَحْلُ وَ الدَّجَاجَةُ رُبَّمَا بَاضَتْ مِنْ غَيْرِ أَنْ يَرْكَبَهَا الدِّيكُ قَالَ فَقَالَ ع كُلُّ هَذَا حَلَالٌ طَيِّبٌ لَكَ كُلُّ شَيْ‌ءٍ يُؤْكَلُ لَحْمُهُ فَجَمِيعُ مَا كَانَ مِنْهُ مِنْ لَبَنٍ أَوْ بَيْضٍ أَوْ إِنْفَحَةٍ فَكُلُّ هَذَا حَلَالٌ طَيِّبٌ وَ رُبَّمَا يَكُونُ هَذَا قَدْ ضَرَبَهُ الْف

“I once asked abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), about sheep and cows from which I may draw milk without their mating and the eggs of a hen without mating with a rooster . He (the Imam) said, ‘All of such things are lawful and fine for you if they are from edible animals. Milk, eggs, rennet all of such things are lawful and fine.

قَالَ النَّبِيُّ ص لِأَمِيرِ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ ع يَا عَلِيُّ افْتَتِحْ بِالْمِلْحِ فِي طَعَامِكَ وَ اخْتِمْ بِالْمِلْحِ فَإِنَّهُ مَنِ افْتَتَحَ طَعَامَهُ بِالْمِلْحِ وَ خَتَمَهُ بِالْمِلْحِ دَفَعَ اللَّهُ عَنْهُ سَبْعِينَ نَوْعاً مِنْ أَنْوَاعِ الْبَلَاءِ أَيْسَرُهَا الْجُذَامُ.

“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, said to ’Amir al- Mu’minin, ‘O Ali, begin taking food with salt and end it with salt. It dispels seventy kinds of troubles of which the least serious is leprosy.”’

قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ص لِعَلِيٍّ ع يَا عَلِيُّ افْتَتِحْ طَعَامَكَ بِالْمِلْحِ وَ اخْتِمْ بِالْمِلْحِ فَإِنَّ مَنِ افْتَتَحَ طَعَامَهُ بِالْمِلْحِ وَ خَتَمَ بِالْمِلْحِ عُوفِيَ مِنِ اثْنَيْنِ وَ سَبْعِينَ نَوْعاً مِنْ أَنْوَاعِ الْبَلَاءِ مِنْهُ الْجُذَامُ وَ الْجُنُونُ وَ الْبَرَصُ.

“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, said to ’Amir al- Mu’minin, ‘O Ali, begin taking your food with salt and end it with salt. One who begins taking his food with salt and ends it with salt remains s

إِنَّ فِي الْمِلْحِ شِفَاءً مِنْ سَبْعِينَ دَاءً أَوْ قَالَ سَبْعِينَ نَوْعاً مِنْ أَنْوَاعِ الْأَوْجَاعِ ثُمَّ قَالَ لَوْ يَعْلَمُ النَّاسُ مَا فِي الْمِلْحِ مَا تَدَاوَوْا إِلَّا بِهِ.

“Abu Ja‘far (a.s.), has said, ‘In salt there is cure for seventy kinds of pains.’ He (the Imam) then said, ‘Had people known that which is in salt they would not seek treatment for an illness with anything other than salt.’”

قَالَ أَمِيرُ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ ع‌ ابْدَءُوا بِالْمِلْحِ فِي أَوَّلِ طَعَامِكُمْ فَلَوْ يَعْلَمُ النَّاسُ مَا فِي الْمِلْحِ لَاخْتَارُوهُ عَلَى الدِّرْيَاقِ الْمُجَرَّبِ.

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said that ’Amir al-Mu’minin has said, ‘You must begin your food with salt. Had people known that which is in salt they would choose it before using the experimented antidote.’”

لَا يُخْصِبُ‌[1] خِوَانٌ لَا مِلْحَ عَلَيْهَا وَ أَصَحُّ لِلْبَدَنِ أَنْ يُبْدَأَ بِهِ فِي أَوَّلِ الطَّعَامِ.

“Abu al-Hassan (a.s.), has said, ‘A table-spread with food in it has no blessings without salt. For good health of the body one must begin his food with salt.’”

أَوْحَى اللَّهُ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ إِلَى مُوسَى بْنِ عِمْرَانَ ع أَنْ مُرْ قَوْمَكَ يَفْتَتِحُوا بِالْمِلْحِ وَ يَخْتَتِمُوا بِهِ وَ إِلَّا فَلَا يَلُومُوا إِلَّا أَنْفُسَهُمْ.

“Abu Ja‘far (a.s.), has said that Allah, most Majestic, most Glorious, sent revelation to Moses son of ‘Imran (a.s.) to command his people to begin their food with salt and end it with salt, otherwise, they must not blame anyone other than their ownselves.’”

قَالَ لَنَا الرِّضَا ع أَيُّ الْإِدَامِ أَحْرَى‌[2] فَقَالَ بَعْضُنَا اللَّحْمُ وَ قَالَ بَعْضُنَا الزَّيْتُ وَ قَالَ بَعْضُنَا اللَّبَنُ فَقَالَ هُوَ ع لَا بَلِ الْمِلْحُ وَ لَقَدْ خَرَجْنَا إِلَى نُزْهَةٍ لَنَا وَ نَسِيَ بَعْضُ الْغِلْمَانِ الْمِلْحَ فَذَبَحُوا لَنَا شَاةً مِنْ أَسْمَنِ مَا يَكُونُ فَمَا انْتَفَعْنَا بِشَيْ‌ءٍ حَتَّى انْصَرَفْنَا.

“Al-Rida’ (a.s.), once asked us, ‘Which food is of greater preference?’ Certain ones among us said that it is meat, others said that it is oil, yet others said it is milk. He (the Imam) said, ‘No, it is salt.’ We then went outside for freshness and a certain one of servants forgot salt. They slaughtered a sheep for us

قَالَ أَبُو عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع‌ مَنْ ذَرَّ عَلَى أَوَّلِ لُقْمَةٍ مِنْ طَعَامِهِ الْمِلْحَ ذَهَبَ عَنْهُ بِنَمَشِ الْوَجْهِ‌[1].

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said, ‘If one spreads salt on the first morsel of his food, blemish of skin goes away from his face.’”

إِنَّ الْعَقْرَبَ لَسَعَتْ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ ص فَقَالَ لَعَنَكِ اللَّهُ فَمَا تُبَالِينَ مُؤْمِناً آذَيْتِ أَمْ كَافِراً ثُمَّ دَعَا بِالْمِلْحِ فَدَلَكَهُ فَهَدَتْ ثُمَّ قَالَ أَبُو جَعْفَرٍ ع لَوْ يَعْلَمُ النَّاسُ مَا فِي الْمِلْحِ مَا بَغَوْا مَعَهُ دِرْيَاقاً[2].

“He (the Imam) (a.s.), has said that once scorpion bit the Messenger of Allah, O Allah, grant compensation to Muhammad and his family worthy of their services to Your cause, and he (the Messenger of Allah) said, ‘May Allah condemn you. You do not distinguish between a believer and unbeliever and do not know whom you ca

لَدَغَتْ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ ص عَقْرَبٌ فَنَفَضَهَا وَ قَالَ لَعَنَكِ اللَّهُ فَمَا يَسْلَمُ مِنْكِ مُؤْمِنٌ وَ لَا كَافِرٌ ثُمَّ دَعَا بِالْمِلْحِ فَوَضَعَهُ عَلَى مَوْضِعِ اللَّدْغَةِ ثُمَّ عَصَرَهُ بِإِبْهَامِهِ حَتَّى ذَابَ ثُمَّ قَالَ لَوْ يَعْلَمُ النَّاسُ مَا فِي الْمِلْحِ مَا احْتَاجُوا مَعَهُ إِلَى دِرْيَاقٍ.

“Once, scorpion bit the Messenger of Allah, O Allah, grant compensation to Muhammad and his family worthy of their services to Your cause. He (the Messenger of Allah) then threw it away, saying, ‘May Allah condemn you, both believers and unbelievers are not safe from you.’ He (the Messenger of Allah) then asked for sal

كُنْتُ أُفْطِرُ مَعَ أَبِي عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع وَ مَعَ أَبِي الْحَسَنِ الْأَوَّلِ ع فِي شَهْرِ رَمَضَانَ فَكَانَ أَوَّلُ مَا يُؤْتَى بِهِ قَصْعَةً مِنْ ثَرِيدِ خَلٍّ وَ زَيْتٍ فَكَانَ أَوَّلُ مَا يَتَنَاوَلُ مِنْهَا ثَلَاثَ لُقَمٍ ثُمَّ يُؤْتَى بِالْجَفْنَةِ[3].

“I would break my fast with abu ‘ Abd Allah, and abu al-Hassan al-Awwal, ‘Alayhim al-Salam, in the month of Ramadan. First they would bring a bowl of Tharid (bread made in pieces in broth) with vinegar and oil, and at first he (the Imam) would take three morsels, then afterward a big bowl would come.”’

دَخَلْتُ عَلَى أَبِي عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع فَلَمَّا تَكَلَّمْتُ قَالَ لِي مَا لِي أَسْمَعُ كَلَامَكَ قَدْ ضَعُفَ قُلْتُ قَدْ سَقَطَ فَمِي‌[4] قَالَ فَكَأَنَّهُ شَقَّ عَلَيْهِ ذَلِكَ ثُمَّ قَالَ فَأَيَّ شَيْ‌ءٍ تَأْكُلُ قُلْتُ آكُلُ مَا كَانَ فِي الْبَيْتِ- فَقَالَ عَلَيْكَ بِالثَّرِيدِ فَإِنَّ فِيهِ بَرَكَةً فَإِنْ لَمْ يَكُنْ لَحْمٌ فَالْخَلُّ وَ الزَّيْتُ.

“I once visited abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), and when I spoke to him he (the Imam) asked, ‘Why do I hear your voice as weak?’ I replied, ‘Because my mouth has fallen (perhaps a tooth).’ As if it seemed to grieve him (the Imam); and then he asked, ‘What do you eat?’ I replied, ‘I eat whatever is at home.’ He (the Imam) said,

سَمِعْتُ أَبَا عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع يَقُولُ‌ كَانَ أَمِيرُ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ ع أَشْبَهَ النَّاسِ طِعْمَةً بِرَسُولِ اللَّهِ ص كَانَ يَأْكُلُ الْخُبْزَ وَ الْخَلَّ وَ الزَّيْتَ وَ يُطْعِمُ النَّاسَ الْخُبْزَ وَ اللَّحْمَ.

3. It is narrated from the narrator of the previous Hadith from ’Isma‘il ibn Mehran from Hammad ibn ‘Uthman from Zayd ibn al-Hassan who has said the following: “I once heard abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), saying, ‘’Amir al-Mu’minin was very similar to the Messenger of Allah in eating. He would eat bread with vinegar and oil an

تَعَشَّيْتُ مَعَ أَبِي عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع بَعْدَ عَتَمَةٍ وَ كَانَ يَتَعَشَّى بَعْدَ عَتَمَةٍ فَأُتِيَ بِخَلٍّ وَ زَيْتٍ وَ لَحْمٍ بَارِدٍ فَجَعَلَ يَنْتِفُ اللَّحْمَ فَيُطْعِمُنِيهِ وَ يَأْكُلُ هُوَ الْخَلَّ وَ الزَّيْتَ وَ يَدَعُ اللَّحْمَ فَقَالَ إِنَّ هَذَا طَعَامُنَا وَ طَعَامُ الْأَنْبِيَاءِ ع.

“I once had dinner with abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), after Salat (prayer) of al-‘Isha’. He (the Imam) would take dinner after Salat (prayer) of al-‘Isha’. Vinegar, oil and cold meat were brought. He began to pull pieces of meat and give them to me but himself eat vinegar and oil and left the meat. He (the Imam) said, ‘This i

أَكَلْتُ مَعَ أَبِي عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع فَقَالَ يَا جَارِيَةُ ائْتِينَا بِطَعَامِنَا الْمَعْرُوفِ فَأُتِيَ بِقَصْعَةٍ فِيهَا خَلٌّ وَ زَيْتٌ فَأَكَلْنَا.

“I once ate with abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), and he (the Imam) said, ‘O Jariyah (female servant), bring for us our popular food.’ She then brought a bowl with vinegar and oil in it and we ate.’”

كَانَ أَحَبَّ الْأَصْبَاغِ إِلَى رَسُولِ اللَّهِ ص الْخَلُّ وَ الزَّيْتُ وَ قَالَ هُوَ طَعَامُ الْأَنْبِيَاءِ ع.

‘The best of dishes to the Messenger of Allah was vinegar and oil and he would say it was the food of the Prophets ‘Alayhim al-Salam.’”

قَالَ أَمِيرُ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ ع‌ مَا افْتَقَرَ أَهْلُ بَيْتٍ يَأْتَدِمُونَ بِالْخَلِّ وَ الزَّيْتِ وَ ذَلِكَ أُدْمُ الْأَنْبِيَاءِ ع.

“’Amir al-Mu’minin has said, ‘A family that uses vinegar and oil as their sauce, never becomes needy; it is the sauce of the Prophets, ‘Alayhim al-Salam.’”

سَأَلْتُ أَبَا عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع عَنِ الطَّعَامِ فَقَالَ عَلَيْكَ بِالْخَلِّ وَ الزَّيْتِ فَإِنَّهُ مَرِي‌ءٌ فَإِنَّ عَلِيّاً ع كَانَ يُكْثِرُ أَكْلَهُ وَ إِنِّي أُكْثِرُ أَكْلَهُ وَ إِنَّهُ مَرِي‌ءٌ.

“I once asked abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), about food. He (the Imam) said, ‘You must use vinegar and oil for food; it is palatable and Ali (a.s.), ate it very often. I eat it very often and it is palatable.’”

سَمِعْتُ أَبَا عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع يَقُولُ‌ كَانَ أَمِيرُ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ ع يَأْكُلُ الْخَلَّ وَ الزَّيْتَ وَ يَجْعَلُ نَفَقَتَهُ تَحْتَ طِنْفِسَتِهِ‌[1].

9. A number of our people have narrated from Sahl ibn Ziyad from Ali ibn Asbat from his uncle Ya’qub ibn Salim who has said the following: “I once heard abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), saying, ‘’Amir al-Mu’minin, would eat vinegar with oil and keep his expenses under the carpet.’”

دَخَلَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ص إِلَى أُمِّ سَلَمَةَ رَضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنْهَا فَقَرَّبَتْ إِلَيْهِ كِسَراً فَقَالَ هَلْ عِنْدَكِ إِدَامٌ فَقَالَتْ لَا يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ مَا عِنْدِي إِلَّا خَلٌّ فَقَالَ ص نِعْمَ الْإِدَامُ الْخَلُّ مَا أَقْفَرَ بَيْتٌ فِيهِ الْخَلُ‌[1].

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said that once the Messenger of Allah went to the house of ‘Umm Salamah, may Allah be pleased with her, and she brought pieces of bread. He (the Messenger of Allah) asked, ‘Do you have any sauce?’ She replied, ‘No, O Messenger of Allah except vinegar.’ He (the Messenger of Allah) said, ‘Yes,

الْخَلُّ يَشُدُّ الْعَقْلَ.

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said, ‘Vinegar strengthens the power of understanding.’”

سَمِعْتُهُ يَقُولُ‌ مَا أَقْفَرَ بَيْتٌ فِيهِ خَلٌّ وَ قَدْ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ص ذَلِكَ.

‘A house in which there is vinegar does not become needy, and the Messenger of Allah, O Allah, grant compensation to Muhammad and his family worthy of their services to Your cause, has already said it.’”

الرَّجُلُ جُعِلْتُ فِدَاكَ أَمَرْتَنَا أَنْ نَفْتَتِحَ بِالْمِلْحِ فَقَالَ هَذَا مِثْلُ هَذَا يَعْنِي الْخَلَّ وَ إِنَّ الْخَلَّ يَشُدُّ الذِّهْنَ وَ يَزِيدُ فِي الْعَقْلِ.

“A man in Khurasan once was with al-Rida’ (a.s.), and the table-spread with food inside, vinegar and salt, was brought to him. He (the Imam) began with vinegar and the man said, ‘I pray to Allah to keep my soul in service for your cause, have you commanded us to begin with salt?’ He (the Imam) said, ‘This is like that’

إِنَّا لَنَبْدَأُ بِالْخَلِّ عِنْدَنَا كَمَا تَبْدَءُونَ بِالْمِلْحِ عِنْدَكُمْ فَإِنَّ الْخَلَّ لَيَشُدُّ الْعَقْلَ.

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said, ‘We begin with vinegar which is with us as you begin with salt which is with you, and vinegar strengthens the ability to understand better.’”

كَانَ أَحَبَّ الْأَصْبَاغِ إِلَى رَسُولِ اللَّهِ ص الْخَلُ‌[2].

the best sauce to the Messenger of Allah, O Allah, grant compensation to Muhammad and his family worthy of their services to Your cause, was vinegar.’”

قَالَ أَمِيرُ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ ع‌ نِعْمَ الْإِدَامُ الْخَلُّ- يَكْسِرُ الْمِرَّةَ وَ يُطْفِئُ الصَّفْرَاءَ وَ يُحْيِي الْقَلْبَ.

The best sauce is vinegar, it breaks bitterness, (bile) extinguishes yellowness (gall) and brings the heart to life.’”

ذُكِرَ عِنْدَهُ خَلُّ الْخَمْرِ[1] فَقَالَ ع إِنَّهُ لَيَقْتُلُ دَوَابَّ الْبَطْنِ وَ يَشُدُّ الْفَمَ.

‘It kills dawab (the insects) in the belly and strengthens the mouth (the teeth).’”

خَلُّ الْخَمْرِ يَشُدُّ اللِّثَةَ وَ يَقْتُلُ دَوَابَّ الْبَطْنِ وَ يَشُدُّ الْعَقْلَ.

‘Vinegar of wine strengthens tooth gum, kills dawab in the belly and strengthens the ability to understand.’”

الِاصْطِبَاغُ بِالْخَلِّ يَقْطَعُ شَهْوَةَ الزِّنَا.

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said, ‘Using vinegar as sauce cuts down the desire of fornication.’”

عَلَيْكَ بِخَلِّ الْخَمْرِ فَاغْمِسْ فِيهِ فَإِنَّهُ لَا يَبْقَى فِي جَوْفِكَ دَابَّةٌ إِلَّا قَتَلَهَا.

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said, ‘You must eat vinegar of wine and immerse (the morsel or use it very often) in it, because it does not leave any dawab (insects) animal in your belly without killing them.’”

إِنَّ بَنِي إِسْرَائِيلَ كَانُوا يَسْتَفْتِحُونَ بِالْخَلِّ وَ يَخْتِمُونَ بِهِ وَ نَحْنُ نَسْتَفْتِحُ بِالْمِلْحِ وَ نَخْتِمُ بِالْخَلِّ.

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said, ‘Banu Israel would begin their food with vinegar and end with it but we begin with salt and end with vinegar.’”

إِنَّ يُوسُفَ ع لَمَّا كَانَ فِي السِّجْنِ شَكَا إِلَى رَبِّهِ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ أَكْلَ الْخُبْزِ وَحْدَهُ وَ سَأَلَ إِدَاماً يَأْتَدِمُ بِهِ وَ قَدْ كَانَ كَثُرَ عِنْدَهُ قِطَعُ الْخُبْزِ الْيَابِسِ فَأَمَرَهُ أَنْ يَأْخُذَ الْخُبْزَ وَ يَجْعَلَهُ فِي إِجَّانَةٍ وَ يَصُبَّ عَلَيْهِ الْمَاءَ وَ الْمِلْحَ فَصَارَ مُرِّيّاً فَجَعَلَ يَأْتَدِمُ بِهِ ع.[2]

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said that when Yusuf (Joseph) was in jail, he complained before his Lord, most Majestic, most Glorious, about eating bread alone and asked for sauce and there were a great deal of pieces of dry bread with him. He commanded him to place the bread in a pot, pour water on it with salt and it be

قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ص‌ كُلُوا الزَّيْتَ وَ ادَّهِنُوا بِالزَّيْتِ فَإِنَّهُ‌ مِنْ شَجَرَةٍ مُبارَكَةٍ. - مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ يَحْيَى عَنْ أَحْمَدَ بْنِ مُحَمَّدٍ عَنِ ابْنِ فَضَّالٍ عَنِ ابْنِ الْقَدَّاحِ عَنْ أَبِي عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع‌ مِثْلَهُ.

1. A number of our people have narrated from Sahl ibn Ziyad from Ja‘far ibn Muhammad al-Ash‘ariy from ibn al-Qaddah who has said the following: “Abu ‘Abd Allah, ‘Alayhi al-Salam, 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