Mishkat al-Masabih

Foods

كتاب الأطعمة

Chapter 1: Section 1

We shall mention, the traditions of ‘A’isha and Abu Huraira, "Muhammad’s family did not have enough," and, “The Prophet left the world," in the chapter on the excellence of the poor [Book 26, Chapter 2a] if God most high will.

Mishkat al-Masabih 4181

‘Amr b. Umayya told that he saw the Prophet cutting slices from a shoulder of mutton in his hand. He was summoned to prayer, and after throwing it and the knife with which he was slicing it away, he stood up and prayed without performing ablution. (Bukhari and Muslim.)

Mishkat al-Masabih 4182

‘A’isha said God's messenger liked sweetmeats and honey. Bukhari transmitted it.

Mishkat al-Masabih 4183

Jabir told th at when the Prophet asked his family for condiments and was told that they had only vinegar, he called for it and as he was using it in his food he said, “Vinegar is a good condiment; vinegar is a good condiment.” Muslim transmitted it.

Mishkat al-Masabih 4184

Sa'id b. Zaid reported the Prophet as saying, “Truffles are a kind of manna, and their juice is a medicine for the eye.” (Bukhari and Muslim.) A version by Muslim has, “a kind of the manna which God most high sent down to Moses.”

Mishkat al-Masabih 4185

‘Abdallah b. Ja'far told that he saw God’s messenger eating fresh dates with cucumber. (Bukhari and Muslim.)

Mishkat al-Masabih 4186

Jabir told that when they were with God’s messenger at Marr az-Zahran and were plucking the fruit of the arak tree he said, “Keep to its black ones, for they are the most pleasant.” He was asked if he had shepherded sheep and replied, “Yes; has there been a prophet who did not shepherd them?” (Bukhari and Muslim.)

Mishkat al-Masabih 4187

Anas told that he saw the Prophet squatting and eating dates. A version says he was eating some quickly. Muslim transmitted it.

Mishkat al-Masabih 4188

Ibn ‘Umar said God’s messenger prohibited anyone taking two dates together before asking permission from his companions. (Bukhari and Muslim.)

Mishkat al-Masabih 4189

‘A’isha reported the Prophet as saying, “A family which has dates will not be hungry.” A version reports him as saying twice or three times, “A family which has no dates, ‘A’isha, will be hungry.” Muslim transmitted it.

Mishkat al-Masabih 4190

Sa‘d told of hearing God’s messenger say, “He who has a morning meal of seven 'ajwa* dates will not suffer harm that day through poison or magic." *The name of a good quality of Medina dates.(Bukhari and Muslim.)

Mishkat al-Masabih 4191

‘A’isha reported God’s messenger as saying, "The 'ajwa dates of al-‘Aliya* contain healing, and they are an antidote first thing in the morning." *A name applied to some villages a few miles east of Medina.Muslim transmitted it.

Mishkat al-Masabih 4192

She said that sometimes a month would come in which they did not kindle a fire, [For cooking] having only dates and water, unless a little meat was brought. (Bukhari and Muslim.)

Mishkat al-Masabih 4193

She said Muhammad’s family did not have a full meal of wheaten bread on two successive days, but would have dates on one of them.(Bukhari and Muslim.)

Mishkat al-Masabih 4194

She said that up to the death of God’s messenger they did not have a full meal of dates and water. [Literally, the two black things.] (Bukhari and Muslim.)

Mishkat al-Masabih 4195
An-Nu‘man b. Bashir said

Do you not have the food and drink you desire? I have seen your Prophet unable to get enough poor dates to fill his belly. Muslim transmitted it.

Mishkat al-Masabih 4196

Abu Ayyub said that when food was brought to the Prophet he ate some of it and sent him what was left over. One day when he sent him a dish from which he had eaten nothing because it contained garlic, he asked him whether it was unlawful and he replied, “No; but I dislike it because of its odour;” so he said, “I dislike what you dislike." Muslim transmitted it.

Mishkat al-Masabih 4197

Jabir reported the Prophet as saying, “He who eats garlic or onions must keep away from us.” Or he said, “must keep away from our mosque,” or, “must sit in his house.” A pot containing green vegetables was brought to the Prophet, but on noticing that it had an odour he told them to give it to one of his Companions, to whom he said, "Eat, for I hold intimate converse with one with whom you do not."**The reference is here said to be to angels, or particularly to Gabriel. Cf. Mirqat, iv, 373(Bukhari and Muslim.)

Mishkat al-Masabih 4198

Al-Miqdam b. Ma'dikarib reported the Prophet as saying, “If you measure out your food* you will be blessed in it." *This is said to refer to such matters as buying and selling, and taking care that suitable portions are given to one’s children.Bukhari transmitted it.

Mishkat al-Masabih 4199

Abu Umama told that when the Prophet's cloth* was removed he said, "Praise be to God abundantly and sincerely, of such a nature as is productive of blessing, is not insufficient, abandoned, or ignored, O our Lord." *The word ma'ida means a piece of leather or some other material spread on the ground for the food, and it comes to mean the food itself. It is often translated ‘table’, but this is misleading with reference to the early days of Islam.Bukhari transmitted it.

Mishkat al-Masabih 4200

Anas reported God’s messenger as saying, “God most high is pleased when a man eats something and praises Him for it, or drinks something and praises Him for it." Muslim transmitted it.