15 of Prophet Muhammad’s Favorite Food Items & Their Benefits

Prophet Muhammad’s Favorite Food Items: The strong aroma of fresh olives surrounded me when I stepped into the deli, smiling I remembered that it was one of the favorite foods of Prophet Muhammad ﷺ. Our Prophet ﷺ was not a picky eater, days would go by without food, except a few dates, some oil, and bread, it was very common not to have food in those times.

Prophet Muhammad ﷺ ate moderately when there was food available and never has it been recorded him mentioning not liking any food. If there was something he would not as he would just not eat it, but never speak ill. This should be a lesson for all the finicky eaters whom Allah SWT has blessed with an abundance of food to choose from.

What Did Prophet Muhammad Eat & Drink?

Every aspect of Prophet Muhammad;sﷺ was Sunnah as we discussed in our previous post on The Most Beautiful Sunnah To Follow In Daily Life. What all food to be consumed, how and when everything has been defined in the life of our Prophet ﷺ. Food is one of the most important physiological needs of every living being in this world.

15 of Prophet Muhammad's Favorite Food Items & Their Benefits  's Favorite Food

Here is a list of foods near and dear to the Prophet ﷺ,

15 of Prophet Muhammad's Favorite Food Items & Their Benefits  's Favorite Food

15 – Meat

Prophet Muhammad used to enjoy eating meat whenever it was available and he especially loved to eat the lamb shoulder.

15 of Prophet Muhammad's Favorite Food Items & Their Benefits  

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14 – Black Seeds/Kalonji

Kalonji or black seeds are taken from a plant that is known as Nigella sativa and it is abundantly found in both Europe and Asia. It is known for its healing as Abu Huraira reports that the Prophet said:

”There is a cure for every disease in black seeds except death and black seeds are Shooneez.”

So according to this hadith, there is cure for every disease in Kalonji, except for death. Hence we should make it a habit to eat a few black seeds every morning to boost our immunity, especially in times of Covid.

15 of Prophet Muhammad's Favorite Food Items & Their Benefits  's Favorite Food

13 – Honey

Honey (عسل) is a sweet liquid made by bees from the nectar of flowers. It is a highly nutritious food. It has been considered as medicine of medicines, food of foods, and drink of drinks. It is a natural cure for most types of illness. The Prophet ﷺ used to drink a glass of water mixed with honey every single morning. Honey is deemed as a cure for all ailments.

Aisha (r.a) narrated that the Prophet (ﷺ) used to like sweet edible things and honey. 

Sahih al-Bukhari

Healing is in three things: cupping, a gulp of honey, or cauterization. But I forbid my followers to use cauterization (branding with fire).” (Bukhari 5681)

15 of Prophet Muhammad's Favorite Food Items & Their Benefits  's Favorite Food

12 – Milk

Milk (حليب) is an amalgam of water, proteins, fat, and some natural sugar. Although 87.5% of milk is water, it is somewhat a complex food. After all, a little calf gets all its nutrition from this milk. Apart from proteins, milk also contains loads of other essential vitamins, such as vitamins A, B12, and D. Milk helps in the development of strong bones and teeth, as it is rich in calcium. Prophet Muhammad ﷺ loved having goat and camel milk. Milk has been mentioned in the Quran as well.

15 of Prophet Muhammad's Favorite Food Items & Their Benefits  's Favorite Food

11 – Olives And Its Oil

Olives (زيتون ) are also one of the foods of Jannah. Olives have been mentioned in the Quran 7 times. Olives are packed with nutrients that include copper, calcium, and sodium. Green olives are the most nourishing and can overcome intoxication. Black olives are a little hard on the stomach but a good source of iron. Allah has sworn by olives in the Quran.

15 of Prophet Muhammad's Favorite Food Items & Their Benefits  's Favorite Food

The juice of olives, known as olive oil is equally beneficial. It is good for skin and hair, it delays old age, and treats inflammation, and is also used for healing different ailments.

15 of Prophet Muhammad's Favorite Food Items & Their Benefits  's Favorite Food

10 – Mushrooms

Mushrooms (فُطْريّات) are a type of fungus, when you hear the word fungus you tend to cringe. But Subhanallah mushrooms hold some significance in Islam. Mushrooms are an excellent source of amino acids, fiber, vitamins, and some minerals. Mushrooms are the only vegetable, next to cod liver oil to contain vitamin D in edible form. They help boost the immune system and contain natural insulin.

15 of Prophet Muhammad's Favorite Food Items & Their Benefits  's Favorite Food

9 – Grapes

Our Prophet Muhammad ﷺ was very fond of grapes ( عنب). It has a lot of health benefits good for blood purification and beneficial for kidneys as well. Grapes are a good source of vitamins C and K and also contain protein, carbohydrates, dietary fiber, and minerals. Grapes are mentioned in the Holy Quran in numerous places which include Surah Baqarah, Surah Kahf, Surah Nahl, and Surah Ya-Sin.

15 of Prophet Muhammad's Favorite Food Items & Their Benefits  's Favorite Food

8 – Dates

The fruits of a date palm tree (النخلة) are called dates( تمر). Dates are rich in vitamins and minerals and are free from cholesterol and contain very low fat. They are a good source of dietary fiber, vitamin-A, iron, potassium, calcium, manganese, and copper. Other than these healthy benefits our beloved Prophet ﷺ used to plant date trees himself. Fresh dates are recommended to be eaten at the time of childbirth. Dates are sometimes eaten with different things to annul any adverse effects. Prophet Muhammad himself would often eat dates with cucumbers as they’re both the opposite of each other in terms of the effect they have on the body so this helps avoid any harmful effects while strengthening the body.

15 of Prophet Muhammad's Favorite Food Items & Their Benefits  's Favorite Food

The importance of dates as a major food item has been stressed upon,

Prophet Muhammad ﷺ said, “People in a house without dates are in a state of hunger.” (Muslim)

It is also an important Sunnah to rub the palates of a newborn with a softened piece of date,known as Tahneek. Dates are one of the best forms of nutritious food for mankind and should be included in our daily diet.

15 of Prophet Muhammad's Favorite Food Items & Their Benefits  's Favorite Food

The Messenger of Allah ﷺ often consumed a drink called“Nabeez”- prepared from soaked raisins or dates. Nabeez should be consumed within twelve hours of soaking to prevent fermentation. I also recommend that you go through these Sunnahs Of Ramadan & How To Fast Like The Prophet.

15 of Prophet Muhammad's Favorite Food Items & Their Benefits  's Favorite Food

7 – Figs

Figs( تين ) also known as the seedless fruit are the fruit from Jannah. It was greatly favored by the Prophet ﷺ. It is low in calories and good for bones. Figs are also known to cleanse the kidneys and bladder. Figs are also a rich source of calcium, iron, magnesium and potassium, and high in fiber. They provide more fiber, than any other fruit or vegetable, which is especially easy for the body to absorb.  Figs could actually be a complete diet and one could survive on figs alone.

15 of Prophet Muhammad's Favorite Food Items & Their Benefits  's Favorite Food

6 – Pomegranate

Pomegranate( رمان) is mentioned thrice in the Quran. Pomegranate is a rich source of sodium, vitamin C, calcium, and phosphorus. Aids in digestion, anti-inflammatory, and a super antioxidant.

Abdullah ibn ‘Abbas narrated “There is not a pomegranate which does not have a pip from one of the pomegranates of Jannah in it.” (Abu Naim)

15 of Prophet Muhammad's Favorite Food Items & Their Benefits  's Favorite Food

5 – Water

Most of our lives revolve around water, a divine gift and the drink that quenches the thirst. . The word ماء (water) appears 63 times in the Qur’an. The best kind of water is Zam Zam.

15 of Prophet Muhammad's Favorite Food Items & Their Benefits  's Favorite Food

When you are thirsty drinks the water in sips and not in gulps as drinking in gulps causes sickness of the liver. This is the sunnah method of drinking water.

Anas RA narrated, the Messenger of Allah ﷺ used to sip the water in three separate breaths and would say:

“This method quenches the thirst better and is more palatable and sanitary.’’ MUSLIM

4 – Melon

A summer-friendly fruit, melon (بطيخ) is a Sunnah fruit. It is just mentioned in Hadith and no mention of it in the Quran. This fruit is packed with vitamin A, vitamin C and no extra effort is necessary for an extra intake of water while consuming this fruit. Melons should be eaten before meals or it tends to cause nausea. Prophet Muhammad paired melons with fresh dates.

15 of Prophet Muhammad's Favorite Food Items & Their Benefits  's Favorite Food

3 – Vinegar

Vinegar (خل) also known as THE SEASONING OF PROPHETS. Vinegar has been mentioned in a number of Hadiths. Vinegar was a part of the diet of all Prophets before Prophet Muhammad . It is narrated by Ayesha RA,

Allah has put blessings in vinegar for it was truly used by the Prophets before meMUSLIM

Vinegar cannot be used in its original state it has to be diluted with water, continual use in its concentrated state will lead to increased heartburn and damage the enamel of the teeth. To have vinegar with bread is Sunnah

“A household which has vinegar will never suffer from poverty” TIRMIDHI

15 of Prophet Muhammad's Favorite Food Items & Their Benefits  's Favorite Food

2 – Pumpkin

Pumpkin (يقطين) one of the most favored vegetables of our Prophet Muhammad ﷺ. And eating it is Sunnah. Rich source of vitamin A and C and one of the best-known sources of anti-oxidants. The health benefits of pumpkins are numerous, they regulate blood pressure, improve immunity, good for eyes and skin, great for the heart. It also serves as a cure for many ailments like asthma and heart ailments.

“The Holy Prophet ﷺ, amongst other foods, liked pumpkin. TIRMIDHI

15 of Prophet Muhammad's Favorite Food Items & Their Benefits  's Favorite Food

1 – Barley

Another Sunnah, barley (شعير ). Barley was the main food item in the diet of our Messenger ﷺ. The Prophet Muhammad ﷺ mostly consumed barley bread with either meat, soup, pumpkin, vinegar, olive oil, and dates. It has many health benefits and is slow to digest so it keeps us fuller longer. Two of the greatest cures of heart disease are whole wheat and barley. Both provide multiple benefits against heart disease.

15 of Prophet Muhammad's Favorite Food Items & Their Benefits  's Favorite Food

When talking about barley it is hard not to mention Talbinah- a porridge made of powdered barley, honey and milk. It was recommended by the Prophet ﷺ to his companions when sufferingan illnes or weakness of any kind.

15 of Prophet Muhammad's Favorite Food Items & Their Benefits  's Favorite Food

Let’s Revive The Forgotten Sunnahs

Doctors and nutritionists have begun to define the benefits of all food that has been mentioned in the Quran and Hadith 1400 years back. We don’t need logic to tell us these food items are beneficial, all these Sunnahs havent been practicesd because of laziness, ignorance, or just have been forgotten We can start by trying to incorporate the food items listed into our regular diets. Every Sunnah counts.

15 of Prophet Muhammad's Favorite Food Items & Their Benefits  's Favorite Food




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  1. Shifana V M October 5, 2022
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