Ramadan - Foods that Harm and Foods that Benefit

Ramadan - Foods that Harm and Foods that Benefit

It is recommended to break the fast with fresh dates, rutub, and in odd numbers, or tamr, regular table or supermarket dates, or water. If dates are not available, any fruit will do. If there is no food or drink to break the fast with, intend in your heart to break fast, and whenever food is available you should eat. Source: usc.edu/MSA

But what about when we are NOT in a fast. What would be a good diet plan? Below is some useful information I obtained a few years ago.

The following has been extracted from Ramadan Health & Spirituality Guide by the Department of Health & Communities in Action, UK, 2007. Thanks to Bodrul Ali for forwarding this information. A link to the latest booklet can be found below as well as a kik to the NHS Ramadan webpage.

Health is the key to happiness, and what we consume directly affects our health. Islam encourages Muslims to ensure that they are mindful of their health. The blessed Prophet said: “Take advantage of the good health before illnesses afflict you”. He also encouraged Muslims to try their best to take up a healthy living lifestyle that includes a balanced diet, regular mental and physical exercise and a balance between material and spiritual needs.

The fasts of Ramadan can improve a person’s health, but – if the correct diet is not followed – can possibly worsen it! The deciding factor is not the fast itself, but rather what is consumed in the non-fasting hours. To fully benefit from fasting, a person should spare a great deal of thought to the type and quantity of food they will indulge in through the blessed month. Overeating can not only harm the body but it is thought also to interfere with a person’s spiritual growth during the month. A diet that has less than a normal amount of food but is sufficiently balanced will keep a person healthy and active during the month of Ramadan. The diet should be simple and not differ too much from one’s normal everyday diet. It should contain foods from all the major food groups, as shown below.

Complex carbohydrates are foods that will help release energy slowly during the long hours of fasting. Complex carbohydrates are found in grains and seeds, like barley, wheat, oats, millets, semolina, beans, lentils, wholemeal flour, basmati rice, etc.

Fibre-rich foods are also digested slowly and include bran, cereals, whole wheat, grains and seeds, potatoes with the skin, vegetables such as green beans and almost all fruit, including apricots, prunes, figs, etc.

Foods to avoid are the heavily-processed, fast-burning foods that contain refined carbohydrates in the form of sugar, white flour, etc., as well as, of course, too much fatty food (eg cakes, biscuits, chocolates and sweets, such as Indian Mithai).
It may also be worth avoiding the caffeine content in drinks such as tea, coffee and cola. (Caffeine is a diuretic and stimulates faster water loss through urination.)


Suhoor, the pre-dawn meal, should be a wholesome, moderate meal that is filling and provides enough energy for many hours. It is therefore particularly important to include slowly-digesting foods in the suhoor.

Iftar is the meal which breaks the day’s fast. This meal could include dates, following the Prophetic traditions. Dates will provide a refreshing burst of much-needed energy. Fruit juices will also have a similar, revitalizing effect. The meal should remain a meal and not become a feast! Try to minimise the rich, special dishes that traditionally celebrate the fast and keep to the advice included in the table above.

Many of the foods which are mentioned and encouraged in this booklet are in the Holy Qur’an, and the Sunnah (the Prophetic traditions) also correspond to modern guidelines on a healthy diet and will help to maintain balanced, healthy meals in Ramadan. The most commonly consumed foods by Prophet Mohammed (peace be upon him) were milk, dates, lamb/mutton and oats.

Healthy foods mentioned in the Holy Qur’an are fruit and vegetables, such as olives, onions, cucumber, figs, dates, grapes as well as pulses such as lentils. The encouragement of fish can be seen in the fact that Islamic law spares fish from any specific slaughter requirements, making it easy to incorporate fish in a meal.



Spirituality and Food
Food has a great significance in Islam. It is associated with one’s relationship with God. Chapter 20, verse 81 of the Qur’an states: “Eat of the good and wholesome things that We have provided for your sustenance, but indulge in no excess therein.”

The physical body is a gift from God; it is given to humans as an amanah (in trust) to take care of for a fixed period. How much food is consumed and the choice of food has a direct impact on the physical and spiritual well-being of the person. The food that you consume affects your behaviour and personality. Wholesome, natural and healthy food assists the development of a good personality. Overeating has long been frowned upon in Islam as it is thought to increase worldly appetites and cause sluggishness, thereby ‘dulling’ the soul, hampering spiritual growth and increasing physical ailments.

The blessed Prophet said: “The children of Adam fill no vessel worse than their stomach. Sufficient for him is a few morsels to keep his back straight. If he must eat more, then a third should be for his food, a third for his drink, and a third left for air.” (Sunan al-Tirmidhî)

Islam sees health and ‘well-being’ as much more than just bodily health: well-being or tranquillity requires a strong relationship with one’s spirituality, good physical health, mental happiness, a sense of purpose and good character and relationships. Islam makes a strong connection between food and worship and teaches that all forms of worship have a deeper purpose and impact and contribute in some way to individual and social well-being.

In chapter 7, verse 31 the Qur’an is categorical: “Eat and drink freely: but waste not by excess, for He does not like the wasters.”

The booklet also contains more information on the following
* The spiritual side of Fasting and what you gain from fasting ( Heightened consciousness of God, Healthy lifestyle, Compassion and charity, Community spirit, A fast without the spirit is empty of blessing)
* Information on Potential Health Complications and Possible Remedies e.g. Heartburn (Indigestion), Poor Control of Diabetes, Headache, Dehydration, Complications to any Common Chronic Diseases, Constipation, Stress, Obesity)
* There is also a Frequently Asked Questions regarding the health side of ramadan & useful contact list and much more. I would recommend you read this booklet.

# Here is a link to the latest booklet: Click here!

# Also the new NHS Ramadan webpage: Click Here!

What type of dates are you breaking your fast with?

With the exception of Ajwa dates (those favoured by the Prophet Muhammad - P.B.U.H), Medjool dates are probably the most expensive but also the most delicious dates in the world. They stand out compared to other dates mainly because of their size.

Last Ramadan I ventured to a halal grocery store (in a predominantly Muslim area) and was about to purchase some of these delicious dates until I saw the sign "produce of Israel" on the box – I was really angered and left the store immediately. Again a couple of days ago I ventured to a local supermarket and noticed the same dates – this time labelled produce of West Bank - again I did not purchase these dates.



The reason for this is mainly due to the fact that produce from Israel (fruit and vegetables) such as dates are mainly produced in occupied Palestinian land such as the West Bank (these are some of the most beautiful and fertile lands in the Arab world) – but most of these lands are run by illegal settlers who employ Palestinians with some of the harshest working conditions. Investigative reporting by Israeli newspapers such as Haaretz had exposed these findings.

The European Union and some of our largest supermarkets in Europe turn a blind eye towards this. An even greater worry is the ignorance set by owners of halal grocery chains who in one way during the month of Ramadan might have a collection box from charities to help oppressed Palestinians yet at the same time will be financing their oppressors by selling profitable crops such as dates from Israel and occupied Palestine in their shops!

It’s time for an ethical campaign – a campaign on the type of food we buy. Innovative Minds and the Islamic Human Rights Commission are calling on campaigners to create awareness in their communities about the boycott of Israeli goods, and in particular Israeli dates, this Ramadan.

BOYCOTT ISRAELI DATES

Most of the Israeli date crop – up to 80%, is exported, mainly to Europe where it has around 10% market share. In 2005, dates were Israel’s leading fruit export. The two major Israeli companies involved are Agrexco and Hadi-klaim.

Agrexco, half owned by the Israeli government, handles 60-70% of all goods produced in the illegal Settlements. Its dates have brand names Carmel, Jordan Plains and Jordan Valley.

Hadiklaim sells 65 percent of the all dates produced in Israel. Its dates have brand names King Solomon and Jordan River. They also supply Israeli dates to supermarkets and retail chains who market them under their own brand names. These include Marks & Spencer's, Sainsbury's, Tesco's, and Waitrose.



In order to educate our communities on this issue two videos had been produced by Innovative Minds (see below). There are also leaflets and posters available from their website. Click here http://inminds.co.uk/boycott-israeli-dates.php

Boycott Israeli Dates 1 of 2


Boycott Israeli Dates 2 of 2


If you find this information useful please pass this to other brothers and sisters. It’s time to start campaigning with our wallets – its time we stopped trading with these oppressors. Make sure you look before you buy. If you find a halal grocery store that sells dates from Israel then notify them of their error and if they don’t change then find alternative places to shop.

If you want to break your fast with delicious dates from Palestine as well as sample other produce then there are various shops listed on the Zaytoun.org website. Zaytoun is an ethical business established to support marginalized farming communities in Palestine. Zaytoun helps Palestinion farmers access the UK market and ensures that the money made from sales goes back to the right people.

ZamZam Water

ZamZam Water

Taken from members.tripod.com, original article taken from www.everymuslim.com

Allah Ta'ala has made all living creatures out of water. People require water for almost for everything but not all water carries the same value and significance.Muslims refer to the water of Zamzam as something revered and unique. They crave this mysterious liquid and love to drink it whenever they can. And for those who managed to go to the Hajj, they return home carrying it for thousands of miles as a prized possession and to give as special gift to their friends and families.

So what is so special about Zamzam water?
In a word: Everything! There is nothing ordinary about it. The miracle of how it came to being in the middle of a desert, its consistency throught out 1000s of years, the beneficial qualities it has, the fact that it never dries up. This water is special.

The fact is, this small and only ' 5 ft deep well ' is far away from any other source or body of water. It is self replenishing. It is constantly replenishing itself in order to produce gallons upon gallons of water for the consumption of thirsty pilgrims plus the additional amount that is bottled up and also the amount that is taken as gifts and distributed worldwide to millions. SubhanAllah!

Zam zam water has scientifically been proven to contain healing qualities due to its higher content of Calcium and Magnesium Salts and also natural fluorides that encompass a germicidal action.

It is also an established scientific fact that pools or water wells tend to grow vegetation such as algae-- especially in warm climates. Amazingly this is not the case in the well of Zamzam. It has remained free from bilogical contaminations.

History of Zamzam Water
Zamzam is the name of a famous well in al-Masjid al-Haraam [the Sacred Mosque in Makkah], which is thirty-eight cubits away from the Ka’bah. It is the well from which Allah quenched the thirst of Ismaa’eel the son of Ibraaheem (peace and blessings of Allah be upon them both) when he was an infant. His mother(Haajra(peace and blessings of Allah be upon her) looked for water for him, but could not find any. She climbed to the top of Mount al-Safaa, praying to Allah to help her and give her water for Ismaa’eel, then she climbed to the top of Mount al-Marwah and did the same. Allah sent Jibreel(peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) , and he struck the earth, and water appeared.

The scholars (may Allaah have mercy on them) agreed that it is mustahabb (recommended) for pilgrims on Hajj and ‘Umrah in particular, and for all Muslims in general, to drink Zamzam water, because of the saheeh hadeeth in which the Prophet (peace be upon him) is reported to have drunk the water of Zamzam. (Reported by al-Bukhaari, 3/492). According to the hadeeth of Abu Dharr (may Allaah be pleased with him), the Prophet (peace be upon him) said concerning the water of Zamzam, “It is a blessing, and it is food that satisfies.” (Reported by Muslim, 4/1922). Al-Tayaalisi added, in a version that he narrated: “and a cure for the sick. – but this is when he drinks it with faith and sincerity, as proven in the hadeeth of Abu Dharr al-Ghifaari who stayed in Makkah for a month without any nourishment except Zamzam water.

Al-‘Abbaas ibn ‘Abd al-Muttalib (may Allaah be pleased with him) said: “The people used to compete over Zamzam during the time of Jaahiliyyah(ignorance). People who had children used to bring them and give them to drink, and this was their early-morning victuals. We used to used to think that it was a help for people who had children.” Al-‘Abbaas said: “During the Jaahiliyyah, Zamzam was known as Shabaa’ah (satisfaction).”Al-‘Allaamah al-Abbi (may Allaah have mercy on him) said: “(The water) is for whatever purpose it is drunk for, and Allaah made it food and drink for Ismaa’eel and his mother Haajar.”Ibn al-Mubaarak entered Zamzam and said, “O Allaah, Ibn al-Mu’ammal told me, from Abu’l-Zubayr from Jaabir that the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) said: ‘The water of Zamzam is for whatever purpose it is drunk for,’ so, O Allaah, I am drinking it (to quench) my thirst on the Day of Resurrection.”

Virtues and characteristics of the water of Zamzam
The two angels washed the heart of the Prophet (peace be upon him) when he was a child, after they had taken it out, then they put it back. Al-Haafiz al-‘Iraaqi (may Allaah have mercy on him) said: “The reason why the Prophet’s chest was washed with Zamzam water was to make him stronger so that he could see the kingdom of heaven and earth, and Paradise and Hell, because one of the special qualities of Zamzam is that it strengthens the heart and calms the soul. The report about the chest of the Prophet (peace be upon him) being washed with the water of Zamzam is proven in the hadeeth of Abu Dharr (may Allaah be pleased with him), who reported that the Prophet (peace be upon him) said: “My roof was opened when I was in Makkah, and Jibreel (peace be upon him) came down and opened my chest, then he washed it with Zamzam water. Then he brought a gold basin full of wisdom and faith, poured it into my chest, and closed it up again. Then he took me by the hand and ascended with me into the first heaven.” (Reported by al-Bukhaari, 3/429).

It is sunnah to drink one’s fill of Zamzam water and to quench one’s thirst.The fuqaha have mentioned the etiquette that is mustahabb (recommended) when drinking Zamzam water, such as facing the Ka’bah, saying Bismillah, pausing to take a breath three times, drinking one’s fill, praising Allaah after one finishes As regards the hadeeth of Ibn ‘Abbaas (may Allaah be pleased with him), who said, “I gave the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) Zamzam water to drink whilst he was standing,” (reported by al-Bukhaari, 3/492), it is taken to mean that it is permissible to drink zamzam whilst standing; showing the utmost respect. The scholars also recommended that the person who drinks Zamzam water should sprinkle some of it on his head, face and chest, make lots of du’aa’ when drinking it, and to drink it for a purpose that will benefit him in this world or the next, because of the hadeeth in which the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: “The water of Zamzam is for whatever purpose it is drunk for.” (Reported by Ibn Maajah, 2/1018; see Al-Maqaasid al-Hasanah by al-Sakhaawi, p. 359).

It was reported that when Ibn ‘Abbaas (may Allaah be pleased with him) drank from the water of Zamzam, he said: “O Allaah, I ask you for beneficial knowledge, plentiful provision and healing from every disease.”

Al-Daynoori reported that al-Humaydi said: “We were with Sufyaan ibn ‘Uyaynah, and he told us the hadeeth about the water of Zamzam being drunk for whatever purpose it is drunk for. A man got up and left the gathering, then he came back and said, ‘O Abu Muhammad, is the hadeeth which you told us about the water of Zamzam saheeh?’ He said, ‘Yes.’ The man said, ‘Just now I drank a bucket of Zamzam so that you would tell me one hundred hadeeths.’ Sufyaan said, ‘Sit down,’ so he sat down and he told him one hundred hadeeths.”

Some fuqaha’ recommended that people should take some Zamzam water back with them to their countries, because it is a cure for those who seek healing. ‘Aa’ishah(R.A.) reported that she took Zamzam water home with her in bottles, and said, “The Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) took some of it away with him, and he used to pour it on the sick and give it to them to drink.” (Reported by al-Tirmidhi, 4/37).

Al-Haafiz al-Sakhaawi (may Allaah have mercy on him) said in Al-Maqaasid al-Hasanah: “Some people said that the virtue (of Zamzam water) remains only so long as it is in its place (of origin), and that when it is taken away,it changes. This is an idea that has no basis. The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) wrote to Suhayl ibn ‘Amr: “If my letter reaches you at night, do not wait until morning, and if it reaches you during the day, do not wait until evening, to send me some Zamzam water.” He sent him two containers full, and at that time he was in Madeenah, before the Conquest of Makkah. This hadeeth is hasan because of corroborating evidence. ‘Aa’ishah also used to take Zamzam water away with her, and she reported that the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) used to do this; he used to carry it in small vessels and buckets, and pour it onto the sick and give it to them to drink. Whenever a guest visited Ibn ‘Abbaas he would honour him by giving him Zamzam to drink. ‘Ata’ was asked about taking Zamzam water away, and he said: “The Prophet (peace be upon him), al-Hasan and al-Husayn all took it away with them.”And Allaah knows best. (See: Fath al-Baari,3/493; al-Mughni, 3/445; Nihaayat al-Muhtaaj, Shifa’ al-Gharaam bi Akhbaar al-Balad al-Haraam, by al-‘Iraaqi, 1/258)

Ibn al-Qayyim (may Allaah have mercy on him) said: Myself and others tried seeking healing with Zamzam water and saw wondrous things. I sought healing with it from a number of illnesses, and I was healed by the permission of Allaah. I saw someone who nourished himself with it for a number of days, half a month or more, and he did not feel hunger; he performed Tawaaf along with the other people just as they did. And he told me that he consumed nothing but Zamzam water for forty days and he had the strength to have intercourse with his wife, to fast and to perform Tawaaf numerous times. (Zaad al-Ma’aad, 4/319, 320).

Shaykh Ibn ‘Uthaymeen (may Allaah preserve him) said:So you should have the intention of what you want to gain by drinking this water. He should drink his fill, ie. fill his stomach with it until it is filled to the ribs, because this water is good. A hadeeth has been narrated concerning this: the difference between the believers and the hypocrites is drinking one’s fill of Zamzam water.(Narrated by Ibn Maajah)

It was reported in Saheeh Muslim that the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said to Abu Dharr, who had stayed near the Ka’bah and its coverings for forty days and nights with no food or drink other than (Zamzam): “How long have you been here?” Abu Dharr said: “I have been here for thirty days and nights.” The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said, “Who has been feeding you?” He said, “I have had nothing but Zamzam water, and I have gotten so fat that I have folds of fat on my stomach. I do not feel any of the tiredness or weakness of hunger and I have not become thin.” The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: “Verily, it is blessed, it is food that nourishes.” (Narrated by Imaam Muslim, 2473).

Some incidents relating to the Miracles of ZamZam
Yusria Abdel-Rahman Haraz said that she was affected by a ulcer in her eye. It affected her by a severe headache which could not be cured by tablets. She was about to become blind in the affected eye. She went to a famous doctor who suggested to give her an injection which will stop the headache but it will also dysfunction the affected eye and consequently she will loose the sight in the affected eye. Mrs.Yusria was confident of the mercy of Allah. She thought of performing Umra and supplicated to Allah to cure her. She come to Makkah and performed Tawaf, there were not many people and the areas not crowded, therefore, she could be with the Zamzam water for long time. She washed her eyes. When she came back to the hotel she found that her affected eyes was cured and the ulcer disappeared. This event proves that it is a confirmation of the Hadeeth which says, “Zamzam water fulfils the purpose for which it has been drunk, if you drink it for getting cured Allah cures you, if you drink it for stomach satisfaction Allah will satisfy you and if you drink it for quenching thirst Allah will quench your thirst.” [Refer to El-Dar Gatni and El-Hukm and Zad]

There are many of such events, which proves the truth of what Prophet Muhammed(sallallahu alaiyhi wassallam) said and the holy nature of Zamzam water. Dr. Farooque Antar tells his own story. He says that he had been affected by a stone in his ureter and the doctor could not remove or destroy it without a surgical operation. But he postponed the operation two times. Meanwhile he performed Umra and supplicated to Allah to cure him without undergoing operation. He drank from Zamzam water and prayed two Rakaats. Then he felt a benching in his ureter and hurried to relieve himself, only to see the stone come out and he was cured without undergoing a surgical operation. The doctors who were treating Dr. Farooque were surprised at this.

A man from Yemen was fond of reading Quran from a small Mushaf. As he became old he found that he couldn’t read Quran easily from that book because his sight was becoming weak. He heard about the water of Zamzam and its advantage of fulfilling the purpose for which it has been drunk. He came to Haj and he drank from Zamzam. He started reading from that small Mushaf of Quran easily and without any sight problems. He achieved what he wanted because he was confident of that and had deep faith in the saying of the Prophet(sallallahu alaiyhi wassallam), “The water of Zamzam fulfils the purpose for which it has deep drunk” He was also confident and had deep belief in the Quranic sign in which Allah says, “When my servants ask thee concerning me, I am indeed close (to them): I listen to the prayer of every supplicant when he collect on me, let them also with a will listen to my call, and believe in Me. That may walk in the right way”. [2:186] Source: “You ask about the scientific miracles of Quran an Sunna and Shaikh Zindani answers” By Shaikh Abdel Majeed El Zindani

SOME AHAADEETH:
The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: “The best water on the face of the earth is the water of Zamzam; it is a kind of food and a healing from sickness.” (Saheeh al-Jaami’, 3302).

It was reported that the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) drank it, did wudoo’ with it and poured it on his head. He used to carry Zamzam water in small vessels and large containers in order to pour it on the sick and give it to them to drink. (al-Silsilat al-Saheehah, 883).

One of the Sahaabah said: we used to call it al-Shabbaa’ah (satisfying) and it helped us to take care our families (ie. it was filling and helped them to do without food, it was also sufficient to nourish children). (al-Silsilat al-Saheehah li’l-Albaani, 2685).

The Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: “The water of Zamzam is for whatever it is drunk for.” (Narrated by Ibn Maajah)

The Messenger of Allah, salallahu alayhe wa sallam has said:" The most sublime of all earthly waters is that of zamzam; therein one finds food for the hungry and medicne for the ill." [ At- Tabarani ]

"Zamzam water is what one intends to drink it for. When one drinks it to be healed, Allah heals him; when one drinks it to be full, Allah makes him full; and when one drinks it to quench his thrist, Allah quenches it. " [ Ahmad, and Ibn Majah]

Since Zamzam water serves whatever purpose and intention for which it is drank; provided it is with sincerity: The scholars and the righteous have tried this and they drank from it with the intention of fulfilling their needs and seeking cure for the sick or relief from poverty or catastrophe and surely Allah eased for them achieving their needs. So next time when one gets the opportunity to drink Zamzam, one should grab the opportunity to pray for: a healthy body, sharp mind, forgiveness for sins, life in Jannah after death, an honorable death on the day of Jummah, and all one's physical and spiritual needs of this world and Hereafter.

Sources:
“You ask about the scientific miracles of Quran an Sunna and Shaikh Zindani answers” By Shaikh Abdel Majeed El Zindani
“Scientific Miracles in Islam & Sunna Nabawiyya” By, Mohammed Kamil Abdel Samad.
Web Sources: science4islam ; islam-qa ; al-yusra/zamzam_water

Food: What is Halal and Haram?

Food: What is Halal and Haram?
Taken from halal.50megs.com

What Is Halal?
"Halal" is a Quranic Term, which means 'Lawful' or 'Permitted'. Sometimes it is translated as 'Acceptable' or 'Not forbidden'. Halal foods and drinks are permitted for consumption by Allah- the supreme lawgiver. In the Holy Quran, Allah commands Muslims and all of mankind to eat of the Halal things. Eating Halal is obligatory.

What Is Haram?
The opposite of 'Halal' is "Haram", which means 'Unlawful' or 'Prohibited". The other words used for Haram is 'Unacceptable' or 'Forbidden'. Haram foods and drinks are absolutely prohibited for consumption by Allah. Eating Haram is forbidden for every Muslim. If a Muslim consumes Haraam foods, he would be sinful.

What Is Mushbooh?
"Mushbooh" is an Arabic term which means 'doubtful' or 'suspected'. If one does not know the Halal or Haram status of a particular food or drink, such a food or drink is doubtful. A practicing Muslims prevents himself from consuming doubtful things.

The terms Halal and Haram will be used strictly to describe food products, meat products, cosmetics, personal care products, food ingredients, beverages and food contact materials.

Which foods are Halal or which foods are Haram, is decided according to the Holy Quran and the Glorious Shari’ah (Islamic Law).

Most diets and foods are considered to be Halaal unless Islamic Law specifically prohibits them.

The following products are definitely Halal:

• Milk (from cows, sheeps, camels or goats).
• Honey.
• Fish - We are allowed to eat any fish as long as it has scales. All other sea creatures such as whales, sharks, turtles, lobsters and crabs are Haraam. The only exception is for prawns and shrimps, which can be eaten. In order for the fish to be Halaal, it must be removed alive from the water. It does not matter who has done the fishing or what method has been used to catch the fish. Here's a small list
• Plants which are not intoxicant.
• Fresh or naturally frozen vegetables.
• Fresh or dried fruits.
• Legumes like peanuts, cashew nuts, hazel nuts, walnuts, etc.
• Grains such as wheat, rice, rye, barley, oat, etc.

Animals such as cows, sheep, goats, deer, moose, chickens, ducks, game birds, etc., are also Halal, but they must be Zabihah (slaughtered according to Islamic Rites) in order to be suitable for consumption.

The procedure is as follows: the animal must be slaughtered by a Muslim by putting the animal down on the ground (or holding it if it is small) and slitting it's throat with a very sharp knife to make sure that the main blood vessels are cut. While cutting the throat of the animal without severing it, the person has to recite "Bismillah Allah-u-Akbar".

The following items have been categorically spelled out as being Haram:

• Pig/Swine/Pork and its by-products.
• Blood and and blood by-products.
• Carnivorous animals.
• Reptiles and insects.
• Sea creatures such as whales, sharks, turtles, lobsters and crabs are Haraam.
• Halal animals which are not slaughtered according to the Islamic Law.
• Animals killed in the name of anyone other than God.
• The bodies of dead animals or dead before slaughtering.
• Alcohol and intoxicants such as Wine, Ethyl Alcohol, and Spirits etc.

Foods containing ingredients in the following are example of Mushbooh:

• Gelatin.
• Enzymes.
• Emulsifiers.
• Lard.
• Glycerol/glycerin etc.

Muslim should avoid such foods containing Mushbooh or questionable ingredients. Before consuming such items, we have to confirm the source of these ingredients.

Question: What happens if you eat haraam food?
I found this question submitted by someone on the web but have lost the source. It was answered by (Mufti) Abdullah Patel.

There are numerous Qur'anic verses and Ahaadith of our beloved Rasulullah (sallallahu alaihi wasallam) expounding the importance of consuming Halaal food and warning against Haraam.

Almighty Allah (SWT) says, "O people of Imaan! Eat of the pure things (Halaal) that We have provided for you, and be grateful to Allah" (Surah Baqarah 2:172)

Our Beloved Nabi (sallallahu alaihi wasallam) has said, "There will come a time upon my Ummat when people will not be concerned over what they take. It will not matter for them whether it is Haraam or Halaal" (Bukhari: Nasai).

It is further reported that, "When this time comes, then none of their Duas will be accepted" (Razeen).

It is narrated in another Hadith, "It is better for you to consume sand rather than eating anything Haraam" (Ahmed).

It is narrated in another Hadith, "That flesh which has grown out of Haraam food will not enter Jannah. Hell has more right to it" (Ahmad: Tirmidhi).

Haraam food has a detrimental effect on one's spiritual development. It has a direct effect on one's actions. One who consumes Haraam will not feel any enthusiasm to perform good deeds and it will lead him/her towards sinful deeds. Haraam also acts as a barrier such that duaas are not accpeted.

On the authority of Abu Huraira (R.A) who said, The Messenger of Allah (sallallahu alaihi wasallam) said,

"Allah, the Almighty is pure and accepts only that which is pure. Allah has commanded the faithful to do that which he commanded the messengers, and the Almighty has said, 'O Messengers! Eat of the pure things, and do righteous actions'. And Allah the Almighty has said: "O` you who believe! Eat of the pure things wherewith we have provided you." Then he mentioned (the case of) a man who, having journeyed far, is disheveled and dusty and who spreads out his hands to the sky (saying): O' Lord! -- While his food is unlawful, his drink unlawful, and he is nourished unlawfully, so how can his supplication be answered!" (Muslim)

Allah (SWT) Knows Best.

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Further reading recommended:
(1) Halal & Haram of food & drinks from islam-laws.com
(2) BAHISHTI ZEWAR-HALAAL/HARAAM from halal.50megs.com
(3) Halal shoppers guide PDF - CLICK HERE!
(4) Medical and scientific facts about halal slaughter from hmacanada.org

Useful Organisations:
(1) Foodguide.org.uk - for UK (VERY USEFUL SITE)
(2) halalmc.org UK Halal Monitoring Committee
(2) eat-halal.com - USA site
(3) ifanca.org Islamic Food and Nutrition Council of America
(4) hmacanada.org - Halal Monitoring Authority Canada

Ramadan Superfoods - Dates

Ramadan Superfoods - Dates
By: Shamimuz Zaman – OC Health

A Muslim eats dates to break their fast along with a glass of water. How much do we know about this great super food? We will consider facts, nutritional food values, benefits of dates and explore this fascinating food.



Brief History

Dates (Arabic: tamr) have been a staple diet of the Middle East for thousands of years. They are believed to have originated from the Persian Gulf, and have been cultivated since ancient times from Mesopotamia to prehistoric Egypt, possibly as early as 6000 BC.

There’s archaeological evidence of date cultivation in eastern Arabia in 4000 BC. Later, Arabs spread the dates into northern Africa and into Spain – Spaniards introduced dates to California.

Great Nutrition

Dates are loaded with the energy you need everyday, with only 24 calories per date (248 per 100 gram serving). Dates are high in dietary fibre, low in fat, cholesterol, and sodium. Very few other fruits offer this healthful combination.

A handful of dates will help meet the 5 a day goal. Five to six dates or a cup of chopped dates equals one serving. Dates are a good source of dietary fibre. A serving of dates can provide 3 grams of fibre. That’s 14% of your recommended intake!

Dates contain 31 grams of carbohydrates (a powerhouse of energy!). Carbohydrates include 3 grams of fibre and 29 grams of naturally occurring sugars such as fructose, glucose and sucrose making the perfect energy boosting snack.

Eating dates and drinking water is an ideal way to replenish potassium. A serving of dates contain 240 milligrams of potassium or 7% of the recommended daily value. Bite for bite, they have three times the amount of potassium as bananas!

Dates contain a variety of B-complex vitamins; these vitamins have a variety of functions that help maintain a healthy body. Magnesium is essential for healthy bone development and for energy metabolism. One serving of dates provides 4% of the suggested daily intake of magnesium. Iron is essential to red blood cell production. Red blood cells carry all the nutrients to cells throughout the body. One serving of dates contain nearly a third of the recommended dietary allowance of iron.

Today’s healthy diets recommend eating foods that are low in sodium, fat, cholesterol and high in fibre. Dates fit perfectly into a healthy lifestyle.

Benefits of Dates

• Dates contain certain stimulants which strengthen the muscle of the uterus in the last few months of pregnancy. This would then assist in the dilation of the uterus at the time of delivery.
• Dates have high tannin content and have cleansing power and astringent in intestinal troubles.
• Modern science has shown that they are very effective in preventing abdominal cancer.
• When the body absorbs the nutritional essence of a few dates, the feeling of hunger becomes appeased.
• It would seem that breaking the fast with dates helps one avoid excessive eating.
• Dieticians consider dates are the best foods for women in confinement and those who are breastfeeding.
• Dates can be used to overcome giddiness, fall in sugar level in the blood and low blood pressure are among causes of giddiness.
• Dates are effective in keeping healthy eyes, uits quite effective in guarding against night blindness.
• Placing bits of chewed date inside the mouth of a new born baby dramatically reduces pain sensation and heart rate (British Medical Journal)
• Dates provides great source of energy boost. Hence Muslims often break their fast with.

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Here's some information that is worth reading:

Healing Foods & Herbs - from crescentlife.com [topics include: Barley, Dates, Garlic,Ginger, Green Tea, Henna, Honey, Kalonji, Kasni, Khambi Mann Mushroom, Methi (Fenugreek),Neem, Olives (Zaitoon) & Thyme]

Miracle Foods From Allah - from Islamonline.net [topics include: Spirulina (Blue Green Algae), Kelp, Honey, Bee-Pollen, Royal Jelly, Wheat Grass, Alfalfa]

The Etiquettes of Eating

The Etiquettes of Eating
Source: islamicnetwork.com , Original article taken from ahya.org

It may appear a little ironic to be discussing the subject of FOOD in a month, which is characterized by the command to abstain from it! Nevertheless, it is true to say that in this month the subject of food tends to receive special attention from us, for after a whole day of keeping our desires and hunger pangs at bay, the chance to eat ones till in the evening is much appreciated. An appropriate time therefore to highlight some of the Islamic etiquettes of eating we think.

For every act that a Muslim does, there is a chance for him to earn some reward for it from Allaah. From praying to per­forming ghusl, in everything Allaah has placed His Blessings and these blessings are multiplied in the month of Ramadhan.

These rewards and blessings can be attained only by those keen to imbibe the Guidance and Example (Sunnah) of the Prophet Muhammad (sallalahu alaihi wasallam) into every mode of their lives, seeking thereby none but the Face of Allaah. For such people, their whole lives become ‘Ebadah (worship). Even the act of eating and drinking upon which all living things depend can become acts of ‘Ebadah. Thus, by acquainting ourselves with the Sunnah of eating and drinking we too can turn this mundane exercise into an act of worship and a source of blessing, Insha’Allaah!!

The Etiquettes of Eating

1] How to Begin [1]
When a Muslim begins to eat, he should begin with the name of Allaah. As the Prophet Muhammad (sallalahu alaihi wasallam) said: ‘When one of you eats, he should mention Allah’s name (i.e. say ‘Bismillah); if he forgets to mention Allah’s name at the beginning, he should say (when he remembers): I begin in the name of Allah at the beginning and at the end of it ( Bismillah awwalahu wa Akhirahoo).” [2]

The Prophet (sallalahu alaihi wasallam) explained that shaitan partakes in the food if the name of Allaah is not recited at the start of eating. However if one forgets in the beginning and then remembers and says the aforementioned du’aa shaitan is made to vomit out what he has eaten. [3]

2] The Manners of Eating
The best manner in which to eat food is with the fingers. The Companion, lbn Ka’ab ibn Maalik reported that he saw the Messenger (sallalahu alaihi wasallam) eating with three fingers and when he finished, he would lick them. [4] Sadly nowadays, the Muslims are choosing to imitate the disbelievers rather than the Prophet (sallalahu alaihi wasallam) and are choosing to eat with knives and forks rather than the finger’s. Although it is not at all forbidden (haraam) to eat with a Knife and fork, to con­sider this a better and more cultured or civilized way to eat is definitely wrong, since this is to consider someone else’s way to be superior to that of the Prophet’s. It should also be men­tioned that if one does choose to eat with a knife and fork, then they should make sure that the fork is in the right and not in the left hand as is the convention with the disbelievers. This is because to eat with the left hand is forbidden. The Prophet, (sallalahu alaihi wasallam) said: “Do not eat with your left hand for shaitaan eats with his left hand,” [5]

Another thing which the Prophet (sallalahu alaihi wasallam) taught us about the man­ners of eating is that we should always eat from what is near­est to us and not from the middle of the plate. The reason for this is that the blessings come down upon the food in its mid­dle, therefore it should be left to last. [6]

3] The Manners of Sitting whilst Eating.
It would probably come as no surprise to us to learn that unlike the arrogant manner traditionally associated with the Greeks and Romans, the Prophet (sallalahu alaihi wasallam) would never eat from a reclining position.[7]

His whole life was a model of modesty and humility and this was no less in his manner of eating. The Companion Anas, radhi Allahu Anhu‘ each reported that he saw Allaah’s Messenger squatting and eating dates.[8] Other times, the Prophet (sallalahu alaihi wasallam) would sit on his knees, as reported by ‘Abdullaah ibn Busr who said that the Prophet was sitting on his knees upon which a bedouin said: ‘What is this sitting?’ The Prophet (sallallahu alahi wa-sallam) replied, “Allaah has made me a respectable servant and He did not make me an obstinate tyrant. [9]

4] Don’t Criticize Food:
Aboo Hurairah, radhiAllahu ‘anhu reported that the Prophet (sallalahu alaihi wasallam) never found fault with food. If he liked it, he would eat it, but if he disliked it, he just left it.

This is how our Prophet was. Yet if we look to ourselves today, we find that we are ever ready to criticize whatever we find on our plate. This is extreme ingratitude to Allaah on our part and next time we think of complaining about food or maybe moaning that ‘there’s nothing to eat’ even though our fridges are full, we should spare a thought for all those people both Muslim and non-Muslims who don’t know where their next meal is coming from. So we should instead be grateful as instructed by Allaah:

“0 You who believe! Eat of the good things that we have provided for you and be grateful to Allaah, if it is He you worship.” [al-Baqarah(2): 17)

5] DON’T LEAVE FOOD FOR SHAITAAN
As Muslms we must be aware that shaitaan is around us wher­ever we are and whatever we are doing. Even when we are eating shaitaan is in our presence, waiting to grasp any oppor­tunity he can to fill his belly. This is why the Prophet, (sallalahu alaihi wasallam) commanded us never to waste food, because food that we waste is eaten by shaitaan. He (sallalahu alaihi wasallam) said: “The shaitaan is present with everyone of you in everything he does; he is even present when he eats food, so if any on of you drops a mouthful, he should remove away anything filthy on it and eat it and not leave it for the devil; and when he finishe, he should lick his fingers for he does not know in what portion of his food the blessing ties.” [11]

So here, the Prophet (sallalahu alaihi wasallam) enumerated another reason why we should not waste food i.e. we may deprive ourselves of the blessings which are contained n the food. this should be sufficient encouragement fares to appreciate the value of food and not waste it.

6] DON’T EAT TOO MUCH
One of the worst habits we nave adopted as a result of our relatively luxurious lifestyle is the habit of overeating and not showing any restraint in that. How many times can we think of where we have eaten so much that we can barely breathe, or where we can feel the food coming up to our throats?! This eating pattern does not befit the Muslim, who should do all things in moderation, including his eating. The Prophet, (sallalahu alaihi wasallam) said: “A Believer eats in one intestine, whereas a non-believer eats in seven intestines”[12]

Therefore it is not for us to eat till we are completely satiated; rather we should eat such that the hunger goes but there is still room for more.

7] AFTER EATING
When we have finished eating, we should always remember Allaah and be grateful to Him, for He is ar-Razzaaq, the Provider and our Sustainer We should express this gratitude in the manner in which the Prophet taught us. He said: “One who has eaten some food and then says: ‘AlI praise is for Allaah, who has given me this (food to eat] and provided me without any effort or power on my part’, he will have his sins forgiven. (Alhamdulillaahil-lazee at’amanaa haadha warazaqeenee min ghairi hawlin minnee wala quwwah).” [13]

SubhaanAllaah! The reward for just saying this short du’aa is so great, too great to neglect. Can we afford to miss out on such opportunities of Allaah’s Mercy and Forgiveness?

8] A MEANS OF DRAWING CLOSER TO ALLAAH
The ahaadeeth mentioned here only cover some of the Islamic etiquettes of eating which the Messenger Muhammad (sallalahu alaihi wa-sallam) taught us. Many more hadeeth on this subject are to be found in the books of hadeeth such as Saheeh al-Bukharee, Saheeh Muslim and others. But just a few narra­tions cited here give us some indication of the attention that the Companions paid to even the smallest details of the prophet’s Sunnah (example). Many of us today may consider such matters to be ‘trivial’ or ‘insignificant,’ but we find the Companions did not take these matters lightly. They consid­ered such details important enough to preserve through careful transmission which their successors meticulously recorded in the books of hadeeth so that they could be read by genera­tions to come. It is up to us whether we want to benefit from the knowledge they carried for us or not.

So during this blessed month of Ramadhan, when we take the suhoor (the predawn meal) and break our fasts, we have an excellent opportunity to transform an everyday practice of eating and drinking into an act of worship and a source of blessing for us. Every mouthful of food we take will serve as a reminder of Alaah’s great favour upon us and His Mercy and this in turn will cause us to earn favour with Allah, for the Prophet (sallalahu alaihi wa-sallam) said: “Indeed Allah is pleased with His servant who, when he eats a morsel, praises Him for it, or drinks a sip and then praises Him for it.” [14]

May Allaah grant us the ability to become of His thankful servants. Aameen.

FOOTNOTES
[1] There is a common misconception that to wash ones hands before eating is from Sunnah. This is based on the hadeeth which alleges that the Prophet (sallalahu alaihi wa-sallam) said: The blessing of the food is in washing the hands before it and after it. [Ahmed, Aboo Dawood and others] It should be known however that this hadeeth is daef (week) according to Aboo Dawood. Imaam Ahmad, at-Tirmidhee and others. Infect some scholar went as far As to say that this practice was disliked since it was a practice of the Jews and only if there was a reason to wash them was it not disliked. The point is that washing the hands before the meal contains no added reward since it is not from the Sunnah, although there is no harm in doing as if one needs to.
[2] Saheeh - Narrated by Aaisha and collected by Aboo Dawood (eng. Trans. Vol.3, p.1064, no.3758). Authenticated by at-Tirmidhee and al-Albanee inhis Saheeh. Sunan Aboo Dawood. Note that the Sunnah is to say ‘Bismillah’ only and not ‘Bismillah Ar-Rahman Ar-Raheem’
[3] Saheeh Muslim (eng. Trans. Vol.3, p. 1114, no. 5004).
[4] Saheeh Muslim (eng. Trans. Vol.3, p. 1119, no. 5040)
[5] Narrated by Jabir and collected I Saheeh Muslim (eng. Trans. Vol.3, p. 1115, no. 5007). The ruling also applies to drinking as well as taking or giving something (i.e. it should all be done with the right hand) (Saheeh Muslim vol.3)
[6] Aboo Dawood (eng. Trans. Vol. 3, p. 1064, no. 3763). This is not superstition or an old wives tale, rather the saying of one inspired by Allah, who is the knower of all things hidden.
[7] Narrated by Aboo Juhaifah and collected in Saheeh of Imaam Bukhari (eng. Trans. Vol.7, p. 234 and 311). NB. Ibn al-Qayyim mention in his Zaadal Maad that any posture in which the posterior is on the floor is regarding as reclining.
[8] Saheeh Muslim (eng, trans vol.3. p. 1127, no. 5073).
[9] Saheeh - Reported by Aboo Dawood (eng. Trans. Vol. 3, p.1064, no. 3764). Authentic in his Saheeh Sunan Aboo Dawood.
[10] Saheeh Muslim (eng. Trans. Vol. 3, p.113, no.5121).
[11] Narrated by Jaabir and collected in Saheeh Muslim (eng. Vol. 3, p. 1121. no. 5046)
[12] Narrated by Ibn Umar and collected in Saheeh Muslim (eng. Trans vol. 3, p.1137, no. 5046)
[13] Hasan - Narrated by Mu’aadh Ibn Anas ans collected by at-Tirmidhee and others. Authentic by at-Tirmidhee and others. Authenticated by at-Tirmidhee, Ibn Hajr and others. (Note: that the other du’aa from Aboo Dawood tht is often mentioned in books to be recited at the end of eating: “all Praises are form Allah who fed us grave us drink and made us Muslims’ is not authentic as mentioned by Ibn Hajr and others.)
[14] Narrated by Anas and collected in Saheeh Muslim (eng. Trans. Vol. 4, p.1492, no. 6592).