Reports about frankincense, milk, olive oil and other foods and drinks

9-10-2015 | IslamWeb

Question:

Assalamu Alaikum wa Rahimatullahi wa Barkatuhu.You are requested to verify the aunthenticity of the following statements attributed to Prophet Muhammad Sallallahu Alaihi wa Sallam. and it common message on WhatsApp circulation.• The Prophet (Peace be upon) said that MILK wipes away heat from the heart just as the finger wipes away sweat from the brow. It strengthens the back, improved the brain, renews vision and drives away forgetfulness.• The Prophet Muhammad (Peace be upon him) loved MILK• The Holy Prophet (Peace be upon him) amongst all other foods, liked PUMPKIN. [Tirmidhi]• Allah has said of the OLIVE tree: “And a tree that grows out of Mount Sinai which produces oil and a condiment for those who eat. For OLIVE OIL is the supreme seasoning.• The Prophet (Peace be upon) said that MUSHROOM is a good cure for the eyes:• It aslo serves as form of birth control and arrest paralysis.• The Prophet (Peace be upon) was very fond of GRAPES.• The Prophet (Peace be upon) said “None of your women who are pregnant and eat OF WATER MELON will fail to produce off spring who is good in countenances and good in character.• The Prophet (Peace be upon) said the best drink in this world and the next is WATER when you are thisrty drink by sips and not gulps, gulping produces sickness of the liver.
Answer:

All perfect praise be to Allaah, The Lord of the Worlds. I testify that there is none worthy of worship except Allaah, and that Muhammad, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, is His slave and Messenger.

As for the first report, you may be referring to the Hadeeth that reads: “Use Lubaan (frankincense)”, and not Laban (milk). It reads: "Use Lubaan, for it wipes grief away from the heart just as the finger wipes away sweat from the brow. It strengthens the heart, improves the mind, clears the vision and gets rid of forgetfulness.” It is a weak Hadeeth. Al-Kinaani mentioned it in his book Tanzeeh Ash-Sharee‘ah Al-Marfoo‘ah ‘an Al-Ahaadeeth Ash-Shanee‘ah Al-Mawdhoo‘ah, and Al-‘Ajlooni in his book Kashf Al-Khafaa’. Al-Haafith As-Sakhaawi also mentioned it in his book Al-Maqaasid Al-Hasanah with the following wording: “Use Lubaan, for it strengthens the heart and gets rid of forgetfulness.” It is not an authentic Hadeeth.

As for milk, it has been reported that the Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, loved milk and encouraged drinking it. Ibn ‘Abbaas may Allaah be pleased with him reported that the Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, said: “When one of you eats food, he should say, "O Allaah, bless this food for us and give us food which is better than it." And when one is given milk to drink he should say, "O Allaah, bless it for us and give us more of it," for no food or drink satisfies like milk.” [Abu Daawood, At-Tirmithi, Ahmad and others]

We did not find any Hadeeth that reads "The Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, loved milk" in the Hadeeth literature or references at hand.

There is also no Hadeeth about mushrooms. What was reported as remedy for the eyes is Kama'ah (truffles), not mushrooms. Sa‘eed ibn Zayd may Allaah be pleased with him reported that the Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, said: “Kama'ah is of the manna [see Quran 2:57] and its water is a remedy for the eye.” [Al-Bukhari and Muslim]

We did not find any mention of scholars that its benefits include birth control. In fact, Al-Haafith Ibn Hajar may Allaah have mercy upon him underlined in his book Fat-h Al-Baari that excessive consumption of Kama’ah causes irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), strokes, hemiplegia, and dysuria (painful urination).

As for the Hadeeth that reads, “He, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, was fond of grapes,” Al-Albaani classified it as weak in his Hadeeth collection As-Silsilah Adh-Dha‘eefah, Hadeeth no. 4265, and in the Dha‘eef Al-Jaami’, Hadeeth no. 10014. Al-Haafith Al-‘Iraaqi also declared it weak in his revision of the Ihyaa’ ‘Uloom Ad-Deen.

The Hadeeth about eating melon for pregnant women is also inauthentic. However, the Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, was reported to have eaten melon with fresh dates, and he said: "The heat of this is broken by the coolness of that, and the coolness of this by the heat of that.” [Abu Daawood] Ibn Al-Qayyim may Allaah have mercy upon him said: “There are several reports about melon, but all are inauthentic except this one.”

The statement about pumpkin is authentic. The Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, loved gourd (pumpkin). [Ahmad - Al-Albaani graded it Saheeh (sound)] Anas ibn Maalik may Allaah be pleased with him reported that, “The Messenger of Allaah, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, loved pumpkin. Once, food was brought to him (as a gift) or he was invited to it, so I picked the pumpkin and placed it before him because I knew that he loved it.”

As for what you have mentioned about olive oil and the verse from the Quran, you apparently do not mean that this is a statement attributed to the Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, but you are asking whether it has benefits. If this is the case, then olive oil is without doubt beneficial for human health, and the Sunnah encourages its consumption and use. ‘Umar may Allaah be pleased with him related that the Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, said: “Season (your food) with olive oil and anoint yourselves with it, for it comes from a blessed tree.” [Ibn Maajah]

The Hadeeth about water being the best drink reads, “Water is the best drink in this world and the Hereafter.” [Al-Haakim and Ath-Thahabi who graded it Saheeh] There is another Hadeeth that reads, “When you drink water, drink it in sips and without guzzling, for guzzling produces sickness of the liver.” [Ad-Daylami] Al-Albaani declared it very weak in his book As-Silsilah Adh-Dha‘eefah because its chain of narration includes Moosa ibn Ibraaheem Al-Marwazi whom Imaam Yahya ibn Ma‘een declared a liar. Ad-Daaraqutni and others declared him Matrook (one whose reports are not accepted).

Allaah Knows best.

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