Honey, honey
“We have indeed created man in the best of moulds”
The Holy Quran (95:4)
The body given to man is an Amana , to be preserved and cared for during the lifetime of the individual, to lead a healthy and righteous way of life as guided by the Holy Quran. Man endures the pleasures and hardships of worldly life through his body. The Prophet (pbuh) led an exemplary life, by the Holy Quran. and there is no better way than to emulate his Sunna for his followers to attain perfection in their religion!
This article looks at the use of Honey as a health promoting substance – The Prophet SAW is known to start his day by taking a spoonful of honey dissolved in water soon after the Fajr prayer.
Honey in the Holy Quran and Hadees :
There is a separate Sura named Al Nahl – Arabic for Bees, in the Holy Quran. In it Almighty Allah says:
‘And thy Lord taught the bee to build its cells in hills, on trees and in (men’s) habitations….. there issues from within their bodies a drink of varying colours, wherein is healing for mankind. Verily in this is a Sign for those who give thought’.
(Translation of Quran 16:68-69)
The Prophet (pbuh) has said “Honey is a remedy for every illness and the Quran is a remedy for all illness of the mind, therefore I recommend to you both remedies, the Qur’an and honey.”
(Bukhari)
In Bukhari (Volume 7: Book 65), Aisha narrates that, “Allah’s Apostle used to love sweet edible things and honey.”
Nutritional Benefits:
Honey is said to contain many varieties of sugars, vitamins and minerals that are good for the human body. Several kinds of amino acids and hormones are also found in it. Its exact constituents vary according to the flowers in the region from which nectar and pollen were collected by the bees to convert to honey.
Honey has the property of preparing and mobilizing the digestive system for the meals to be taken thereafter. It is also known to have Adenosine Tri-Phosphate (ATP), the biochemical power packs for muscle function and revitalization of the body. People, in some parts of the world where honey is consumed regularly are said to show relatively less signs of aging and are more long lived.
Health Benefits:
The Prophet (pbuh) has told of the healing power of honey for many medical ailments of man, internal and external. Stomach ailments, healing of wounds, burns and inflammations are known to be treated with honey throughout history. Honey mixed with lemon is a traditional remedy for throat irritations. It also cures gastritis and ulcers of the intestines. Modern medicine is discovering its antibacterial and antifungal properties and applications. The presence of antioxidants and its ability to detoxify the body is also established..
Researchers say that with a few precautions (such as when treating infants and patient allergic to some plant, parts of which had gone into the honey) its potential for wider usage as a nature medicine is immense
Though many of the health benefits of food and medications used by the Prophet ( pbuh) are now confirmed by modern science, their importance to the Muslims lies in the involvement of the Messenger of Allah and their faith in Almighty Allah.