Honey is truly called the liquid gold because of its striking formulation. But these benefits of honey have just been discovered by new age science while the benefits of honey in Islam have been described in the Quran which dates back to many years ago.
Honey is one of the foods of paradise and the Quran clearly talks about rivers of honey flowing in Jannah.
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Allah, the Almighty, has placed so much importance and shifa in Honey that he revealed an entire Surah by the name of Bees – Surah Al Nahl in which he says,
Your Lord revealed to the bees: “Build dwellings in the mountains and the trees, and also in the structures which men erect. Then eat from every kind of fruit and travel the paths of your Lord, which have been made easy for you to follow.” From inside them comes a drink of varying colours, containing healing for mankind. There is certainly a Sign in that for people who reflect. (Qur’an, 16:69)
Note the use of words “Healing for Mankind.”
Allah subhanahu wa ta’la ordered the bees to make honey which will be the healing for mankind. Let’s look upon the miracle of honey .
- Vitamins – B1, B2, C, B6, B5 and B3, niacin, riboflavin and pantothenic acid.
- Minerals – calcium, copper, iron, magnesium, manganese, phosphorus, potassium and zinc
- Amino acids.
- Antioxidants – Pinocembrin, pinobaxin, chrisin and galagin
- Flavonoids and
- Phenolic acids.
The Prophet Muhammad once said,
“By Him in whose hand is my soul, eat honey, for there is no house in which honey is kept for which the angels will not ask for mercy. If a person eats honey, a thousand remedies enter his stomach, and a million diseases will come out. If a man dies and honey is found within him, fire will not touch his body.”
– Chaghhayni M. Tibb al-nabbi. Trans. C Elgood. Osiris 1962; 14: 188; Chisti SHM. The Sufi Book of Healing. Rochester, Vermont: Inner Traditions International: 59
While these are the nutritional wonders of honey, many researchers are discovering the health benefits of honey which include the following:
- Helps the intestine and kidneys to function well.
- Gives a quick energy by diffusing in blood within 7 minutes.
- Free sugar molecules help in better functioning of the brain.
- Purifies blood and helps in good blood circulation.
- Protects from capillary problems and arteriosclerosis.
- Makes the environment incapable for growth of bacteria.
- Anti-aging properties for healthy skin.
- Fights high cholesterol.
Health benefits of honey also circulate to us through hadeeth, many of which recommend honey as medicine providing cure for many diseases and a complete shifa.
Narrated by Abu Said Al-Khudri: A man came to the Prophet and said, “My brother has some abdominal trouble.” The Prophet said to him “Let him drink honey.” The man came for the second time and the Prophet said to him, ‘Let him drink honey.” He came for the third time and the Prophet said, “Let him drink honey.” He returned again and said, “I have done that. ‘ The Prophet then said, “Allah has said the truth, but your brother’s abdomen has told a lie. Let him drink honey.” So he made him drink honey and he was cured.
Coming back to the words written in the Quran about honey and healing, honey is proven by the doctors to be a painless method to heal burns and infections. Not just that, but honey helps in the growth of new cell tissues thus providing a complete healing. This is a huge miracle of honey.
“There are two cures for you: honey and the Qur’an.”
– Ibn Majah M. Sunan. Trans. MT Ansari. Lahore: Kazi Publications, 1994; Hakim al-Nisaburi M. al-Mustadrak ‘ala al-sahihayn.
Subhan Allah, the words of Allah and his Prophet are definitely true. And thus, we see how Allah has blessed us with one of his many wonders that lie in honey.
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