As salam alaikum, the Quran was revealed by Allah in 1409 CE, 609 years ago.It was revealed to Prophet Muhammad, salah la alahi wa salem,in Saudia Arabia. The Quran was revealed from Allah via the angel Jibreel(alaihi wa salem) to Prophet Muhammad who was 40 years old at the time.

In the Quran , Allah mentions a number of foods; liquids, plants, animals and minerals.
Banana is the first Quranic food illustrated in my new book,” Sacred Sunnah Superfoods, an illustrated guide to Quranic Foods”, available from us Karimah’s Cuisina.

This post looks at Dates and Cucumber  which are both mentioned by Allah in The Quran. We will also see  how the Prophet Muhammad (salah la alahi wa salem) , used to practice food combining maasha’Allah.

CUCUMBER

Arabic : qithaa’ (قثاء )

QURANIC REFERENCE

When the children of Israel were guided out of Egypt by musa, moses, alhi was alem, they were initially given manna and quail to eat, after a while teyhy became tired of this delicate food and  yearn for nostaligic foods of theit former time in Egypt.This old testament torah story is sequential in the Quran.

Surat Al-Baqarah (The Cow) – سورة البقر

Surat 2 ayat 61

And (remember) when you said, “O Mûsa (Moses)! We cannot endure one kind of food. So invoke your Lord for us to bring forth for us of what the earth grows, its herbs, its cucumbers, its Fûm (wheat or garlic), its lentils and its onions.” He said, “Would you exchange that which is better for that which is lower? Go you down to any town and you shall find what you want!” And they were covered with humiliation and misery, and they drew on themselves the Wrath of God. That was because they used to disbelieve the Ayât (proofs, evidences, verses, lessons, signs, revelations, etc.) of God and killed the Prophets wrongfully. That was because they disobeyed and used to transgress the bounds (in their disobedience to God, i.e. commit crimes and sins).

DATES

English: dates

Arabic: tamar

It is extremely significant that dates are mentioned over 22 times in the Quran; more than any other fruit, vegetable or animal product. This emphasis signifies their importance in nutrition and remedial benefits.  The date palm is the national symbol of Saudi Arabia and for good reason; they have been in the land for over 10,000 years and were a main stay of the economy, prior to oil.

QURANIC REFERENCE

SURAH/CHAPTER 16: AYAT/VERSE 11 Surat An-Naĥl (The Bee) 

“With it He causes to grow for you the crops, the olives, the date-palms, the grapes, and every kind of fruit. Verily! In this is indeed an evident proof and a manifest sign for people who give thought.” [16:11]

FOOD COMBINING DATES AND CUCUMBER OR MELON

Food Combining is an ancient art and tradition that is too easily dismissed by those who are ignorant of its benefit. The prophet Muhammad ( salah al alaihi wa salem) used to practice this beneficial way of eating.

Imam Ahmad recorded in his Musnad: Ibraaheem ibn Sa’d narrated to us from his father from ‘Abdullaah ibn Ja’far (radiallaahu ‘anhu), who said: I saw the Prophet (salallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam) eating cucumber with fresh dates.

(Musnad Ahmad, Vol. 1, p. 203. The Isnaad of this hadith is sahih according to the conditions set by al-Bukhaaree and Muslim.)

Watermelons and cucumbers are members of the Cucurbitaceae family also known as “cucurbits”

And of watermelon with  dates, the hadith is as follows

He, Apostle of Allah  used to eat melon with fresh dates, and he used to say: The heat of the one is broken by the coolness of the other, and the coolness of the one by the heat of the other. Abu Dawud, Narrated Aisha

For more Quranic information,Islamic Medicine information and nutrition advice  on the medicinal properties of this Quranic  Superfood, please buy a copy of my new book, ” Sacred Sunnah Superfoods, an illustrated guide to Quranic Foods”, available from us Karimah’s Cuisina.