The Advantages of Bread

The advantages of bread, sattu (flour of chana, rice & cereals), meat, margarine (ghee) & all those foods which are got from the animals and also of vinegar and sweets:

According to a reliable tradition from the Holy Prophet (pbuh&hh), one should give due respect to the bread, for it is the result of the hard work of many angels in heaven and men on the earth.

It is stated from Imam Ja'far Al-Sadiq (a.s.) that bread should not be kept under the bowl of curry.

Another tradition states that the Imam (a.s.) asked people to respect bread. The people questioned Imam (a.s.) as to how they should show their respect for bread. The Imam (a.s.) replied: "one way is when the bread is kept before them, they should start eating it without waiting for anything."

According to a tradition from Imam Rida (a.s.): "the bread should be baked in small loaves so that it may be sufficient for all groups."

According to Imam Ja'far Al-Sadiq (a.s.): "sattu (a blend of cereal powder or flour) was made with reference to a revelation from God. It increases weight, strengthens bones and is the food of Prophets. Dry sattu cleans and diminishes white spots and when had with olive oil, increases weight, strengthens bones, and freshens complexion and increases sexual strength; and if three tablespoons of sattu are taken in the morning, then it cures phlegm and cholera (i.e. Balgham and Safra)."

Another tradition states that: "sattu diminishes thirst and cures all troubles of stomach and nausea. Cleans it and cures seventy other diseases including high blood pressure."

It is stated from Imam Mohammed Taqi (a.s.): "if a woman takes sattu, it will stop the flow of blood which exceeds the specified period of menstruation."

According to a reliable tradition from Imam Ja'far Al-Sadiq (a.s.): "meat increases the flesh of one's body and if for forty days a man has not eaten meat, then he should take loan and eat meat and this loan will be returned by the Almighty."

A person visited Imam Rida (a.s.) and said that the people of his house do not eat lamb as it creates melancholy (sauda) and also creates headache and other pains. The Imam (a.s.) replied that: "God prefers only lamb meat better than other kinds of meat otherwise he would not have preferred a sacrifice of it instead of Hadrat Ismail (a.s.)."

According to Imam Mohammed Baqir (a.s.), the people of Bani Israel complained to Hadrat Moosa (a.s.) that the disease of dandruff had increased a lot among them. God revealed unto Hadrat Moosa (a.s.) that the people should be ordered to have beef with beetroot.

It is stated from Imam Sadiq (a.s.) that: "thee meat of birds and cows cures dandruff. Cow's milk is it's medicine, ghee or oil is it's cure and meat is a disease itself."

A reliable tradition states that whosoever wants that: "he should cure his anger and decrease sadness and grief should take the meat of partridge."

Hadrat Moosa Kazim (a.s.) states that: "the person who takes chakor meat will get strength in his knees and it will also cure fever."

A reliable tradition from Hadrat Imam Mohammed Taqi (a.s.) states that: "the meat of asfardad is good." It was liked by his father who used to say that this meat should be baked or grilled and given to those suffering from jaundice.

A tradition states that when people questioned Imam Ja'far Al-Sadiq (a.s.) about having raw meat he stated that it was the food of animals of lower grade.

Most of the traditions prohibit having meat dried in the shade as it causes many types of pains and weakens the stomach and very few traditions negate it.

According to Imam Sadiq (a.s.), three things destroy health and even lead one to one's death:

a) To have meat dried in shade and smelling bad

b) To bathe after having a full meal

c) To intercourse with old woman.

According to another tradition from the same Imam (a.s.), "there are three things which have nothing to do with eating but increase weight - wearing Katan cloth, smelling good scent and applying Noorah (lime water); and there are three things which are concerned with eating but decrease weight - dried meat, cheese and buds of dates. And there are two things which are always advantageous - luke warm water and pomegranate; and there are two things which are always harmful - dried meat and cheese."

A reliable tradition from Imam Ja'far Al-Sadiq (a.s.) states that meat cooked in milk was the special diet of Prophets.

Another reliable tradition states that the Holy Prophet (pbuh&hh) liked pomegranate among all the fruits.

It comes down from a reliable tradition that Imam Sadiq (a.s.) liked porridge (Hareera) made of currants. When currants are added after the preparation of Ash, it becomes currant porridge.

Many reliable traditions praise meat-broth in which the bread is put; and also kababs which is supposed to cure weakness and fever and redden the complexion.

Even there is praise of the cheekbones, brain and tongue of the goat and it's head as they are away from the place of dirt.

According to Hadrat Ali (a.s.), Hareera (meat porridge) should be taken as it gives the strength for forty days' prayers. Hareera was a part of the food which descended on the Holy Prophet from God.

According to Haroon ibne Nafaq, he was invited to Hadrat Moosa Kazim (a.s.)'s place one day. There was a lot of halwa on the dastarkhan (table). He was surprised and the Imam (a.s.) said that he and his friends and followers take a lot of sweet.

According to Abdul Ala, incidentally, he was at the house of Imam Sadiq (a.s.) when the food was being laid. There was chicken whose stomach was filled with dates and oil.

According to another reliable tradition from Imam Ja'far Al-Sadiq (a.s.), the yolk of hen's egg is very delicious. One no longer requires or feels like having meat when one takes the yolk. It does not possess the disadvantages of meat.

When a person complained to Imam Rida (a.s.) of having few children, he (a.s.) asked him to eat egg with onion.

According to Hadrat Ali (a.s.), "there is nothing better than vinegar to have bread with as it cures nausea and protects the heart."

Many traditions state that olive oil is good for eating as well as rubbing on the body. Many of the Prophets used to have bread with olive oil and olive is praised a lot as it expels bad air from the body.

From many authorities it is taken that Aaima-e-Tahereen (the Holy Imams) used to praise honey which is a cure for many diseases. Reciting Quran and chewing a gum called kundur cure sputum and sharpen memory.

According to a tradition, Imam Moosa Kazim (a.s.) used to have sweets before going to sleep. Sugar is advantageous besides curing sputum.

In many of the traditions ghee has been praised a lot, specially the ghee made from cow's milk. But aged persons who are fifty and above are advised not to take ghee.

It is stated that milk was the diet of the Prophets. A person came to Imam Sadiq (a.s.) and said that after drinking milk he did not feel well. The Imam (a.s.) replied that milk was not harmful and that he must have taken something else with milk.

A person complained to the Imam (a.s.) about body weakness, at which the Imam (a.s.) ordered him to drink milk as it increases flesh on the body and strengthens bones.

According to Hadrat Ali (a.s.), "cow's milk is a medicine."

According to Hadrat Ali (a.s.), "walnut seeds if eaten during summer, increase body heat and cure boils, pimples etc. but if eaten during winter, warm kidneys and fight cold. Many traditions say that walnut, if taken with cheese is highly advantageous. If taken alone, it is harmful."