Milk is good for YOU

Milk is considered the most blessed drink Almighty Allah SWT ever created. It is both a food and a drink at the same time. Almighty Allah SWT says in the Qur’an, “In cattle is a lesson for you; We give you a drink they carry in their glands, that issues from between a secreting mucus (of the pituitary gland) and blood…” (16:66).

Furthermore, it is related that God’s Messenger (pbuh) said, “Whenever one partakes in a meal of God’s provisions, he must pray: ‘Lord bless what You gave us, and provide us with what is best,’ and whenever God provides someone with a drink of milk, he must pray, ‘Lord bless what you gave us, and increase our share of it,’ for I do not know of anything that can rival milk, or be a substitute for it, being simultaneously both food and drink.” (Reported in Sunan Abu Dawood).

The best type of milk to drink is that which is fresh, has a bright white colour and a delicate sweetness. Milk helps alleviate depression and distress in adults and also helps to calm the spirit. It is important to rinse the mouth with water after drinking milk as this was the Sunnah of God’s beloved Messenger (pbuh) who once commented, because “it contains fat.” (Reported in Sahih al Bukhari and Muslim).

According to the Dairy Council, the benefits of drinking fresh milk include healthy bone growth due to milk’s composition of calcium, phosphorous, protein and magnesium, and the healthy growth of teeth in children. Milk along with a balanced and healthy diet helps reduce blood pressure, instances of type-2 diabetes, some forms of cancer, cardiovascular diseases and obesity.

A little honey can be added to milk that has been gently warmed up and then mixed thoroughly. This sweet milk should then be chilled before drinking. It is important to note that milk sweetened with sugar rather than honey causes plumpness of the body and face.

Milk should never be drunk excessively since it can cause dimness of the sight, aching of the joints, tooth and gum troubles and intolerance to lactose. Adding honey to milk when drinking can help alleviate these symptoms. Cow’s milk is the best type of milk since it is the most balanced and cows tend to graze on a wider range of plants than other animals.

 

Source: prophetic-medicine

The Importance of Kinship in Islam

Maintaining Silat ur-Rahm (Family Ties) is an Islamic Obligation

“Whoever believes in Allah and the Last Day, let him maintain the bonds of kinship.” [Sahih Al-Bukhari]

Abu Hurairah’s Announcement

A young man once went to attend the weekly hadith lecture of the Sahabi Sayyidna Abu Hurairah, Radi-Allahu anhu but Abu Hurairah’s routine opening announcement stopped him:

“If anyone sitting here has severed any ties of kinship (qata-ur-rahim), he should leave.” (and repair his relationship).

The young man recalled his aunt, who lived in the same town but with whom he had not been on speaking terms. The young man quietly left the gathering and went straight to his aunt’s home. He met his aunt and asked for forgiveness for his past behavior and sought rapprochement.

When the aunt inquired about the reason for this change of heart, the young man narrated how he had heard Abu Huraira’s announcement. His aunt accepted the apology but asked him to inquire from Abu Hurairah, Radi-Allahu anhu, the reason for this unusual announcement. Why, instead of mentioning the major sins, did Abu Hurairah focus only on this issue? What was so special about ties of kinship?

Sayyidna Abu Hurairah replied that he had heard from the Prophet Sall-Allahu alayhi wa sallam that our deeds are presented to Allah every Thursday night and anyone who has severed family ties has all his good deeds rejected. Abu Hurairah did not want any such person sitting in his gathering, which was held on the same night, for fear that it could deprive the entire gathering of blessings.

Another hadith explains further the reason for this fear: “Allah’s mercy will not descend on people among whom there is one who severs ties of kinship.”[Baihaqi, Shuab Al-Iman]

Break relations with kin :

Allah Says in the Holy Quran Chapter 13 Surah Ar-Raad  verse 25:

As for those who break their covenant with Allah after confirming it, who cut asunder relationships which Allah has bidden to be joined, and spread chaos on the earth,  their’s shall be the curse, and they shall have a wretched abode in the Hereafter.

Allah Says in the Holy Quran Chapter 2 Surah Bakarah verse 27:

And He leads astray only those who disobey Allah,  who break Allah’s covenant after ratifying it, who cut asunder relationships what Allah has ordered to be joined, and who produce chaos on the Earth.   These are indeed the people who are the losers.

Sahih Al-Bukhari Hadith 8.17 Narrated by Abu Huraira

The Prophet (saws) said, “The word ‘Ar-Rahm (womb) derives its name from Ar-Rahman (i.e., one of the names of Allah) and Allah said: ‘I will keep good relation with the one who will keep good relation with you (the womb, i.e. kith and kin), and sever the relation with him who will sever the relation with you (the womb, i.e. kith and kin).

Sahih Al-Bukhari Hadith 8.15 Narrated by Anas bin Malik

Allah ‘s Messenger (saws) said, “Whoever loves that he be granted more wealth and that his lease of life be prolonged, then he should keep good relations with his kith and kin.”

Regardless of the behavior of one’s blood-relatives, it is absolutely impermissible, forbidden, and an abomination of a sin in the Sight of Allah for one to break or sever ties or relationships of blood which the Lord Himself has created for them!

Sahih Al-Bukhari Hadith 8.20 Narrated by Abdullah bin Amr

The Prophet (saws) said, “’Al-Wasil’ (the one who does good to his relatives) is not he who recompenses the good done to him by his relatives, but ‘Al-Wasil’ is he who keeps good relations with those relatives who had severed the bond of kinship with him.”

 

Story of Three persons blocked in a Cave

The Messenger of Allah (sallallahu `alayhi wa sallam) said:

“Three persons of a people before you, were on a journey when they were overtaken by a storm and therefore they took shelter in a cave. A rock slipped down from the mountain and blocked the exit from cave.

One of them said: “The only way for deliverance left is to beseech Allah in the name of some virtuous deed.” Thereupon one of them supplicated, “O Lord, my parents were very old, I used to offer them their nightly drink of milk before my children and the other members of the family. One day I went astray far away in search of green trees and could return only after my parent had gone to sleep. When I had milked the animals and brought their nightly drink to them, They were fast asleep, but I did not like to disturb them, nor would give any part of the milk to my children and other members of the family till after my parents had their drink. Thus, with the vessel in hand, I awaited their awakening till the flush of dawn, While the children cried out of hunger at my feet. When they woke up, they had their drink. O Lord, if I did this thing seeking only your pleasure, then do relieve us of the distress wrought upon us by this rock.”

Thereupon, The rock moved a little but that not enough to let them pass out.

Then the second man supplicated: “O Lord, I had a cousin whom I loved her more passionately than any loves a woman. I tried to seduce her but she would have none of me, till in a season of great hardship due to famine, she approached me (for help) and I gave her one hundred and twenty Dinars on condition that she would have sexual intercourse with me. She agreed, and when we got together and I was just going to have intercourse with her, she pleaded: ‘Fear Allah, and do not break the seal unlawfully’; whereupon I moved away from her, despite the fact that I desired her most passionately; and I let her keep the money I had given her. O Lord, if I did this thing seeking only your pleasure, then do move the distress in which we find ourselves.”

Again the rock moved a little but not enough to let them pass out.

Then the third supplicated: “O Lord, I hired some laborers and paid them their dues, but one of them left leaving behind what was due to him. I invested it in business and the business prospered greatly.” After a time the laborer came Back and said: ‘O servant of Allah, hand over to me my wages.’ I said to him: ‘All that you see is yours – camels, cattle, goats and slaves.’ He said: ‘Don’t play joke with me, O servant of Allah.’ I assured him: ‘I am mot joking.’ So he took all of it sparing nothing. O Lord, If I did this seeking only for your pleasure, do relieve us of our distress.”

The rock then moved away, and all the three came out of the cave safe and sound.

(This Hadith indicates that one can only ask Allah for help directly or through his performed good deeds. But to ask Allah through dead or absent prophets, saints, spirits, holy men, angels etc. is absolutely forbidden in Islam and it is a kind of disbelief.)   

(Sahih Bukhari and Sahih Muslim)