Summary
This article describes foods mentioned in the Qur’an and Sunnah that will be in Jannah, outlines prophetic teachings on eating habits, and details etiquette, moderation, and the spiritual significance of wholesome food in Islam.
Surah Waqia mentions the availability of appetizing bird meat –‘.. And any fruit they specify and any bird-meat they desire…’ [Quran: 56:20-21]
For those who seek the pleasure of God, they will also reap the benefits of choosing from any quail meat they please. Prophet Muhammad states, “…The most delicious of the food accompanying the bread of the People of the Garden is meat. Praise be to God, Lord of all the worlds.” (Hadith: Mukhtasar Tadhkirah al-Qurtubi p.363/654)Heaven will also contain rivers and streams of flowing milk and honey, as mentioned in many Surahs. “Therein are rivers of water unpolluted, and rivers of milk whereof the flavor changes not, and rivers of fermented liquids delicious to the drinkers, and rivers of clear-run honey; therein for them is every kind of fruits…” [Surah Muhammad 47:15]
Pomegranates and fruits of all kind would taste better than they did in this world, hanging low and easy to access. A reference is also made in the Quran to ‘zanjabil’, referring to ginger that will be mixed into drinks and served to people in heaven. [Surah Insan 76:17]
Bananas are also alluded to as a fruit of Paradise – “Amid thornless lote-trees and banana-trees [with fruits], one above another and extended shade and water flowing constantly and abundant fruit, neither intercepted nor forbidden.” [Surah Waqia 28:29-33]
The Prophet Muhammad said this about figs: “If I had to mention a fruit that descended from the Garden, I would say this is it…” (Hadith: Mukhtasar Tadhkirah Al Qurtubi, p.313).
Giving watermelons a high status as a fruit of Jannah, Prophet Muhammad said: “Benefit from the watermelon and respect it, because its juice is from the Garden and its taste is from the Garden…the watermelon is [one of the fruits] of the Garden.” (Hadith: Mukhtasar Tadhkirah al-Qurtubi, p.313).
It is proven in the authentic Sunnah that the first food offered to welcome the people of Paradise when they enter it will be “the caudate lobe of whale liver”. (Sharh Muslim, 17/135-136). Some scholars said that the caudate lobe of whale liver is the first food in Paradise, which marks the end of this world, (as a transient abode) and the transition to Paradise (which is an eternal abode).However, we must remind ourselves that although food in Jannah will be profuse and wondrous, but the highest dignity and gift given to the believers in Jannah would be the gratifying and out of this world experience of the sight of Allah the Almighty. (Sahih of al-Bukhari)
Prohibited Foods According to the Quran, the only specifically prohibited foods are meat of animals that die by themselves, blood, pig meat, carnivorous animals, birds of prey, several reptiles and insects, alcohol, intoxicants and foods that are devoted to other than Allah. Sunnah Advice According to Hadith, the Prophet Muhammad emphasized eating in moderation, not wasting food, washing hands before and after eating, and consuming only Halal (permissible) food. He often mentioned that the stomach is like a vessel and only a few mouthfuls are needed to sustain oneself, and discouraged overeating as it can hinder one’s ability to think clearly and perform religious duties properly.A Hadith states – “There lies within the body a piece of flesh. If it is sound, the whole body is sound; and if it is corrupted the whole body is corrupted. Verily this piece is the heart.” – (Sahih Bukhari Book 2, Hadith: 45)
This hadith emphasizes the importance of the heart. Therefore, our diet should consist of food that is beneficial for our heart. Which is why adopting the Islamic diet, which incorporates food that improves your heart health, is so critical. What is the Sunnah of eating food?‘Messenger of Allah (PBUH), said to me, “Mention Allah’s Name (i.e. say ‘Bismillah’ before starting to eat), eat with your right hand, and eat from what is near you.” [Al-Bukhari and Muslim].
The following hadith also clarifies the positive impact of eating together – “I heard my father say: ‘I heard ‘Umar bin Khattab say: “The Messenger of Allah (PBUH) said: ‘Eat together and do not eat separately, for the blessing is in being together.’ (Sahih Ibn Majah)
Key points from Hadith regarding food: Eat in moderation: The Prophet often said that a person should only eat a few mouthfuls to satisfy their hunger, comparing the stomach to a vessel. Wasting food is folly: A hadith encourages people to eat everything on their plate and even lick their fingers to ensure no food is wasted. Importance of “Bismillah” (or saying “In the name of Allah” before eating): This practice is considered a blessing before meals. Also recommended is saying ‘Alhamdullilah’ when a believer has finished eating, thanking Almighty Allah for bestowing the meal to him. Washing hands before and after eating: This is considered a Sunnah (practice of the Prophet) to maintain hygiene. Halal food: The Prophet only consumed food that is considered Halal (permissible) according to Islamic law, and discouraged eating Haram (forbidden) food. Balanced diet: Hadith mentions the Prophet’s consumption of various foods like dates, milk, honey, vegetables, and lean meat, promoting a balanced diet. The knowledge of the divine medicine gifted to Prophet Mohammad (PBUH) by Allah contains natural remedies for body ailments in the form of preventing and treating diseases. These are contained in the book called ‘Tibbi Nabawi’ or ‘Prophetic Medical Sciences’. It comprises of a comprehensive framework for herbal and medical practice achieved through consumption of natural foods and fruits. The Prophet’s medicine is definitive, and divinely inspired, emanating from revelation, the light of prophethood, and the perfection of intellect. Thus, following it with absolute trust and aligning it seamlessly with the divine laws established by what is suggested by Allah in the Quran, can only lead to a person’s harmonized health condition. Foods shaped like body organs: ‘You are What you Eat’ While the Quran doesn’t explicitly state “look after your body,” it emphasizes the concept through verses that encourage moderation in eating and drinking, maintaining hygiene, and using your body for pure actions, implying the overall responsibility to care for one’s physical health. A prominent Hadith from the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) states, “A strong believer is better and dearer to Allah than a weak believer,” highlighting the importance of physical fitness as a way to better serve Allah. “You are what you eat” was a phrase coined by the French gastronome Jean Anthelme Brillat-Savarin in 1826. He further explained what he meant by saying, “Tell me what you eat and I will tell you who you are”. This may be true in more ways than we realize. Many fruits and vegetables that resemble certain body parts are, coincidentally, particularly beneficial for those specific viscera in our human anatomy. The avocado is shaped like a uterus, and on the inside, you even find a cushioned seed — similar to a baby in a womb. The bittersweet and invigorating taste of grapefruit favors the female mammary glands in appearance. Grapefruits and other citrus fruits promote breast health by aiding in lymphatic flow. The alveoli of the lungs bear a subtle resemblance to grapes. Similar to the lungs, which consist of a network of increasingly narrow airways, grapes also have branches that gradually become smaller. Eating a diet rich in fresh grapes and grape seeds has been linked to a decrease in the likelihood of the development of lung cancer and emphysema. Kidney beans, aptly named for their resemblance to human kidneys, possess powerful healing properties that aid in maintaining kidney function. The celery stalk bears a strong resemblance to bones, and is specifically beneficial for maintaining bone health. Bones are composed of 23 percent sodium among other minerals, and as it happens, celery contains sodium, manganese, magnesium, calcium and phosphorous. When there is a deficit of minerals in our diet, our bodies must extract it from our bones, so these foods fulfill the skeletal requirements of the body. Ginger, resembling the shape of the stomach, has been widely used in treating a range of stomach ailments, such as motion sickness, colic, diarrhea, irritable bowel syndrome and the loss of appetite. Its digestive properties have been recognized since ancient times, and ancient cultures have incorporated ginger into their traditional medicine and diet for several millennia. In addition, ginger has been found to inhibit the growth of bowel tumors. When sliced in half, mushrooms and the human ear have similar salient features. Their consumption has been linked to improved hearing abilities due to their high vitamin D content. This vital nutrient is crucial not only for preserving hearing but also promoting strong bones. Olives look like human ovaries and play a crucial role in maintaining the health and function of the same female organs. In a study cited by the National Institutes of Health, women who consumed a significant amount of olive oil in their diets had a reduced risk of developing ovarian cancer. The shape of a walnut and brain are almost interchangeable, with distinct left and right hemispheres, upper cerebrums and lower cerebellums. The intricate ridges and crevices on the surface of the nut even resemble the folds of the cortex in the brain. Amazingly, consuming walnuts has been shown to assist in the development of over thirty different neuron-transmitters in the brain. It is indeed no mean miracle that Allah has created a striking resemblance between our body organs and these cardinal foods that can potentially benefit these very organs, thus providing us subtle but noteworthy clues to understanding which foods we need to imbibe to benefit these vital organs and to promote their optimal functioning. Eating good food and maintaining a healthy diet leads to disease prevention, diet management and improves the quality of our life. Curbing our cravings can be difficult, especially when a person is also focused on controlling his food intake. Today, with so many cheaper varieties of junk food available, it is easy to fall into temptation and sideline healthy foods mentioned in the Quran and referred to by our beloved Prophet (PBUH). However, finding delicious healthy substitutions should be our main objective, and what could be better than the indispensable foods recommended above? The healthier we eat, the better we feel, creating a feeling of physical wellness and mental wellbeing, enabling us to follow our spiritual obligations as commanded by Allah. Allah has generously provided us foods, fruits and plants for the preservation of our physical vitality. Profound physical and spiritual healing springs exclusively from unwavering faith and reliance upon Allah, the Quran and implicit belief in the healing foods referenced in the Hadith. If we lead disciplined lives with pertinent food choices, we can also orient ourselves towards more organized spiritual lives devoted to the worship of Allah alone, thanking him for His varied bounties out of which food is one of His most significant gifts to us. Following a good food diet is a vital religious teaching, and a way of adhering to Allah’s instructions. Allah blessed us with this body, so it is upon us to follow what is recommended in the Quran and Sunnah to take care of it, by eating right and exercising. The Prophet said that physical health is one of the predominant blessings in life, and by following his dictates we, as Muslims will be fulfilling his objective towards leading a more blissful and disciplined life. When a person’s heart aligns with the will of Almighty Allah, placing implicit trust in Him, we realize that just as every disease is given by Allah so is its corresponding cure. Such a believer will bear any disease with profound patience and he will have unconditional faith that the cure for each disease is granted by Allah and as a result, the healing too will acquire a profound efficacy.Frequently Asked Question
Answering the most relevant questions to help you better understand the article.
Fruits they desire, meat from birds, wine that does not intoxicate, rivers of milk and honey, and abundant food where hearts’ wishes are fulfilled.
Appetizing bird meat that believers desire, as stated in Surah Wāqi‘ah (56:20–21).
Ginger (zanjabīl) mixed into drinks, mentioned in Surah Insān (76:17).
He said if he had to mention a fruit that descended from Paradise, he would say it is the fig.
Its juice and taste are from Paradise, and believers should benefit from and respect it.
The caudate lobe of whale liver is prophesied as the first food offered to those entering Paradise.
Meat of animals that die by themselves, blood, pork, carnivores, birds of prey, certain reptiles and insects, intoxicants, and food devoted to others.
Say “Bismillah,” eat with the right hand, eat from what is near, and avoid waste.
A vessel that only requires a few mouthfuls to satisfy hunger and sustain oneself.
Because foods like dates, milk, honey, vegetables, and lean meat promote physical health and help fulfill religious obligations.
