The Quran and Hadith together provide us with guidelines on how to live our life in the most Islamic manner. Our first intention should be to sincerely follow the Sunnah in all aspects of our lives in order to please Allah SWT, regardless of scientific corroboration. Interestingly however, science research is now proving that the dietary etiquettes recommended in the Quran and Hadith are beneficial for us, further validating our belief of Islam as the one true religion. These revelations are even piquing interest from non-Muslims, who are awed at how a 1400-year-old religion provides accurate knowledge that we are only now discovering is correct. So, when considering how to be ‘healthy’ and what ‘diets’ to implement, look to the Sunnah first and foremost. Here are some Sunnah foods you can stock up on and introduce into your diet this Ramadan!

Talbina is a soup made from barley flour, milk, water and sweetened with honey, and is prepared in a similar way to porridge. The benefits of Talbina were highlighted by Aisha RA who used to recommend Al-Talbina for both the sick and those who were going through sorrow and grief [Sahih al-Bukhari, Book 71, Hadith 593].

Try out this natural remedy for yourself, especially if you are suffering from depression; a randomized clinical trial recently proved that Talbina has the ‘potential to reduce depression and enhance mood’ for those who have it. I have previously bought mine from Sunnah Healing UK, but you can find barley flour in health food stores or you can grind barley pearls at home to make the flour yourself.

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Dates can be used as an alternative to refined sugars. Eating foods closer to the natural source has been scientifically proven to be healthier than processed foods, so try to implement the used of dates in your baking, cooking and even for sweetening your hot drinks. Date syrup is something I recently had the pleasure of trying, and for those of you who love the taste of dates, this syrup is a perfect addition to any desserts. Beloved Dates make granola, syrups and nectars from dates. If you are buying whole dates, try and source them from ones with a pure initiative such as The Date Project which raises funds for a bakery in Syria or Zaytoun, which sells fair trade, organic foods, whilst also supporting Palestinian farmers under occupation. There are a few Hadith mentioning dates, but a significant one mentions that the Prophet SAW said, ‘He who eats 7 Ajwa dates every morning, will not be affected by poison or magic that day’ [Sahih al-Bukhari, Book 65, Hadith 356].

Honey is another excellent natural sweetener, that we can use as an alternative to refined sugars. “the Prophet SAW mentioned honey as something within which there is healing [Sahih al-Bukhari, Book 71, Hadith 584]. There is even another Hadith mentioning a man who had pains in his stomach, and was recommended to drink honey by the Prophet SAW, after which he was cured [Sahih al-Bukhari, Book 71, Hadith 588]. You can use honey in a similar way to dates which I mentioned above. Scientifically, honey brings about a plethora of health benefits both when used in the diet, and externally on the body. You can buy honey in many places, but the honey with the most benefits is organic and raw honey. Yemeni Sidr Honey is one such honey which is known for being amongst the crème de la crème of honeys, and can be purchased at Yemen Sidr honey.

Olive oil’s health benefits are widely known in the scientific community. Research has shown that it is good for cancer prevention and for preventing high blood pressure, amongst other benefits. Islamically, it has been mentioned in Hadiths: “Umar ibn al-Khattaab said: The Messenger of Allah (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) said: “Eat olive oil and anoint yourselves with it, for it comes from a blessed tree.” [At-Tirmidhi 1851, Saheeh]. When purchasing Olive Oil, try and get Extra virgin olive oil as it is the best for your health, and contains healthy fats necessary for a beneficial diet. Olive oil is part of the traditional Mediterranean diet, and those who follow this diet are some of the healthiest in the world. You can also purchase Olive Oil from Zaytoun, whom I mentioned earlier.

Black seed (Nigella Sativa) is an important seed, which produces an oil of immense benefits. Over 630 scientific articles have been published about the benefits of black seed oil, from cancer prevention, to diabetes control, to weight loss, but we Muslims have known about the power of the black seed from Hadith. Aisha RA narrated that she heard the Prophet SAW saying that ‘the black cumin is healing for all diseases except death’ [Sahih al-Bukhari, Book 71, Hadith 591]. You can get black seed oil and even black seed capsules from health food stores (look for the scientific name Nigella Sativa), or online at places like Health Means Wealth.

As Muslims, it is our duty to be aware of where we source our foods from to consider if they are ethically cultivated, and if everyone involved in their production is treated fairly. Many are now considering if battery farmed meats are truly Halal, due to the way animals are treated before being slaughtered. Although the market for free range & organic halal meats is small, there are ways in which you can be involved. Cutting down on the meat you eat for example, is one way. Another is keeping animals yourself, or buying from organisations such as Willowbrook Farm. Willowbrook farm produces food naturally and sustainably, and in a halal manner, as well as providing animals with healthy diet free of hormones and chemicals. There are many Hadith and verses in the Quran which talk about how we should treat animals and show them kindness; an example of such is the hadith of kindness shown by a prostitute who gave water to a thirsty dog, and was forgiven for her sins because of that [Sahih al-Bukhari, book 54, Hadith 538]. If this small act of kindness gave a prostitute forgiveness, what could be the consequences of our unethical halal farming practises?

InshaAllah you can use this guide as a kick-starter to transforming your diet into one that follows the Quran and the Sunnah, and hopefully you will soon start observing the benefits!