The Food That the Prophet Muhammad Preferred

The books of the Prophetic Sunnah, which contain the traditions of the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) and his noble biography, documented the types of food he preferred and consumed during his lifetime. It was well-known that the purpose of food was to nourish and strengthen oneself for the worship of God. The guidance of the Prophet Muhammad in his food was the most balanced and excellent, as he was moderate in his consumption and diversified his diet without extravagance or excess. His supplication was often, "O Allah, provide Muhammad's family with sustenance". The sustenance here refers to the amount of food that sustains their condition, improves their affairs, and is sufficient for their efforts without any surplus that might lead to temptation or excess.

Ibn al-Qayyim described the Prophet's guidance regarding food eloquently, saying: "His guidance in food was neither refusing what was available nor demanding what was unavailable. Whatever good was presented to him, he would eat unless his soul disliked it without it being forbidden. He never criticized any food. If he desired it, he would eat it; otherwise, he would leave it. His guidance was to eat whatever was available".

It wasn't the Prophet's habit to limit himself to only one type of food, not extending beyond it. Doing so would greatly harm one's nature and could sometimes be impossible. If he didn't consume other foods, he would weaken or perish, and if he consumed them, his nature wouldn't accept them, causing distress. Limiting oneself to one type of food, even if it's the best, poses a harmful risk.

The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) used to eat the customary foods of his people, including meat, fruits, bread, dates, and others, as mentioned in his dietary habits. Thus, it is recommended that we refer to his practices for guidance in our diets.

If one encounters a meal that requires modification, it should be adjusted accordingly, such as adjusting the temperature of certain foods. If that's not possible, one should consume it as needed and desired, without excess, to avoid harming nature.

Types of Food Preferred by the Prophet

Honey: Aisha (may Allah be pleased with her) reported that the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) loved sweets and honey.

Dates: Sa'd ibn Abi Waqqas reported that the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said, "Whoever starts his day with seven dates of Ajwa variety will not suffer harm that day from poison or magic". He also said: "O Aisha! There is no house in which dates are not present, but hunger will enter it. O Aisha! There is no house in which dates are not present, but hunger and poverty will depart from it". Dates were a significant portion of the Prophet's diet.

Vinegar: Aisha (may Allah be pleased with her) reported that the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said, "How excellent is good condiment vinegar".

Olive Oil: Abu Asid reported that the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said, "Eat olive oil and anoint yourselves with it, for it comes from a blessed tree".

Barley Bread: Aisha (may Allah be pleased with her) reported that the family of Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) never ate barley bread for two consecutive days until his death.

Milk: Milk was a significant part of the Prophet's diet, and he chose it on the occasion of Isra and Mi'raj.

Cheese: Ibn Umar reported that the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) brought cheese to Tabuk, and he asked for a knife, which he named and cut.

Meat: The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) loved meat, particularly the foreleg and parts of sheep. There are narrations in which he expressed fondness for it.

Tharid: The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) loved Tharid, a dish made of cooked meat mixed with bread. Abu Musa al-Ash'ari narrated that the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said, "Aisha's superiority over other women is like Tharid over other foods".

These are some of the preferred foods of the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him), as documented in authentic Hadiths. It wasn't his habit to consume more than two meals in a day and night.

Additional Foods Consumed by the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him)

• Rabbit: Anas ibn Malik (may Allah be pleased with him) narrated that they caught a rabbit at Al-Zahran's place. The companions of the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) hurried after it. Anas caught it and took it to Abu Talha, who slaughtered it and sent its thigh and shoulder to the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him). The Prophet (peace be upon him) blessed them, accepted them, and ate from them.
• Chicken: In an authentic Hadith, Zuhdam Al-Jarmi narrates that they were with Abu Musa (may Allah be pleased with him) when he called for a meal containing chicken meat. A man from the Banu Taym clan, resembling the Mawla, entered, hesitated, and was invited to join. Abu Musa said to him, "Come, for I have seen the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) eat from it".
• Pumpkin: Anas ibn Malik (may Allah be pleased with him) reported that a tailor invited the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) for a meal he prepared. Anas accompanied the Prophet to that meal, and there was barley bread with a broth containing pumpkins and qadid (dried meat). Anas saw the Prophet (peace be upon him) picking up pieces of pumpkin from around the dish, and he continued to love pumpkin since then.

The above narrations demonstrate that the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) consumed a variety of foods depending on what was presented to him. He drank milk, both fresh and mixed with water, barley water, and honey water. He ate hog plum soup, barley soup, dates with bread, bread with vinegar, Tharid (a dish of bread soaked in broth), bread with gourd, dates with clarified butter, and watermelon with fresh dates. He also enjoyed cheese and bread with olive oil.