In Our Recovery We are Inspired by Prophet Muhammad (Pbuh)

“One step at a time. One day at a time. One hour at a time.”

And the earth hath He appointed for His creatures
Wherein are fruit and sheathed palm trees,
Husked grain and scented herb.
Which is it of these favors of your Lord
that ye deny?
Qur’an 55:10-13

Dear Readers,

Having varied meal plans throughout the recovery is Must to Defeat the Demon of Eating Disorder.

Allah did not create any illness without also creating the remedy, except death [old age]. Allah said that he who lives according to the Qur’an will have a long life.

My First attempt at Recovery from Anorexia was in Islamabad.

My mother tried all methods in her book. We went to doctors, homeopathics, scholars, imams, everyone.  One day we went to a cave of Sufi Saint Bari Imam in Islamabad.

I met a 75 year old kind gentle lady who was beautiful at heart. Every week she boarded a bus from her village in Gujranwala to pay homage to Bari Imam. It’s not an easy journey especially for an elderly lady, but you wouldn’t believe how much energy she had. When we reached Bari Imam it was lunch time, she offered us a piece of bread made of barley flour. I simply refused. I was exhausted both physically and emotionally. She scolded me gently for refusing the food of our Prophet (pbuh).  She said she was in love with the Prophet (pbuh) and she ate what the Prophet ate. She said to my mother to begin my recovery with the foods from the Sunna of Prophet Muhammad (pbuh).

The origin of every disease is cold. So eat when you desire and refrain when you desire.

 

It began with dates, three in the morning, three in the evening and then we gradually added other foods to my list. Back in UK, I was so busy building my international career that eating took a back seat. I forgot all about fresh fruit, veggies, organic poultry, fresh water fish from the farms in Islamabad, it was like nothing existed and the only existence that was real was my eating disorder.  After spending sometime in an Eating Disorder Unit, going through relapse and making another attempt at recovery, I now dedicate two days in a week where I incorporate foods from the Sunnah of Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) into my diet. 

The Prophet Muhammad (s.a.w.s.) was once reported to have said, “There are two kinds of knowledge: knowledge of religion and knowledge of the body.” The Prophet (s.a.w.s.) frequently commented upon the nature and value of various foods and spices.

I encourage everyone to eat from the kitchen of Prophet Muhammad (pbuh),  it  has thousands of blessings and really helps you to feel good about yourself.  Trust me soon food becomes your friend and from eating meat to drinking fresh milk becomes a great source of pleasure and enjoyment. Friday is a day that I fully devote to eating these foods. The way our Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) ate is not very adequate in calories for those that are recovering from eating disorder, anorexia/bulimia.  Therefore I have added some extra foods, made from what our Prophet loved. Have a Blessed Meal.

When You Follow the Sunnah, you become truly Blessed.  A truly Inspiring story and Pearls of Wisdom of 120 Years old Man- Who Followed the Sunnatullah.

Weekly Pearls of Wisdom- 120 Years old Grandfather Councils Us

Foods Prophet Muhammad (saaw) Loved

Barley

In a hadith narrate dby Bukhari and Muslim, Prophet Muhammad SAW said:

“Al-Habbah Al-Sawda’ is the cure for every disease except death”.

Deitry based on cereals and grains are nutritious because they are high in phytonutrients. Phytonutrients are powerful antioxidants that increase the body’s defense against viruses , good for the heart, prevents diabetes and obesity

Al-Hakam Bin Uyainah said:

“Rasulullah SAW won’t sleep at night except after he has eaten Habbatus Sawda and honey. That is his practice every morning for energy, memorization and to prevent asthma”

Dates

Famously synonym with the Arabs, dates are very good for the human health. Their high fiber content and low in fat as well as many other nutrients are well loved by people for its sweet and creamy taste. Dates are considered super food because they contain carbohydrate, protein, fiber, fat and iron (which is very rare in a fruit)
Bukhari dan Muslim reported that Aisyah RA said,
“Sometimes the stove in our house doesn’t smoke for a month (they did not cook anything). All that we had were dates, water and other people gave us beef”.

Figs ﺮﻴﺠﻧﺍ

Figs are excellent for your digestive health and bones.

Grapes

Honey

Melon

Milk

Mushrooms

Meat (ﺖﺷﻮﮔ):

Prophet Muhammad (ﻪﻟﺍﻭ ﻪﻴﻠﻋ ﻪﻠﻟﺍ ﻰﻠﺻ ﻢﻠﺳﻭ) said.”Meat is the king of foods”, (sayed ut Tawam).

 

It is rich in protein, iron, zinc, selenium. Good for bones, teeth, strengthening the immune system, body tissues and many more.

Olive Oil

Pomegranate

Squash or Pumpkin (ﻭﺪﮐ)

It was Prophet Muhammad(SAW)’s favorite vegetable. It is good for Lungs, protects against birth defects. Good in asthma, colon cancer, pain, blood pressure, heart disease and much more.

Vinegar

Water

Sample Recovery Meal Plan/Menu

Day 1-3

Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) said: There is blessing in three things: in the early morning meal, in bread and in soup.

After Dawn Prayer- Early Morning

1 Tbsp Honey in Glass of Warm Water

After the dawn prayer, the prophet used to have honey juice, about a spoon of honey dissolved in pure water. This energizes your mind and body and boosts your immune system. 

Breakfast

7 Dates soaked in 200 ml Milk

Prophet Muhammd says:whoever starts his day by eating seven dates in the morning, he will be safe against poisons and magic.  The Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) used to take seven semi-dried dates soaked in milk.

Morning Snack

200 ml Milk with Fig roll or fig almond cookie

Drink 8oz water

Lunch

1 piece of Barley Bread with 1 TBSP of Olive Oil mixed with two drops of Apple Vinegar with a serving of Gourd curry or stuffed zuchini or pumpkin stew

After noon prayer, the prophet  used to take a spoon of olive oil mixed with two drop of apple vinegar with a piece of barley bread.

Mid- Afternoon Snack

I could not find any information on what Prophet Muhammad had for His Mid-Afternoon or Early-Morning Snack. But you can always have this delicious smoothie or just a serving of Fruit salad. Bon Appetite!

Pomegranate  smoothie

or just make a fruit salad with seasonal fruits and add seeded pomegranate  and grapes.

Drink 8oz water

Dinner

Tharid with Red Carrot Dill Parsley Salad.

The prophet used to take a red carrot a long with dill and Parsley.

1 serving of  Tharid Emirati Lamb Stew,

1 piece of bread

with 200 grams Red carrot Dill Parsley Salad ,

8oz water

Recipe For Tharid

Often referred to as the Prophet Muhammad’s favorite dish this delicious lamb and vegetable stew is absolutely amazing. Have it with a piece of bread or chappati/roti/naan.

Ingredients

Instructions

Dessert

Fruit Platter: Selection of Melons

After Night Prayers- Bed Time Snack

After performing the Aisha prayer, the prophet used to take yogurt if available preferring this to any other food with a piece of barley bread.

Alternative lunch/dinner ideas using Mushrooms, Meat, Squash:

Mushroom stew

Khoresht Gharch (Persian Mushroom Stew)

Mushroom Risotto

Tharid Lamb Stew with Gourd (This was served to Prophet Muhammad (pbuh))

Tharid with Talbinah (Lamb Stew poured over barley, excellent for for the sick/grieving)

Moroccan stuffed Mushrooms

Spicy Pumpkin soup

Persian Pumpkin curry with Chickpeas

Mideastern stuffed Zuchinni

Middle Eastern slow-cooked stew with lamb, chick peas and figs

Mushroom barley soup with olive bread

Summer squash with beef

Stuffed Zucchini

Breakfast Ideas

slice of date and walnut bread with 1 TBSP honey and a glass of milk.

Eating Etiquette in Islam

Allow your food to cool before eating, for in hot food there is no blessing.

When you eat, take your shoes off, for then indeed your feet have more rest.

There is blessing in the middle of a dish. So commence from the side and not from the middle.

There is blessing in three things: in the early morning meal, in bread and in soup.

Let no one drink while standing up, except one who is suffering from sciatica.

Eat your meal at dawn, for there is blessing in a meal at dawn.

For more inspiration visit:

Inspired by Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) Lifestyle, Exercise, Self-Care, Diet