Ramadan 5: Nutritious Drink from Sunnah

Nabeez’[Nabidh] was one of the drinks consumed by the Prophet (sallallahu alayhi wasallam). In his time, it was typically made with dates or raisins and water.

It is an alkalizing tonic, having the tendency to remove acidity from the stomach and digestive system and it also helps to remove other metabolic wastes from the body. It improves digestion as it’s high in soluble fibre and it strengthens the memory. It assists the spleen function, liver, throat, chest and prostate, and so is particularly good for men. Nabeez will also benefit patients of Arthritis and elevated levels of Uric Acid (gout).

Making Nabeez is just as simple as soaking the dates (or raisins/ sultanas) overnight and drinking the water in which they were soaked in the morning insha’Allah, but when it is embraced and honoured as one of the great Sunnahs of prophet (sallallahu alayhi wasallam), it pulls down Shifa, blessings and mercy from the treasures of Allah subhanahu wa ta’ala

The idea behind soaking dates or raisins in water is so that they sweeten the water and become softened. Softened dates/raisins release their vitamins and minerals more easily and are easier to digest.

‘Ajwa‘ are the best variety to use if making Nabeez with stoneless dates and ‘Manaqqa‘ is the best variety of raisins for making it with raisins, but black raisins can also be used, those colours were not Created without reason, so it is always preferable to keep changing our diets with new colours and and trying new varieties.

After Isha prayer, soak around 100 grams of dates or raisins in 1 litre of drinkable / healthy water and keep the utensil covered with a plate. Ensure the water is kept cool.

Next morning after Fajr, you can drink the water and eat the soaked fruit as was the traditional method, or just use your blender (water + soaked fruit) to obtain a beautiful cloudy Nabeez. This is the method I have used for the smoothie recipe below.

And if you soak the fruit in morning, drink it in the evening. Nabeez should be consumed within 12 hours of soaking time, but if it is kept air tight inside the refrigerator, it will not spoil for 2-3 days insha’Allah. Serve cold Nabeez to your guests instead of tea, coffee, juices and sodas, and explain to them the beauty of the Sunnah of our beloved Mesenger (sall Allaahu alayhi wa sallam) and the superb health benefits.

Nabeez must never be left for more than 2-3 days, otherwise it may start to ferment, which is the start of the alcohol brewing process. This is haram and forbidden to consume.

Never mix raisins and dates together; their Nabeez should be made separately.

Regarding making it at night and drinking it in the morning’Abdullah (radhi Allahu anhu) said that”I heard Sufyan being asked about Nabidh. He said:’Make Nabidh at night and drink it in the morning.’”

Classed as Sahih from Sunan an Nas’ai Vol. 6, Book 51, Hadith 5745

sunnah summer drink – Alhamdulillahi bi nimati