Towards a healthy Ramadaan

Talbina

We usually come across this word, in the mosque during small Islamic conversations, during lectures from our Teachers or while watching videos and surfing the internet.

What is Talbina?

It's an Arabic dish prepared with barley, milk and honey in the porridge form. It was recommended by Prophet Muhammad PBUH to his companions when suffering through an illness or weakness of any kind. There are many Ahadeeth that briefly describe its importance in the life of the Holy Prophet and his companions.

Barley, Honey & Milk

• Barley is the white barley after removing the husk.
• Milk is better if its Cows milk(easier to digest), dairy milk and normal canned milk will also work
• Honey is used as a sweetener as it has medicinal properties being a natural sweetener.

Talbina is easily prepared and could be refrigerated for consumption the next day.

How to cook Talbina?

There are various methods all over the internet by which you can prepare Talbina ("although none of them is exactly the same as mentioned in Ahadeeth"- same being my case), I will share an easy method with which you can cook Talbina with ease at home, with fewer chances of the milk getting spoiled. The following being the ingredients and steps involved:

Ingredients:

1. 125 grams of white barley washed and soaked overnight in water.
2. 500 ml of boiled milk (you can dilute it by 400ml milk and 100ml of water).
3. Honey for sweetness.
4. Dry-fruits- Almonds, Pistachios, Raisins(black), Cashewnuts(not in-case of old people and those who are allergic).

Method of preparation.

1. Grind the overnight soaked barley along with the stock in a mixer grinder to form a thick paste. NOTE: do not grind it for a longer time if you wish to chew the barley(in fact it feels better that way).
2. Take a small pan or cooking vessel and pour the barley paste along with some water and cook on a low flame and keep slowly stirring with an intention to prepare porridge.
3. Now slowly add milk in small quantities to the barley and keep stirring it slowly. Please remember the entire 500ml milk has to be mixed with the barley and cooked to form porridge.
4. Cooking for 5 minutes on low flame will help to thicken off the porridge and keep the nutrition retained.
5. Once done, add honey for sweetness. The more the Honey, The Sweeter it gets. But beware and remember Jalaluddin Rumi's(R.A) precious words- "All that is more than one's requirement is poison" So Be cautious with Honey TOO.
6. Now add your favourite dry fruits so that they can blend in with the warm porridge and leave it aside for some time to cool down.
7. Serve warm at least 300-350 ml to the sick person.
   

Best time to eat: Before the two sunnah rakaat of Fajr.(I've personally not experienced this but heard it from a well-wisher).

Intention(Neeyah) before eating: Believe that this Sunnah has cures for all my ailments, say Bismillah and begin.

Health Benefits: There's a huge amount of scripted data on the web about the benefits of Talbina for various parts of the body. It is not just a revival food for the sick and weak but also a complete diet in itself. Mother Aisha(R.A) has been reported to have eaten this dish along with a few of her close friends at supper explaining them the various benefits of Talbina.

Gold for the Old: My mother is 60 approximately with fewer teeth, weak body muscles and joint pains. Her personal experience has been miraculous with Talbina, she says her fast for the 15th of Shabaan was easy, she felt healthy and comfortable the entire day(wherein old people generally feel tired, lousy and retarded. I could feel her energy levels up till Iftaar).

Happy To Help info:

Q: Can kids have Talbina?

A: Of course they can. Make sure you dilute it a little more and serve as porridge for breakfast.

Q: How's Talbina consumption in various diseases?

A: It's helpful in bowel disorders, weak muscles and bones. It helps in painful joints and Arthritis. Talbina is good for hair, skin, better eyesight, and it also increases immunity.

Q: Does it help someone with Depression?

A: It's well known for its miraculous effects on reducing depression levels. The user feels a gradual reduction in stress levels. Those who have had a prolonged weakness or a particular ailment and have used Talbina have noticed their depression vaporise within a few days of eating.

Q: Energetic feeling throughout the day?

A: You can feel the effects of Talbina the entire day insha'Allah, it helps keep up with the fresh feeling and the energy levels to an optimum.

Q: Will it work for obesity?

A: It's a high fibre diet and helps in easy metabolism and helps cut down excess calories too. When calorie requirements are met to the desired level and all vital nutrients are given to the body, no more extra munching is required hence gradually cutting down excess calorie intake and reduces fat.

Q: Any side effects?

A: None as of now. But it should be taken in an amount which is easily digestible, once a day only. Other items are equally important such as vitamins, proteins and calcium.

Q: Can I have Talbina in ramadaan?

A: It could be a better option during Suhur as it provides high energy levels and gets digested easily. It's healthy and provides comfort and both are equally important when it comes to prayers in Ramadaan.

Q: Can Talbina be included in the diet for athletes?

A: Fibrous diets with good content of other vital nutrients are a requirement for every athlete. Many begin their day with a bowl of oats, why not Talbina this time. Moreover, if you are a Muslim athlete, you take away rewards for the aakhirah along with worldly benefits.

Q: How about Talbina consumption for the pregnant?

A: It can be a very helpful source of energy and comfort during pregnancy.

All you need to care of is that you should buy the best quality, clean, husk-free barley with no fungi or pests. It helps combat issues with hormonal changes in the body and also saves you from morning sickness and various other problems. Being fibrous in nature it can help avoid serious pregnancy issues if a good amount of water is taken time and again. Remember, dates are a good source of glucose that breaks down easily giving high energy levels.

Q: What about the use of Talbina for the diabetic?

A: Avoid or reduce the honey to a minimal, and it can be really helpful to diabetic patients. It is said that PEARL BARLEY has the lowest GI (Glycemic Index) levels ever known. Food items with a low GI and high nutrition content have always been a challenge to growing nutrition based industries and those products which provide a high nutrition value with a low GI are comparatively very costly. Thanks to the beloved PROPHET MUHAMMAD PBUH that he gifted us with a miraculous gift of Talbina.

NOTE: Here are a few tips on how to make food more beneficial by a known Spiritual Scholar

• Eat with a smiling face and confide in the food that Allah has kept all the good in this for me.
• Always recite Sunnah supplications of having food prior starting.
• Always eat with good intentions like:

1. I will be healthy and pray much better.
2. I will earn more and spend in the ways of Allah SWT.
3. I will play with my kids and give more time to my old parents.
4. I will perform multiple Hajj And Umrahs etc.

Scientifically such intentions create positive vibes and thus help in better digestion and absorption of food.

• Avoid interactions with Social media platforms and television while having food.
• GIve equal importance to food and consider eating it with happiness and sharing as PRIORITY.

The Holy Prophet PBUH left us with the Holy Qur'and His SUNNAH. And now when I practised a few of his Sunnah's, one of them being Talbina although, I wish to practice a few more and follow them all someday before I'm laid beneath the Sod. Throwing up a debate or illustrating the miraculous effects of all the Sunnahs that the Holy Prophet Muhammad PBUH followed will take ages for me to complete as people globally in scientific research and development have yet not completely studied all of them. The book on the benefits of the miswak (siwak) or the raw toothbrush is itself a huge script to be read through.
Hope this helps us increase our imaan, make the duniya much better, and the hereafter more luxurious.

May those who are sick and weak get well soon, and those who are pregnant get "MUTTAQUI" offsprings. Husband's do all the good and carry out all responsibility to help their family flourish well insha'Allah and that females get enough strength to deal with all the household chores and kids.
May all the good come to the ummah, in love for Almighty Allah and in service to his beloved Prophet Muhammad SAW'S ummah. Mohsin Kazi.