Benefits of Drinking Water
Water in the Qu'ran
"And Allah has sent down the water from the sky and therewith gives life to the earth after its death" (16:65)
"We made from water every living thing. Will they not believe?" (21:30)
"And Allah has created every animal of water" (24:45)
"We made from water every living thing. Will they not believe?" (21:30)
"And Allah has created every animal of water" (24:45)
Water and our body
Water is of major importance to all living things; in some organisms, up to 90% of their body weight comes from water. Up to 60% of the human body is water, the brain is composed of 70% water, and the lungs are nearly 90% water. Lean muscle tissue contains about 75% water by weight, as is the brain; body fat contains 10% water and bone has 22% water. About 83% of our blood is water, which helps digest our food, transport waste, and control body temperature. Each day humans must replace 2.4 litres of water, some through drinking and the rest taken by the body from the foods eaten.
|
Benefits taken from Natural Healing with the Medicine of the Prophet
(From The Book of Provisions of the Hereafter by Imam Ibn Qayyim Al-Jawziyya, 1292-1350 C.E.)
Page 182 As for the health benefits of drinking cold water, it cools the body, helps maintain its natural level of moisture, regulates body temperature, helps dissolve substances and is critical in the process of digestion. Water also provides the body with needed oxygen and minerals, reduces possible stone formation, and plays a major role in virtually every function of the body.
Page 338-339 Water is the element of life, the master of drinks, and one of the main supporting pillars of the universe, and perhaps, water may be considered the bedrock of existence. The heavens were created of its vapour, and the earth is made of the solidification of its swelling foam, and the Almighty Allah made water the source of life for everything.
Water is cold and humid. It abates excess heat, preserves the body's natural level of humidity, helps the body replace otherwise absorbed or decomposed substances, thins dissolves food, and hence allows its benefits into the veins.
Page 182 As for the health benefits of drinking cold water, it cools the body, helps maintain its natural level of moisture, regulates body temperature, helps dissolve substances and is critical in the process of digestion. Water also provides the body with needed oxygen and minerals, reduces possible stone formation, and plays a major role in virtually every function of the body.
Page 338-339 Water is the element of life, the master of drinks, and one of the main supporting pillars of the universe, and perhaps, water may be considered the bedrock of existence. The heavens were created of its vapour, and the earth is made of the solidification of its swelling foam, and the Almighty Allah made water the source of life for everything.
Water is cold and humid. It abates excess heat, preserves the body's natural level of humidity, helps the body replace otherwise absorbed or decomposed substances, thins dissolves food, and hence allows its benefits into the veins.
Benefits of drinking water
Drinking Water according to the Sunnah of the Prophet SAW
This is how our beloved Prophet (SAW) used to drink water.
1) Drink water with Right Hand. Umar (RA) reported that the Prophet (SAW) said "When one of you eats, then let him eat with his right hand, and of he drinks, let him drink with his right hand ... " (Muslim)
2) Drink water by sitting. See later section for details about the benefits and evidence for drinking while sitting.
3) Start Drinking water with Saying “Bismillaah”. Al-Qayyim pointed out that applying this Sunnah is both good for the body and soul. It was reported by Amr Ibn Salamah (RA) that the Messenger (SAW) said "O young boy, if you are about the eat, then say 'Bismillah.' (At-Tabarani)
4) See the Water before Drinking. To make sure there is nothing harmful or unpleasant in the water
5) Drinking Water in 3 steps. Anas bin Maalik (RA) relates that the Prophet SAW drank water in 3 breaths and used to say: "It is more pleasing and satisfying in this manner". (Muslim). The Ulama have stated harmful effects of drinking in one gulp - it weakens muscles and nerves - it is detrimental to the liver and stomach. Ibn Abbas (RA) says: "Whenever the Prophet (SAW) drank water, he drank in 2 breaths". This means that naturally it will be drunk in 3 steps instead of 1.
6) After drinking say “Alhamdulillaah” There are many different reports of the praise of the Prophet SAW after eating or drinking.
Wisdom behind drinking water sitting
It is permissible to drink both sitting and standing, although drinking whilst sitting is better, and it is what the Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) did most often.
Ibn al-Qayyim (may Allah have mercy on him) said, explaining the negative effect of drinking whilst standing and the importance of drinking whilst sitting:
Drinking whilst standing has numerous negative effects, one of which is that it does not fully quench the thirst and does not settle in the stomach so that the liver can distribute the nutrients to other parts of the body. Rather it comes to the stomach with speed and force, and there is the fear that it will cause a chill or disturbance, and may pass quickly to the lower parts of the body without moving gradually. All of that is harmful to the drinker, but if he does it occasionally or in the case of need, it will not harm him... End quote from Zaad al-Ma‘aad, 4/229. (Taken from Islam-qa.com website)
Reconciling the different Hadeeths regarding sitting and standing to drink.
Muslim (2024, 2025) narrated from Anas and Abu Sa’eed al-Khudri (may Allaah be pleased with him) that the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) forbade drinking whilst standing.
Al-Bukhari (5615) narrated from ‘Ali (may Allah be pleased with him) that he drank whilst standing then he said: Some people say it is makrooh for one of you to drink whilst standing, but I saw the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) doing what you have seen me do.
The scholars reconciled these hadeeth by stating that the forbidding mentioned here does not mean that it is haram, rather it is to be understood as advice, and that it is better to drink whilst sitting.
This is how our beloved Prophet (SAW) used to drink water.
1) Drink water with Right Hand. Umar (RA) reported that the Prophet (SAW) said "When one of you eats, then let him eat with his right hand, and of he drinks, let him drink with his right hand ... " (Muslim)
2) Drink water by sitting. See later section for details about the benefits and evidence for drinking while sitting.
3) Start Drinking water with Saying “Bismillaah”. Al-Qayyim pointed out that applying this Sunnah is both good for the body and soul. It was reported by Amr Ibn Salamah (RA) that the Messenger (SAW) said "O young boy, if you are about the eat, then say 'Bismillah.' (At-Tabarani)
4) See the Water before Drinking. To make sure there is nothing harmful or unpleasant in the water
5) Drinking Water in 3 steps. Anas bin Maalik (RA) relates that the Prophet SAW drank water in 3 breaths and used to say: "It is more pleasing and satisfying in this manner". (Muslim). The Ulama have stated harmful effects of drinking in one gulp - it weakens muscles and nerves - it is detrimental to the liver and stomach. Ibn Abbas (RA) says: "Whenever the Prophet (SAW) drank water, he drank in 2 breaths". This means that naturally it will be drunk in 3 steps instead of 1.
6) After drinking say “Alhamdulillaah” There are many different reports of the praise of the Prophet SAW after eating or drinking.
Wisdom behind drinking water sitting
It is permissible to drink both sitting and standing, although drinking whilst sitting is better, and it is what the Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) did most often.
Ibn al-Qayyim (may Allah have mercy on him) said, explaining the negative effect of drinking whilst standing and the importance of drinking whilst sitting:
Drinking whilst standing has numerous negative effects, one of which is that it does not fully quench the thirst and does not settle in the stomach so that the liver can distribute the nutrients to other parts of the body. Rather it comes to the stomach with speed and force, and there is the fear that it will cause a chill or disturbance, and may pass quickly to the lower parts of the body without moving gradually. All of that is harmful to the drinker, but if he does it occasionally or in the case of need, it will not harm him... End quote from Zaad al-Ma‘aad, 4/229. (Taken from Islam-qa.com website)
Reconciling the different Hadeeths regarding sitting and standing to drink.
Muslim (2024, 2025) narrated from Anas and Abu Sa’eed al-Khudri (may Allaah be pleased with him) that the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) forbade drinking whilst standing.
Al-Bukhari (5615) narrated from ‘Ali (may Allah be pleased with him) that he drank whilst standing then he said: Some people say it is makrooh for one of you to drink whilst standing, but I saw the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) doing what you have seen me do.
The scholars reconciled these hadeeth by stating that the forbidding mentioned here does not mean that it is haram, rather it is to be understood as advice, and that it is better to drink whilst sitting.