The Endives

“Abu ‘ Abd Allah (a.s.), has said, ’If one goes to sleep with seven leaves of endives in his belly he will remain safe from colic (colitis) pain that night by the will of Allah.’”

“Abu ’Abd Allah (a.s.), has said, ’If one likes to increase his seed and children he should eat endives very often.’”

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said, ’If one likes to increase his seed and children he should eat endives very often.’”

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said, ‘The endive is a very good herb. On every one of its leaves there is a drop of paradise, so you should eat it and do not shake it off when eating.’ He (the Imam) has said, ’My father (a.s.), prohibited us from shaking off when we were eating it.’”

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said, ‘The endive is the master of herbs.’”

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), once said, ‘You must eat endives because it increases one’s seed and forms children well. It is hot, soft and increases male children.’”

“I once had lunch with abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), and on the table-spread there were herbs and with us: there was an old man who avoided endive. Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), said, ‘You think that endive is of cold nature, in fact, it is not the way you think it is. It is balanced and its excellence over other herbs is like our excellence over other people.’”*

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said that ’Amir al-Mu’minin has said, ‘You should eat endives. Every morning one drop descends on it from paradise and when you eat it do not shake it off.’ Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said, ‘My father (a.s.), prohibited us from shaking off when we ate endives.’”

“I once heard al-Rida’ (a.s.), saying, ‘The endive is cure for a thousand illnesses. There is no illness in the belly of the sons of Adam that endives cannot dispel.’ He (the narrator) has said, ‘One day he asked for it because one of the servants suffered from fever and headache. He ordered to make it thin, spread it on a piece of paper then a certain amount of viola oil was poured on it and placed on his forehead. He (the Imam) then said, ‘This removes fever and is beneficial in headaches and to dispel it off.’”

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said, ‘The endive is the herb of the Messenger of Allah, O Allah, grant compensation to Muhammad and his family worthy of their services to Your cause. The herb of ’Amir al-Mu’minin (a.s.), is al-Badharuj (sweet basil) and the herb of Fatimah, ‘Alayha al-Salam, is al -Farfakh (purslane).