The Vinegar and Oil

“I would break my fast with abu ‘ Abd Allah, and abu al-Hassan al-Awwal, ‘Alayhim al-Salam, in the month of Ramadan. First they would bring a bowl of Tharid (bread made in pieces in broth) with vinegar and oil, and at first he (the Imam) would take three morsels, then afterward a big bowl would come.”’

“I once visited abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), and when I spoke to him he (the Imam) asked, ‘Why do I hear your voice as weak?’ I replied, ‘Because my mouth has fallen (perhaps a tooth).’ As if it seemed to grieve him (the Imam); and then he asked, ‘What do you eat?’ I replied, ‘I eat whatever is at home.’ He (the Imam) said, ‘You must eat Tharid (bread made in pieces in broth) because there is blessing in it and if it does not have meat then vinegar and oil are fine.’”

“I once heard abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), saying, ‘’Amir al-Mu’minin was very similar to the Messenger of Allah in eating. He would eat bread with vinegar and oil and feed people bread and meat.’”

“I once had dinner with abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), after Salat (prayer) of al-‘Isha’. He (the Imam) would take dinner after Salat (prayer) of al-‘Isha’. Vinegar, oil and cold meat were brought. He began to pull pieces of meat and give them to me but himself eat vinegar and oil and left the meat. He (the Imam) said, ‘This is our food and the food of the prophets ‘Alayhim al-Salam.’”

“I once ate with abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), and he (the Imam) said, ‘O Jariyah (female servant), bring for us our popular food.’ She then brought a bowl with vinegar and oil in it and we ate.’”

“Abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), has said, ‘The best of dishes to the Messenger of Allah was vinegar and oil and he would say it was the food of the Prophets ‘Alayhim al-Salam.’”

“’Amir al-Mu’minin has said, ‘A family that uses vinegar and oil as their sauce, never becomes needy; it is the sauce of the Prophets, ‘Alayhim al-Salam.’”

“I once asked abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), about food. He (the Imam) said, ‘You must use vinegar and oil for food; it is palatable and Ali (a.s.), ate it very often. I eat it very often and it is palatable.’”

“I once heard abu ‘Abd Allah (a.s.), saying, ‘’Amir al-Mu’minin, would eat vinegar with oil and keep his expenses under the carpet.’”