﷽

In the name of Allah the Most Gracious and the Most Merciful.

Peace and Blessings of Almighty Allah(ﷻ), be upon our beloved Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ), his blessed descendants and his noble companions.

السلام عليكم ورحمةالله وبركاته○

Assalamu Alaikum Wa Rahmathullahi Wa Barakathuhu!

My Dear Lovely Sisters!

Hope my sisters were waiting know the Challenge#1 given by our Aapi.

So The Challenge#1 was to drink a glass of warm fresh milk before you sleep!

Let me know whether you love milk?
Wow its great to know that you love Milk.

Oops you dont like? What makes you not like milk? :(

Now lemme tell you Drinking milk is a sunnah and you'ill be rewarded sweeties. So now get ready to drink milk everynight before you sleep!

Ready for Challenge#1?

Did you know that our Prophet (peace be upon him) loves drinking milk?

Milk is one of his favourite beverages because, based on one hadith mentioned by Imam Tirmidhi, the Prophet said that nothing suffices as food and drink except milk.

There are many hadith related to this miraculous drink. But first, let's see what Allah have said about it in the Quran.

In Surah Al-Muminun, verse 21,
He said: 

"And verily in the cattle there is indeed a lesson for you. We give you to drink (milk) of that which is in their bellies. And there are, in them, numerous (other) benefits for you, and of them you eat." 

There you go. He (swt) directly said that milk has numerous benefits for us, which has been proven today that milk aids the development of strong bones and teeth, promotes the growth of healthy muscles, improves skin complexion and so much more. Milk is also a good source of countless vitamins and minerals, such as calcium, phosphorus, magnesium and riboflavin. 

Now let's go to the hadith related to this nutritious drink. 

Narrated by Abdullah ibn Umar, Allah's Messenger (peace be upon him) said,

"Three things should not be rejected: cushions, oil (duhn) and milk." 
Tirmidhi transmitted it, saying this is a gharib tradition. It is said that by duhn he meant perfume. 
Based on the hadith above, we can see here that our Prophet have never dissapointed anyone who offered him his favourite drink.

I do love milk as well, especially the fresh ones and the chocolate flavor. Mmm yummy! 

Now let's explore the sunnah that we can follow when drinking milk. 

Our Prophet (peace be upon him) used to recite a simple supplication after drinking milk, but of course he would recited bismillah first, as usual before drinking the milk and also before he started any daily routine. Here's the beautiful prayer. 

'Ya Allah, grant us blessings in it (the milk) and increase it for us.' 

Another sunnah is to cleanse our mouth after drinking milk.

Let's take a look at the hadith below. 
Ibn ʿʿAbbās (may Allāh be pleased with him) narrated the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) drank some milk then called for some water. Once he got the water he rinsed his mouth then said, "It has fat."

[Collected by Bukhārī 211 and Muslim 358] 

What a beautiful sunnah, isn't it? Therefore, let's implement these sunnah in our lives to show our love to the Prophet, so that our wish to meet him in Jannah will come true, InshaAllah.

I love Rasulullah. Do you?

Raw Milk.

It is the opinion of some of the pious predecessors that Milk was Rasool'Allah's most preferred drink but indeed Allah knows best.

Allah's Messenger (sallAllahu alayhi wassallam) said,

"While I was sleeping, I saw myself drinking (i.e. milk), and I was so contented that I saw the milk flowing through my nails. Then I gave (the milk) to 'Umar." They (i.e. the companions of the Prophet) asked, "What do you interpret it?" He said, "Knowledge."

Sahih Al Bukhari  : Vol. 5, Book 57, Hadith 30

Abdullah Ibn Abbas (radhi Allahu anhu) narrated that he was in the house of Maymunah.
The Messenger of Allah (sallAllahu alayhi wassallam) accompanied by Khalid ibn al-Walid (radhi Allahu anhu) entered. Two roasted long-tailed lizards (dabb) placed on the sticks were brought to him. The Messenger of Allah (sallAllahu alayhi wassallam) spat. Khalid said, "I think that you abominate it, Messenger of Allah." He said, "Yes." Then the Messenger of Allah (sallAllahu alayhi wassallam) was brought milk, and he drank (it). The Messenger of Allah (sallAllahu alayhi wassallam) then said, "When one of you eats food, he should say: O Allah, bless us in it, and give us food (or nourishment) better than it. When he is given milk to drink he should say: O Allah! bless us in it and give us more of it, for no food or drink satisfies like milk."

Abu Dawood said: "This is the Musaddad's version."

Sunan Abi Dawood Book 26, Hadith 3721. Classed as Hasan by Sh Al Albani (rahimullah).

• The importance of organic milk sourced from cattle fed on a 100% vegetarian diet.

Abdullah Ibn Abbas (radhi Allahu anhu) narrated that the Prophet (sallAllahu alayhi wassallam) prohibited to drink the milk of the animal which feeds on filth.

Sunan Abi Dawood Book 27, Hadith 3777. Classed as Sahih by Sh. Al Albani (rahimullah).

Commercial dairy cattle which produce milk for the supermarkets are injected with hormones and vaccines. Their fodder is contaminated with chemical fertilizers and pesticides and these find their way into the meat and milk which we feed to our families. Always choose organic raw milk. If raw milk is not available in your country, organic milk is better than usual milk.

Drinking Milk mixed with water is also from the Sunnah.

The authentic narrations highlight that milk mixed with water was presented to the Holy Prophet (sallAllahu alayhi wassallam) and his Companion and they both drank from it.

It was narrated that Jabir bin ‘Abdullah (radhi Allahu anhu) said: “The Messenger of Allah (sallAllahu alayhi wassallam) entered upon a man among the Ansar when he was watering his garden. The Messenger of Allah (sallAllahu alayhi wassallam) said to him:
‘If you have any water that has been kept overnight in a water skin, then give us some to drink, otherwise we will drink by putting our mouths in the basin.’

He said: ‘I have water that has been kept in a water skin. So he went and we went with him, to the shelter, where he milked a sheep for him and (mixed it with) the water that had been kept overnight in a water skin. He drank from it, then he did likewise for his Companion who was with him.”

Sunan Ibn Majah Book 30, Hadith 3558. Graded as Saheeh by the scholars at Darussalaam.

It is from the Sunnah to rinse the mouth after drinking Milk.

Healing from the Qur'an - Milk

Milk is considered a blessed drink created by the Almighty Allah. It is both a food and a drink at the same time. Regarding Milk, Allah Azzawajal says in the Holy Qur’an, 

"And indeed, for you in livestock is a lesson. We give you drink from that which is in their bellies, and for you in them are numerous benefits, and from them you eat."

[23:21]

“In cattle is a lesson for you; We give you a drink they carry in their glands, that issues from between a secreting mucus (of the pituitary gland) and blood…” 
[16:66] 

Allah the Exalted also mentions Milk as being present in Paradise;

"Is the description of Paradise, which the righteous are promised, wherein are rivers of water unaltered, rivers of milk the taste of which never changes, rivers of wine delicious to those who drink, and rivers of purified honey, in which they will have from all [kinds of] fruits and forgiveness from their Lord, like [that of] those who abide eternally in the Fire and are given to drink scalding water that will sever their intestines?"
[47:15]

Ibn Al Qayyim said that the best type of milk to drink is that which is fresh, has a bright white colour and a delicate sweetness. Milk helps alleviate depression and distress in adults and also helps to calm the spirit. 

●Rinsing the mouth after drinking Milk is from the Sunnah.

It is important to rinse the mouth with water after drinking milk as this was the Sunnah of God’s beloved Messenger (pbuh) who once commented, because “it contains fat.” - Narrated by Ibn Abbas (radhi Allahu anhu) recorded in Sahih al Bukhari in Volume 1, Book 4, Number 210

●The milk must come from an animal which is fed an organic vegetarian diet.

Nowadays, the milk sold in supermarkets in the West is from commercial dairy cattle which are pumped full of harmful vaccines and fed on a diet which contains meat by-products and fodder which is sprayed with pesticides and chemical fertilisers. There is no doubt that these toxins find their way into the animal's meat and milk.

Abdullah ibn Umar (radhi Allahu anhu) narrated that the Messenger of Allah (sallAllahu alayhi wasallam) prohibited eating the animal which feeds on filth and drinking its milk.

Sunan Abi Dawood. Book 27, Hadith 3776. Classed as Sahih by Sh Al Albani (rahimullah).

●There is no harm in mixing milk with water as per the following Hadith;

It was narrated by Sahl  ibn Sad (radhi Allahu anhu) that a drink (milk mixed with water) was brought to the Prophet (sallallahu alayhi wasallam) who drank some of it while a boy was sitting on his right and old men on his left. The Prophet said to the boy, "If you permit me, I'll give (the rest of the drink to) these old men first." The boy said, "I will not give preference to any one over me as regards my share from you, O Allah's Apostle!" The Prophet then put that container in the boy's hand. 

Sahih Al Bukhari Volume 3, Book 47, Number 774

■Milk's Benefits.

According to the Dairy Council, the benefits of drinking fresh milk include healthy bone growth due to milk’s composition of calcium, phosphorous, protein and magnesium, and the healthy growth of teeth in children. Milk along with a balanced and healthy diet helps reduce blood pressure, instances of type-2 diabetes, some forms of cancer, cardiovascular diseases and obesity. A little honey can be added to milk that has been gently warmed up and then mixed thoroughly. This sweet milk should then be chilled before drinking. It is important to note that milk sweetened with sugar rather than honey causes plumpness of the body and face.

Milk should never be drunk excessively since it can cause dimness of the sight, aching of the joints, tooth and gum troubles and intolerance to lactose. Adding honey to milk when drinking can help alleviate these symptoms. Cow’s milk is the best type of milk since it is the most balanced and cows tend to graze on a wider range of plants than other animals.

Raw Organic Milk vs Processed Milk.

Without a doubt, raw milk is better for health than the processed and pasteurized milk which we buy at the market. Raw milk contains more nutrients, natural enzymes and probiotics.

The pasteurization process destroys milk's natural enzymes which help the human body assimilate the calcium contained in milk, as well as its other nutrients which the human body needs to grow, fight disease and function well. That is partly why breast milk is far better for babies that formula and also why, by the same token, raw milk is better for everyone than processed milk. Having said this, it's important to source your raw milk from farms where the milking animals have been vaccinated for contagious diseases like TB and Brucellosis and are fed a vegetarian organic diet.

85% of those who are lactose intolorant should be able to digest raw milk without any problems and raw milk does not spoil like pasteurized milk does if it is left out of the fridge overnight and can much easily be made into homemade butter, cream, soft cheese etc.

Hope you enjoyed learning about milk benefits!

All the best for Challenge#1 :)

References - 

Organic Raw Milk (London and Home Counties) - http://www.hookandson.co.uk/index.html

http://www.milk.co.uk/page.aspx?intPageID=73

http://www.realmilk.com/health/more-about-raw-milk/

http://www.cheeseslave.com/top-ten-reasons-to-drink-raw-milk/

Jazakum Allahu Khairan.

"سُبْحَانَكَ اللْهُمَّ وَبِحَمْدِكَ، أَشْهَدُ أَنْ لَا إِلهَ إِلَّا أَنْتَ، أَسْتَغْفِرُكَ وَأَتُوبُ إِلَيْكَ"

'Glory be to You O Allah, and with Your praise, I testify that there is no God (worthy of worship) except You, I seek Your forgiveness, and I repent to You.'