Why eat vegetables?

The following is abstracted from"Malfuzat e Attarriyya" (Utterances of
Mohammed Ilyas Attar Qadri).
Someone asked the sheikh: Vegetables are usually a part of your diet.
What is the wisdombehind it?
Sheikh replied: Praise beto Allah, vegetables havecure for several
ailments [diseases]. Sayiduna Jabir bin Abdullah (may Allah be pleased
with them) has narrated that vinegar is the best gravy [curry], and
Prophet (Sallallaho Alihi Wassallam), use to like vegetables. It is
narratedin "Kanzul Ubaad" that the angles visit the tablecloth which
has vegetables on it.
Prophet of Allah (Sallallaho Alihi Wassallam) loved gourd [squash]. In
a narration by "Abu Naeem" Prophetof Allah (Sallallaho Alihi
Wassallam) said "Oh people! Eat plenty of squash because it
strengthens the brain. Inanother narration, Prophet (Sallallaho Alihi
Wassallam) said, "Oh Ayesha! Whenever you cook add few pieces of
squash because it strengthens the depressed heart". One should make a
habit of putting a few pieces of squash while cooking the meat so that
one gets the reward of following a sunnah and also get other benefits
narrated above. Sayiduna Zahbbi (may Allah's mercy be upon him)
narrates in "Tibb e Nabwi" [Medicine of the Prophet Sallallaho Alihi
Wassallam] eating squash increases the brain [capabilities]. Prophet
(Sallallaho Alihi Wassallam) said that squash cleans the chest and
strengthens the heart.
It is narrated in Bukhari& Muslim etc. that Sayiduna Anus (may Allah
be pleased with him) narrates that, one tailor invited the Prophet
(Sallallaho Alihi Wassallam) and presented barley bread and stew with
squash and dried meat. I saw Prophet Sallallaho Alihi Wassallam
finding piecesof squash from the bowl [serving dish] and eatingit.
After that day I loved [to eat] squash!.
Someone asked the sheikh: Olives are often seen on your tablecloth and
you prevent us fromthrowing its seed! What is the reason behind it?
Sheikh replied: I eat olives as a 'tabaruk' [blessing]. (Narrating
thebenefits of olives he said,) olive tree is a blessed tree. It is
said in the Holy Quran: (AlNoor 24:35) "from the blessed olive tree."
It is in"Tafseer e Sawwi" 70 Prophets Allhimus Salam made benediction
[dua']for its blessing including Prophet Abraham Allihis Salam and
above all, the Master of Prophets, Our Prophet Sallallaho Alihi
Wassallam.
I do not throw the seed away out of respect and to respect the olive
seed is by the guidance of theconscious. (He further narrated) After
the stormof Noah Allihis Salam, the first tree that grew was that of
an olive. Andfirst time the Olive tree grew [in this world] was on the
Mount of Turr where Prophet Moses, Allihis Salam talked with Allah
Almighty.
The life of an olive tree is very long some scholars say it lives for
3,000 years. It is narrated in "Khazayin ul Irfan" [tafseer of Quran]
that its leaves do not shed. Its oil is called"Zi'et", and any oil in
thisworld does not match the qualities of the olive oil. (He further
said) it is in a narration from "AbuNaeem" The master of medicine, the
doctor of doctors, Allah's Prophet Sallallaho Alihi Wassallam said,
eat olives and use its oil for it has cure for 70 diseases and one of
them is leprosy. Eating 25 grams of olive oil daily will cure old
[chronic] constipation. Olive pickles increase appetite and relieve
constipation.
Someone asked the sheikh: It is often seen that you drink water before
your meals, any wisdom behind it?
Sheikh replied: I have read a quote of Sayiduna Luqman, may Allah be
pleased with him, that to drink water before a meal is health, during
a meal is medicine and after a meal is burden. Allah and Allah's
Prophet Sallallaho Alihi Wassallam know (he further said) Physicians
also agree. According to medicine it is beneficial to drink water
before eating fruits. By principle fruits should beeaten before the
meal but today fruits are generally eaten after themeal. It is also
beneficial to drink water before tea [or coffee].