The health benefits of honey

Sweetener: Sugar can be substituted with honey in many food and
drinks. Honey contains about 69% glucose and fructose enabling it to
be used as a sweetener.
--►Energy Source: According to USDA, honey contains about 64 calories
per tablespoon. Hence honey is also used by many as a source of
energy. On the other hand, one tablespoon of sugar will g
ive you about 15 calories. Further the carbohydrates in the honey can
be easily converted into glucose by even the most sensitive stomachs.
Hence it is very easy to digest honey.
--►Weight Loss: Though honey has more calories than sugar, honey when
consumed with warm water helps in digesting the fat stored in your
body. Similarly honey and lemon juice and honey and cinnamon help in
reducing weight. Read more about benefits of honey in weight loss.
--►Improving Athletic Performance: Recent research has shown that
honey is an excellent ergogenic aid and helpsin boosting the
performance of athletes. Honey facilitates in maintaining blood sugar
levels, muscle recuperation and glycogen restoration after a workout.
--►Source of Vitamins and Minerals: Honey contains a variety of
vitamins and minerals. The type of vitamins and minerals and their
quantity depends on the type of flowers used for apiculture. Commonly,
honey contains Vitamin C, Calcium and Iron. Check for the vitamin and
mineral content in sugar from any source, you will find it to be
either nil or miniscule.
--►Antibacteria l and Antifungal Properties: Honey has anti-bacterial
and anti-fungal properties and hence it can be used as a natural
antiseptic.
--►Antioxidants : Honey containsnutraceuticals, which are effective in
removing free radicals from our body. As a result, our body immunity
is improved.
--►Skin Care with Milk and Honey: Milk and honey are often served
together as both these ingredients help in getting a smooth soothing
skin. Hence consuming milk and honey daily in the morning is a common
practice in many countries.

Amazing Power of Avocados

Calling all guac addicts: Avocados keep you thin, protect your vision,
and may even prevent cancer.
1 Eye opener
Protect your vision with a few slices of avocado at lunch or dinner.
Avocados are rich in lutein and zeaxanthin , antioxidants found in the
retina that keep eyes healthy; they also may help prevent age-related
problems, like cataracts and macular degeneration.
2 Cancer fighter
Extracts from avocados kill or stop the growth of precancerouscells
that lead to oral cancer and may have a similar effect on other
cancers, according to a recent study. Researchers credit the fruit's
unique combo ofnutrients—whi ch include folate and vitamins C and E.
3 Nutrient booster
Add avocado to salsa for a bigger health payoff. A study from The Ohio
State University found that people absorbed four-and-a-half times more
of the cancer-fighter lycopene fromthe tomatoes when avocado wasadded;
the healthy fats help you absorb more nutrients.
4 Healthier fat
Skip the mayo, and go for creamy avocado on your sandwich. It packs 4
grams of heart-healthy monounsaturated fat (which lowers cholesterol),
2grams of fiber , and 1 gram of protein per ounce, making it a
lower-fat, more-filling substitute for the white stuff.

Reconciling between the reports that Jibreel, Adam and Muhammad (blessings and peace of Allah be upon them) saw Paradise, and the hadeeth “… that which no eye has seen…”

It is well known that in Paradise there is that which no eye has seen
and no ear has heard, but wasn't Adam in Paradise? Didn't the Prophet
(blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) enter Paradise too?.
Praise be to Allaah.
Firstly:
It was narrated from Abu Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him) that
the Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) said: "Allaah
says: 'I have prepared for My righteous slaves that which no eye has
seen, no ear has heard and it has never crossed the mind of man. All
of that is reserved, besides which all that you have known is as
nothing.' Then he recited: 'No person knows what is kept hidden for
them of joy as a reward for what they used to do' [al-Sajdah 32:17 –
interpretation of the meaning]."
Narrated by al-Bukhaari (3072) and Muslim (2824) -- the report
narrated by Muslim adds: "apart from that of which Allaah has informed
you."
Secondly:
With regard to the Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him)
seeing Paradise and entering it, that is proven in many hadeeths. Imam
al-Bukhaari, in his book al-Sharee'ah, quoted some of these hadeeths
under the chapter heading Baab Dukhool al-Nabi (sall Allahu 'alayhi wa
sallam) al-Jannah (The Prophet's entering Paradise) in which he
narrated several hadeeths, including the following:
It was narrated from Anas ibn Maalik that the Prophet (blessings and
peace of Allah be upon him) said: Whilst I was walking in Paradise, I
saw a river whose banks were domes of hollow pearls." I said, "What is
this, O Jibreel?" He said: "This is al-Kawthar which your Lord has
given to you." The angel struck it with his hand and its mud or its
perfume was of the most fragrant (or pure) musk.
Narrated by al-Bukhaari (6201).
According to another report: When the Prophet (blessings and peace of
Allah be upon him)was taken up to heaven (the Mi'raaj), [he said:] I
came to a river whose banks …
According to a version narrated in Musnad Ahmad (19/66): "I entered
Paradise and saw a river whose banks were pavilions of pearls."
Thirdly:
With regard to the issue mentioned by the questioner, it may be said:
This that has been prepared in Paradise for the righteous slaves of
Allah has notbeen seen by anyone, as it states in the texts. As for
what Adam and our Prophet Muhammad (blessings and peace of Allah be
upon them) saw, it was only part of in Paradise because Paradise, "in
which there is that which no eye has seen" is not necessarily that
which no one has ever seen. Rather it may be that thereare in it
things that some eyes have seen, even though there is in it that which
is stored up and hidden, no eye has seen it and no ear has heard, and
no one can imagine it or describe it.
Perhaps the above meaning is supported by the hadeeth of al-Mugheerah
ibn Shu'bah, who said: The Messenger of Allah (blessings and peace of
Allah be upon him) said: "Moosa asked his Lord: 'Who will be the
lowest of the people of Paradise in status?' He said: 'He will be a
man who will come after I have admitted the people of Paradise to
Paradise and it will be said to him: "Enter Paradise." He will say: "O
Lord, how, when the people have taken their places and been given
their portions?" It will be said to him: "Would it please you if you
had the like ofwhat one of the kings of the world had?" He will say:
"I would be pleased, O Lord." He will say, "You will have that, andas
much again, and as much again, and as much again, and as much again."
The fifth time, he will say, "I am pleased, O Lord." He will say: "You
will havethat and ten times as much, and you will have what your heart
desires and what will delight your eyes." He will say: "I am pleased,
O Lord."' (Moosa) said: 'My Lord, who will be the highest of them in
status?' He said, 'They will be the ones whom I have chosen, and I
haveplanted their honour with My own hand. I have set a seal overit
and no eye has seen, no ear has heard, nor has it entered theheart of
man.'" He said: And the confirmation thereof is in the Book of Allaah,
may He be glorified and exalted: "No person knows what is kept hidden
for them of joy as a reward for what they used to do" [al-Sajdah
32:17].
Narrated by Muslim, 189.
It is as if those who are highest in status are those who have the
greatest share of this hiddentreasure and blessing that no eye has
seen and no mind has imagined.
And Allah knows best.

Does the squeezing in the grave apply to the Prophets (peace be upon them)?

I read a hadeeth according to which the Prophet (blessings andpeace of
Allah be upon him) said:"In the grave there is squeezing; and if
anyone were to be saved from it, Sa'd ibn Mu'aadh would have been
saved from it." Does this squeezing affect everybody, including the
Prophets, the righteous, the martyrs and the siddeeqs? Is there any
way to beprotected from it?.
Praise be to Allaah.
In the answer to question no. 131627 we spoke of the squeezing of the
grave and quoted the hadeeths that have been narrated concerning that,
and discussed some of the issuessurrounding it. Please refer to this
question.
One of the things we did not discuss there is the question that is
asked here: does the squeezing in the grave affect theProphets?
The answer to that is that there was nothing proven concerning that in
the texts of Revelation, but we have come across comments of many
scholars saying that the Prophets will be exempted from squeezing.
This opinion is based on the view those who say that the severity of
the squeezing in the grave willvary according to the individual'slevel
of sin. The Prophets are protected against major sins and are
protected against persisting in minor sins, so they will not be
affected by the squeezing or questioning in the grave.
As-Suyooti (may Allah have mercy on him) quoted a hadeeth about the
grave squeezing Yahya (peace be upon him), but this hadeeth is weak
and there is a problem with its isnaad. The well-known view is that
the Prophets will not experience this squeezing.
End quote from Sharh as-Sudoor bi Sharh Haal al-Mawta wa'l-Quboor, p. 114
Al-Mannaawi (may Allah have mercy on him) said: The reports indicate
that no one will be spared the squeezing in the grave, whether one is
righteous or otherwise, but the Prophets are exempted, as was stated
by the author – i.e., as-Suyooti – in al-Khasaa'is.
End quote from Fayd al-Qadeer, 5/434
He also said: But al-Hakeem – i.e., al-Hakeem al-Tirmidhi – made an
exception in the case of the Prophets and awliya' (close friends of
Allah) and was of the opinion that they will not be squeezed or
questioned.
My opinion is that the exemptionin the case of the Prophets is
obvious. With regard to the awliya' it cannot be true. Have you not
seen the high status of Sad ibn Mu'aadh, and he was squeezed
nevertheless?
End quote from Fayd al-Qadeer, 5/398
Shaykh Ahmad an-Nafraawi al-Maaliki (may Allah have mercy on him)
said: With regard to the Prophets, some of them said: it isnot known
that the Prophets will be squeezed or questioned in their graves
because they are protected from sin.
End quote from al-Fawaakih al-Dawaani, 2/688
Sulaymaan al-Bujayrimi ash-Shaafa'i (may Allah have mercy on him)
said: With regard to the squeezing of the grave, it applies to
everyone who dies even if he is not accountable andno one is saved
from it except the Prophets and Faatimah bint Asad.
End quote from Tuhfat al-Habeeb'ala Sharh al-Khateeb, 2/586
There is no proof for the exemption of Faatimah bint Qaysin the
Sunnah; rather the suggestion that she is exempted is based on a
fabricated or very weak hadeeth that was quoted by Ibn Shabbah in his
book Tareekh al-Madinah, 1/124. The isnaad of the hadeeth includes
some unknown narrators, amongwhom is 'Abdullah ibn Ja'far ibn
al-Miswar ibn Makhramah, of whom Ibn Hibbaan (may Allah have mercy on
him) said: He made a lot of mistakes in narration and he even narrated
from trustworthy narrators things that do not resemble proven
hadeeths. Therefore he deserves to be rejected.
End quote from al-Majrooheen, 2/27
Shaykh 'Abd al-'Azeez al-Raajihi (may Allah preserve him) said: With
regard to the Prophets, we do not know whether they are squeezed in
their graves.
End quote from Sharh al-'Aqeedah at-Tahhaawiyyah, p. 307
So it seems that the squeezing of the grave includes the martyrs,
righteous and awliya', but it doesnot include the Prophets.
And Allah knows best.