Allah did not send a prophet or a successor that did not...

Allah did not send a prophet or a successor that did not have the smell of quince, so eat it and feed it to your pregnant women, for it makes your children beautiful.”(19) Makarim al-Akhlaq , narrating from the Messenger of Allah (s.a.w.) who said: “Eat quince and give it to each other as a gift, for it brightens the eyesight and grows friendship in the heart, and feed it to your pregnant women, for it makes your children beautiful.” In another tradition: “It [quince] will make your children have good morals.”(20) Imam al-Sadiq (a.s.) said, while looking at a handsome boy: “The father of this boy must have eaten quince.”(21) Imam al-Sadiq (a.s.) said: “Eat endive, for it increases a man’s semen and makes a child handsome.

Its nature is hot, it is a laxative and it increases the masculinity of a child.” (22) A l-Kafi , narrating from Sharhabil ibn Muslim who said: “He (a.s.) said concerning a pregnant woman: “She should eat quince, for it will give a nicer scent to her child and a better colour.”(23) The Role of a Mother’s Food on the Newborn Imam ‘Ali (a.s.) said: “The Prophet of Allah said: “The first thing a parturient should eat is ripe dates, for Allah, the Exalted told Mary: “ Shake the trunk of the palm tree, freshly picked dates will drop upon you .”(24) Some asked: “O Messenger of Allah!

If it is not the season of fresh ripe dates, what must she do?” He said: “Then seven dates from the dates of Medina; if that is not found, then seven dates from your own cities, for Allah (s.w.t.) says: “By My honour, My glory, My greatness and the highness of My position, if a parturient was to eat ripe dates on the day she delivers her child, boy or girl, will be forbearing.”(25) Imam ‘Ali (a.s.) said: “The best of your dates is the Barni.

(26) Feed it to women while they are in their post-natal period so your children will become wise.”(27) Imam al-Sadiq (a.s.) said: “Feed Barni to your women during their post-natal period and your children will turn out forbearing.”(28) NOTES: ____________________ 1. The Qur’an, 17:64. 2. Makarim al-Akhlaq, vol. 2, p. 354, h. 2660, narrating from ‘Abdullah ibn Mas’ud. Bihar al-Anwar, vol. 77, p. 105, h. 1. 3. The Qur’an, 17:64. 4. Tafsir al-’Ayyashi, vol. 2, p. 299, h. 102. Bihar al-Anwar, vol.

104, p. 136, h. 5. 5. Tafsir al-’Ayyashi, vol. 2, p. 300, h. 108. Bihar al-Anwar, vol. 103, p. 294, h. 48. 6. al-Kafi, vol. 5, p. 124, h. 4, narrating from ‘Ubayd ibn Zurarah. 7. al-Kafi, vol. 6, p. 357, h. 3. al-Mahasin, vol. 2, p.