Conception

Recommended Foods

The food one eats not only has a great impact on the physical aspect of a person, but on the soul and psyche as well. Therefore, it is strongly recommended that parents-to-be stay away from forbidden food, and even those that food which is doubtful. 78 Additionally, some foods have also been specifically recommended by the Ima-ms for a beautiful and righteous child.

Before the conception of Hadrat Fa-tima (as), the Prophet (s) by the command of Alla-h (swt) stayed away from Hadrat Khadi-ja for 40 days. During these 40 days, he performed acts of worship and fasted, and his ifta-r consisted of food that had been brought from the heaven.

It is recommended to eat the following foods before trying to conceive:

1. Chichory  79

a. It has been recommended that the father should eat chicory. 80

2. Pomegranate

a. It is narrated from the Prophet (s): “Eating pomegranate is a cause of increased sperm production for men and makes the child beautiful and healthy as well.” 81

b. It is narrated from Ima-m al-Rida- (as): “Eating sweet pomegranate makes a man powerful in the sexual act and greatly affects the beauty of the child.” 82

3. Qawoot

a. Qawoot is a powder made by grinding and sifting the following ingredients in relative quantities: Roasted wheat, Roasted Barley, Roasted Sun-flower seeds, Roasted Water melon seeds, Roasted Melon seeds, Roasted Roasted Deep Ribbed melon seeds, Roasted Purslane seeds, Roasted Coriandor, Roasted Hemp-seeds, Roasted Fennel seeds, Roasted poppy seeds, Roasted Peas, Sesame, Pistachio, Coffee, Cardamon, Cinamon, Almond, Sugar.

As this mixture is not readily available in most countries, it is suggested that the above contents are eaten on their own, e.g. pistachios and almonds.

b. It has been recommended that both the father and mother should eat qawoot:

It is narrated that a man told Ima-m as-Sa-diq (as): “O son of the Messenger of Alla-h (swt), a son has just been born who is weak and simple-minded.” Ima-m replied: “Why didn’t you eat qawoot? Eat that and recommend your family to do so too. Surely, qawoot makes flesh grow and makes the bones firm, and a son will not be born from you except that he is strong.” 83

c. It is narrated from Ima-m as-Sa-diq (as): “Eating qawoot with olive oil and meat fattens a person, makes bones firm, makes the body bright and with Nu-r (Noble light) and increases the sexual power.” 84

4. Quince

a. It is narrated that Ima-m as-Sa-diq (as) saw a beautiful child and said, “It is very likely that the father of this child ate the fruit quince on the night of conception.” 85

b. It is also narrated from him that: “Eating (quince on the night of conception) makes the face (of the foetus) beautiful and good, and the heart strong and firm.” 86

c. Another tradition from Ima-m as-Sa-diq (as) narrates “Anyone who eats quince on an empty stomach, the source of his seed production (sperm) becomes pure and healthy, and his child will be beautiful and decent.” 87

d. It is narrated that the Prophet (s) cut his quince into pieces and gave one to Ja’far ibn Abi- Ta-lib and told him: “Eat! This quince gives colour lustre and makes the child good.” 88

Notes:

78 Su-rat al-Baqarah, Verse 168: “O mankind! Eat of what is lawful and pure in the earth.”

79 Also called succory, this is a perennial herb of which its dried, ground and roasted roots are used as an adulterant of or substitute for coffee.

80 Biha-r al-Anwa-r, vol. 62, pg. 215

81 Wasa-il ash-Shi-‘a, vol. 25, pg. 104, no. 31499

82 al-Ka-fi-, vol. 5, pg. 355

83 Biha-r al-Anwa-r, vol. 66, pg. 278

84 Ibid., vol. 104, pg. 80

85 Maka-rim al-Akhla-q, pg. 88

86 Barga-’i-, pg. 549

87 Biha-r al-Anwa-r, vol. 81, pg. 101

88 Wasa-il ash-Shi-‘a, vol. 25, pg. 165, no. 31538

Adapted from the book: "From Marriage to Parenthood; The Heavenly Path" by: "Abbas and Shahin Merali"