From Quranic Foods to Medical Applications

Abstract

The Holy Quran, the divine scripture of Muslims, is founded upon the principle of monotheism and the oneness of God; yet, interspersed within its verses are precise—and sometimes general—references to the created world and natural phenomena, including various foods and nutritional items. This research aims to conduct a comparative study of the foods mentioned in the Holy Quran from two perspectives: first, their nutritional and therapeutic properties; and second, their potential harms and adverse effects. The study employs a descriptive-analytical approach based on library research. Initially, verses related to foods in the Holy Quran were identified and categorized; subsequently, medical sources were consulted to extract information regarding their benefits and harms. The properties and adverse effects of each foodstuff were then examined and compared in light of the latest research findings in the fields of nutrition and medicine. Given the breadth of the subject and the constraints of the article's length, a single representative verse was selected for each food item, while other relevant verses were also noted. The results indicate that many Quranic foods possess significant nutritional and therapeutic properties that align with, or can be explained by, modern scientific evidence. Conversely, certain items require caution and consideration regarding potential adverse effects. The link between Quranic foods and modern medical evidence highlights the interdisciplinary potential of this field for further research as well as for clinical and nutritional applications.