How To Make Nabeez (Nabīdh)- A Prophetic Drink for Ramadan and Beyond

Nabeez or Nabidh was a drink that was consumed by our beloved Prophet Muhammad (Peace & Blessings Upon Him) and has a number of health benefits as well as the added benefit of following the sunnah. There are references to many ahadith that reference how Nabeez was the Prophet’s favorite drink and instructions for how to consume it. 

Nabeez- A Prophetic Drink

Before we dive into the benefits of this amazing drink, I think it’s important to talk about what it actually is. Nabeez is a Prophetic drink, recommended by Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) and popularly consumed in the Arabian peninsula. 

It can be made with either pitted dates or raisins soaked in water for a few hours or overnight. It’s important to note that the dates and raisins should not be combined in the same drink. You can make it either with dates and water or raisins and water. 

One important fact to note about Nabeez is that it should be consumed within 2-3 days and not left to sit longer than that. The reason behind consuming this Prophetic drink in that time frame is that after that time, it starts to ferment and begins the process of turning into alcohol. 

While you can drink Nabeez anytime, it is especially delicious as a drink accompanying suhoor or Iftar in the holy month of Ramadan. 

Benefits of Nabeez

Nabeez is a Prophetic drink that has alkalinizing properties. There is a tremendous amount of research that is being done on alkaline drinks and foods and their benefits. Research published in Alternative Therapies in Health & Medicine showed that there is supporting evidence that consuming alkaline-forming foods can result in “improvement in bone mineral density (BMD) and muscle mass, protection from chronic illnesses, reduced tumor-cell invasion and metastasis, and effective excretion of toxins from the body.”*

* (Alternative Therapies in Health & Medicine . 2016 Supplement1, Vol. 22, p24-33. 10p. 2 Diagrams, 2 Charts, Mousa)

Even more importantly, there have been many benefits of alkaline water shown in research including lower incidences of coronary heart disease, CVD, cancer, osteoporosis, and acidity. 

Due to its high soluble fiber content, Nabeez can also enhance digestion as well as promote the elimination of metabolic wastes from our system. 

If you’re making Nabeez with dates, you’re also getting a lot of added health benefits from dates such as disease-fighting antioxidants, bone health improvement, blood sugar control, and promotion of brain health. 

The best part of consuming Nabeez, however, is that in drinking this Prophetic drink, we are following the sunnah of our beloved Prophet Muhammad (PBUH).  

References to Nabeez in Prophetic Traditions

There are a number of hadiths where the Prophetic drink Nabeez has been mentioned. 

In one Hadith, Jabir ibn Abdullah (RA) narrates: We were with the Prophet (s). He asked for something to drink. One of the companions asked: O Prophet of Allah, shall we not give you nabeez to drink? The Prophet (s) said yes, why not! This companion left quickly and came back with a cup of nabeez. The Prophet (s) said, why didn’t you cover the cup even though it may have been with a stick. Thereafter he drank from it.” Sahih Muslim

In another hadith, Ibn Abbas narrated that Nabeez was prepared for Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) in his waterskin. Shu’ba said: It was the night of Monday. He drank it on Monday and on Tuesday up to the afternoon, and If anything was left out of it he gave it to his servant or poured it out.” Sahih Muslim

How To Make Nabeez

The recipe to make the Prophetic drink Nabeez is super simple. All you need are 3-5 pitted dates (Ajwa dates are preferred since they were the Prophet’s favorite) OR a handful of raisins, 8-12 oz of water, and a jug to make it in. Optionally, you can also add a pinch of pink salt for its electrolyte benefits and a splash of zam zam for its spiritual benefits.

Soak the dates in the water for 12 hours at room temperature or refrigerate until Suhoor or Iftar. You can leave the dates in once you’ve drank the water and refill the jug for a second round. Alternatively, you can remove the dates/raisins and use them to make a healthy smoothie for even more benefit. 

Have you and your family ever tried Nabeez and what variations do you make to this basic recipe? Leave a comment below because I’d love to hear how different people partake in this beneficial drink.