Nabidh al-tamr (date infusion)
A sweet infusion of dates in cool water, scented with a hint of ginger, drunk the same day. Refreshing, naturally sweet, and energizing — the lawful drink of the Muslim traveler.
A sweet infusion of dates in cool water, scented with a hint of ginger, drunk the same day. Refreshing, naturally sweet, and energizing — the lawful drink of the Muslim traveler.
The Prophet — peace be upon him — drank nabidh prepared in the evening and drunk the next day, or prepared in the morning and drunk in the evening. I recorded this hadith carefully. You put dates in a waterskin of water, let them infuse overnight, and in the morning the water is sweet and fragrant. But beware: after two days, the water ferments and becomes forbidden. I drank this nabidh throughout my travels, and it sustained me better than many dishes.
- •Ripe dates — A handful (Sweet infusion)
- •Fresh water — A vessel (Base)
- •Fresh ginger (zanjabîl) — A small piece (Aromatic (optional))
Nabidh al-tamr (date infusion)
A sweet infusion of dates in cool water, scented with a hint of ginger, drunk the same day. Refreshing, naturally sweet, and energizing — the lawful drink of the Muslim traveler.
Why this dish? Nabidh — water in which dates have been soaked — is the quintessential drink of the pious scholar. Al-Tirmidhi reports in his Jâmi' several hadiths on permissible nabidh (non-fermented, consumed before it turns). It was his daily drink both while traveling and at home in Tirmidh.
The Prophet — peace be upon him — drank nabidh prepared in the evening and drunk the next day, or prepared in the morning and drunk in the evening. I recorded this hadith carefully. You put dates in a waterskin of water, let them infuse overnight, and in the morning the water is sweet and fragrant. But beware: after two days, the water ferments and becomes forbidden. I drank this nabidh throughout my travels, and it sustained me better than many dishes.
Ingredients (period version)
- Ripe dates — A handful (Sweet infusion)
- Fresh water — A vessel (Base)
- Fresh ginger (zanjabîl) — A small piece (Aromatic (optional))
Ingredients
- Medjool dates — 6–8 (about 150 g) (Sweet infusion)
- Filtered water — 1 litre (Base)
- Fresh ginger — 1 thin slice (5 g) (Aromatic)
- Ice cubes — For serving (Coolness)
Method
- Pit the dates and cut them in half.
- Place them in a pitcher with the ginger slice. Cover with room-temperature water.
- Refrigerate for 8 to 12 hours (overnight).
- The next day, stir and lightly mash the dates with a spoon to release the pulp. Strain if desired, or leave the pieces at the bottom.
- Serve well chilled with ice cubes. Consume within the day.
How it was made : Nabidh is extensively documented in hadith literature. Al-Tirmidhi devotes an entire chapter of his Jâmi' to beverages (Kitâb al-Ashriba), detailing what is lawful and what is not. The boundary between permissible nabidh (non-fermented) and forbidden (fermented) was a major topic of jurisprudence. They used leather waterskins or earthenware vessels, never hollowed gourds or tarred wood (containers that accelerated fermentation).
The contemporary twist : Serve in a clear glass to show off the amber color, with a whole date speared on the rim of the glass.
Sources : Al-Tirmidhi, Jâmi' al-Tirmidhi, Kitâb al-Ashriba (Book of Beverages) · Ibn Sayyâr al-Warrâq, Kitâb al-Tabîkh, chapter on beverages
Al-Tirmidhi · Charactorium
