Drinking water in three seperate breaths

[Hafsah]

Drinking water in three seperate breaths

Muslim narrated that Anas said that the Messenger of Allah (saas) used to sip the water in three seperate breaths and would say:

"This method quenches the thirst better and is more palatable and sanitary"

This hadith indicates that the Prophet (saas) used to remove the cup away from his mouth, take a breath and then drink some more. In another Hadith, the Prophet (saas) commanded that one should not breathe in the cup, but should move the cup away from his mouth and breath away from it. This method of drinking is very beneficial for quenching the thirst and more sanitary as the Prophet (saas) has stated.

When the water enters the hot, thirsty stomach in intervals, the second sip of water will quench the thirst left by the first, and the third will quench the thirst left by the first two. Also, this method is better suited for the temperature of the stomach, so as not to siddenly invade it will cold substances. Also, when one drinks the water in one breath, it only partially quenches the thirst unlike when he drinks it in seperate sips.

The method taught by the Prophet (saas) gives better results than drinking the water in one breath, since water might dissipate the instinctive heat or weaken it, thus spoiling the tempermant of the stomach and the liver. Water might also beget many other ailments, especially for those living in warmer climates, especially during summer. Drinking in one breath is dangerous for such people because their instinctive heat is weak especially during hot weather as already stated.

The Prophet's statement - "it quenches the thirst better and is more palatable and sanitary" - is similar to what Allah has said:

"And enjoy it without fear of any harm" (4:4)

Also, when one drinks in one breath, he might choke on it because of the large amounts of liquid. However, there is no fear from choking when one takes a breath when drinking.
Further, when one takes a drink, the hot gases accumulating in his body will ascend from around the liver and the heart because of the cold water that is descending on the stomach. In this case, the water will come rushing down while the gases are ascending, causing flatulence and sometimes choking the person. One will not enjoy thedrink in this case.

Also when cold water descends suddenly on the liver, it will weaken it and cause it to decrease in its temperature. However, when one takes the drink in seperate sips, the liver will not lose its warmth and thus will not weaken. Sinilarly, when one pours water on a boiling pot, it will not decrease its temperature significantly.

At-Tirmidhi narrated that the Prophet (saas) said:

"Do not drink in one breath just as the camel does. Rather, drink twice or thrice, and mention Allah's Name before drinking and thank (Him) upon finishing"

Mentioning allah's Name before drinking and thanking Him upon finishing has a significant effect in benefiting from the drink, enjoying it while fending of its harm. Imam Ahmed said: "When the food has four qualities, it will have become perfect: When Allah's Name is mentioned before having it, When Allah is thanked after finishing it, when there are many hands to eat from it, and when it is from pure and legal sources"

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(Taken from Healing with the Medicine of the Prophet by Imam Ibn Qayyim Al-Jauziyah)
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