Rice is a very effective food for the body, particularly for digestion. Ibn al-Qayyim says in his book that two false and fabricated hadiths have been reported:
The first: "if it were a man, it would have been merciful"
The second: "everything that comes out of the earth contains a disease and a cure, except rice, which is a cure with no disease at all." Here these hadiths were mentioned as a warning about the fact that they were attributed to the Prophet ﷺ.
Nevertheless, the Imam cites the benefits of rice. He says that rice is hot and dry, and consequently causes constipation.
There are many kinds of rice: whole grain rice, also called brown rice, white rice, black rice, basmati rice, and red rice, and each of them has its own particular benefits. Rice provides a kind of satiety; it is hot and dry, since it contains fiber, which regulates the digestive system, and vitamins B1, B2, and B5, which are good for the nervous system.
It also contains minerals, potassium, iron, phosphorus, and magnesium. Ibn al-Qayyim says that it is the most nourishing of grains after wheat, and the one that produces the most praiseworthy temperament.
Rice can be used in different ways: rice milk improves digestion and growth, rice water is an ally for the skin because of the acids and vitamins it contains. In addition, rice causes slight constipation, strengthens the stomach, tans it, and stays in it. Taken with carrot, rice is effective against diarrhea. Physicians in India claim it is the most praiseworthy and useful of foods. Cooked with cow's milk, it will have benefits for fertility. Moreover, it increases the quantity of sperm, the abundance of nutrition, and the purification of the complexion.
Composed largely of starch, rice allows for better absorption of nutrients.
