Al-yaqtin, as mentioned by Imam Ibn al-Qayyim in his book, refers in the Arabic language to any plant without a trunk, such as watermelons, wild cucumbers, and others.
Allah says in His sacred book: "And We caused a gourd vine to grow over him";
Based on this verse, Imam Ibn al-Qayyim spoke of the benefits of squash. Today, squash seeds are mainly used since they are emollient, laxative, and vermifuge.
They are also effective in fighting functional prostate problems. Squash seeds are found in the form of capsules, creams, tinctures, or plain to be eaten as they are. They contain steroids and vitamin E, effective against parasitic diseases. They also contain trace elements like selenium and will help with fertility problems.
Men can take it in capsule form to help with their fertility problems, and eat the dried seed to improve prostate function. In addition, experiments have shown that squash seeds were effective in helping people affected by AIDS.
Squash in the Qur'an and the Sunnah
After the fish cast Yunus (ʿalayhi s-salām) onto the shore, sick and without strength, "We caused a plant of yaqtin to grow over him" (37:146). Commentators explain this choice: a trunkless plant that grows quickly, with broad leaves that provide shade, that flies avoid, and whose fruit can be eaten raw or cooked. The yaqtin, the professor explains based on Ibn al-Qayyim, designates in Arabic any trunkless creeping plant, and among the Arabs, squash or the gourd (dubba'). Anas reports that a tailor invited the Prophet ﷺ and served him barley bread and a broth with squash and dried meat: "I saw the Messenger of Allah ﷺ searching for the squash around the dish, and from that day I have never stopped loving squash" (al-Bukhari 5379, Muslim 2041). Aisha also reports that he told her: "When you prepare a pot, put plenty of squash in it, for it strengthens the heart of the afflicted" (reported by Ibn 'Asakir, weak chain, cited for its meaning). Ibn al-Qayyim adds that it is cold and moist, nourishing, digests quickly, suits those with fever and a hot stomach, and that "eating cooked squash is good for the brain and the heart."
The flesh and the seed: two different foods
| The flesh (the yaqtin of the Prophet ﷺ) | The seed (what the professor talks about) | |
|---|---|---|
| What it contains | 90% water, beta-carotene, potassium, gentle fiber, very few calories | Zinc, magnesium, iron, phytosterols, vitamin E, unsaturated fatty acids, protein (30%); a 2025 review describes them as a natural remedy for anemia due to their iron and zinc content (Curr Ther Res Clin Exp, 2025) |
| What for | Convalescence, fever, sensitive stomach, children, the elderly; the "soup that strengthens the heart" | Prostate, bladder, male fertility, dewormer, zinc and magnesium deficiencies |
| How | As soup, as puree, in a tagine with meat, as at the tailor's meal | Plain or lightly roasted, a handful (30 g) per day; seed oil for cold cooking; oil capsules for the prostate |
| Nature according to Ibn al-Qayyim | Cold and moist; corrects heat; eaten with a little salt or mustard if the stomach is cold | Hot and oily; "emollient, laxative, a dewormer," says the professor |
What the trials measured on the seeds
- Prostate. In men over 50 with benign prostatic hyperplasia, 360 mg of pumpkin seed oil per day reduced urinary symptoms, with results comparable to tamsulosin, the reference medication, and fewer side effects (BMC Urol, 2021). An earlier trial had shown the same thing over 12 months with pumpkin seed oil alone or combined with saw palmetto (Nutr Res Pract, 2009).
- Bladder. In 45 adults suffering from an overactive bladder, 10 g of pumpkin seed oil per day for 12 weeks reduced urgency and nighttime awakenings (J Tradit Complement Med, 2014).
- Worms. In mice infected with the dwarf tapeworm, pumpkin seeds reduced the parasite load, with effectiveness close to that of praziquantel (Acta Parasitol, 2019). This is due to cucurbitin, which paralyzes worms; the traditional use against tapeworm (crushed seeds on an empty stomach, followed by a purge) is old and consistent with this.
- Male fertility. The zinc and vitamin E in the seeds are necessary for sperm production, and animal studies show a protective effect of the oil; in humans, there is no trial specific to squash. The professor recommends the capsules: to be taken as a zinc supplement, as part of a fertility workup, not as a proven treatment.
Regarding AIDS, which the professor mentions, we found no published study: we do not endorse this claim.
Consuming the seeds, step by step
- Choose hulled, green, unsalted pumpkin seeds; oil-seed pumpkin seeds (Styrian variety) are the richest.
- A handful a day, 30 g, plain or dry-roasted for two minutes, on a salad, in yogurt, in bread; this provides the zinc and magnesium.
- For the prostate: pumpkin seed oil, 5 to 10 g per day (one to two teaspoons) or in dosed capsules, over three months, as in the trials.
- Against worms: the traditional recipe is 30 to 50 g of fresh crushed seeds with honey, on an empty stomach, three mornings in a row, followed by a gentle purge; for children, 10 to 15 g. See our remedies for intestinal worms.
- The flesh: as soup in the evening, with a little salt, as Ibn al-Qayyim advises for a cold stomach.
Contraindications and precautions
The seeds are oily: a handful, not a whole bag, especially if watching your weight; they are also a choking hazard for young children (grind them). Pumpkin seed oil should not be heated. In men, new urinary symptoms (weak stream, nighttime awakenings, urgency) should first be examined by a doctor, who must rule out prostate cancer before any remedy; pumpkin seed oil is a complement, it does not replace a medical workup or treatment. Against worms, a confirmed infestation in a child is treated with the deworming medication, simple and safe; the seeds serve as a complement or a preventive measure. Rare allergies to pumpkin seeds exist.
Frequently asked questions
What does the Qur'an say about squash?
That Allah caused a yaqtin plant to grow over Yunus, sick on the shore (37:146), to shade and nourish him. The Prophet ﷺ loved squash and would search for it in the dish (Bukhari, Muslim).
How do you say "pumpkin seed" in Arabic?
Bizr al-qar' (بذر القرع) or bizr al-yaqtin; in the Maghreb, one often says "zerri'at el-gar'a" or "lebb el-qar'a." Squash itself is called qar', yaqtin, or dubba' depending on the region.
Are pumpkin seeds good for the prostate?
Yes, this is their best-proven use: two randomized trials show that pumpkin seed oil relieves the urinary symptoms of benign prostatic hyperplasia, with results comparable to the reference medication. Best used after a medical checkup.
Do pumpkin seeds work against worms?
Their cucurbitin paralyzes flatworms, which animal studies confirm, and the traditional use is ancient: seeds crushed with honey on an empty stomach, followed by a purge. A confirmed infestation is also treated with a doctor-prescribed dewormer.
How many pumpkin seeds per day?
A handful, about 30 g, plain or roasted. That's enough for the zinc and magnesium, without excess calories. For the prostate, switch to the oil or dosed capsules.
