Eggs are an important source of protein, and they are also rich in amino acids, minerals, and vitamins, notably vitamin B2.
Ibn al-Qayyim says in his book that al-Bayhaqi mentions in "Shu'ab al-Iman" an account stating that a prophet ﷺ complained to Allah of weakness, and He recommended that he eat eggs. The egg is also an appetite suppressant. The best is fresh, straight from the farm, since it is richer. Furthermore, fresh eggs are preferable, as are those from hens among all birds (except for a few others that are just as effective). As for its temperament, the egg is balanced, leaning slightly toward coldness.
Ibn Sina said that its yolk is hot and moist, and it is effective for men suffering from low sperm count, generating praiseworthy blood, especially when taken with olive oil or cumin. Moreover, it lubricates the throat and trachea, especially when consumed with chili pepper. As a source of minerals, it is also good for the linings of the lungs. It is a food that clears acridity from the throat. The white is used as an eye ointment, as it is rich in lutein, an antioxidant very effective for eyesight. Applied to a fire burn, it will prevent the appearance of blisters.
Many cosmetic products are also made from egg, notably shampoos and creams.
Applied to the forehead with "Louban" (frankincense), it is effective for bronchitis.
The author of "al-Qanun" mentions it among the remedies for the heart. Indeed, egg yolk turns into blood quickly, has few excesses, and the blood it generates is similar to the blood that nourishes the heart, being light and quickly driven toward it.
Furthermore, the egg is good for the breastfeeding woman and the pregnant woman. It acts on the nervous system and repairs damaged tissue, due to its content of B vitamins and zinc.
What the story is worth, and what tradition says about it
Ibn al-Qayyim reports, on the authority of al-Bayhaqi in Shu'ab al-Iman, that a prophet complained to Allah of weakness and He advised him to eat eggs. The chain is weak, and the prophet is not named: it is cited as a saying of the ancients on the nourishing value of the egg, not as a hadith, and certainly not as a saying of the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ. Those searching for "hadith about hard-boiled eggs" will find nothing authentic: the egg is neither praised nor discouraged by the Sunnah; it is simply a lawful food, one that Muslim physicians described. Ibn Sina, cited by the professor, holds the yolk to be hot and moist, nourishing, good for the blood and the seed; Ibn al-Qayyim prefers it fresh, from a hen, soft-boiled or medium-boiled rather than hard-boiled, and prescribes the white as an eye wash and for burns. The best egg, they say, is "the fresh one from the farm": hens raised outdoors give eggs richer in omega-3s and vitamins, which lab analyses confirm.
What the egg provides
| In one egg (60 g) | Amount | What for |
|---|---|---|
| Protein | 7 g, the benchmark for quality (all amino acids, perfectly absorbed) | The professor's "appetite curb": an egg at breakfast keeps you full until noon; muscle, recovery, the elderly, children |
| Choline | 150 mg, in the yolk; the egg is the top dietary source | Brain development in the fetus and infant: a trial in pregnant women shows that high choline intake in the third trimester improves the baby's attention skills (FASEB J, 2018). "Good for the pregnant woman," says the professor: that's accurate, and this is largely why |
| Lutein and zeaxanthin | In the yolk, very well absorbed thanks to the egg's fats | The retina: a meta-analysis of trials shows that one egg a day increases the macular pigment that protects against age-related degeneration (J Sci Food Agric, 2021). The professor's claim that "lutein is effective for vision" is confirmed; but on the plate, not as an eye wash |
| Vitamins B2, B12, D, A | B12: a quarter of daily needs; D: one of the few foods that contains it | Nervous system, red blood cells, bones; the "vitamin B2" the professor cites |
| Iron, zinc, selenium, iodine | Modest amounts but well absorbed | Tissue repair, immunity, thyroid |
| Cholesterol | 200 mg, in the yolk | See below: it has little effect on blood cholesterol |
Eggs and the heart: a fear whose time has passed
- An analysis of three large American cohorts (215,000 people followed for up to 32 years) and a meta-analysis of 28 cohorts conclude that one egg a day is not associated with a higher cardiovascular risk, and may even lower it slightly in Asian populations (BMJ, 2020).
The reason: the cholesterol we eat is largely regulated by the liver, which makes less when we absorb more; it is saturated and trans fats, and sugar, that raise blood cholesterol, not the egg. Guidelines have dropped the limit of "three eggs a week." Two reservations remain: in people with type 2 diabetes, some cohorts find a weak link between high egg consumption and heart risk, without certainty; and the egg is not what you pair it with—bacon, butter, and white bread. One egg a day, with vegetables and olive oil as Ibn Sina advises, is an excellent food.
How to eat it, and hard-boiled eggs at night
- Cooked, always: raw or barely cooked egg exposes you to salmonella, especially in children, pregnant women, and the elderly; raw egg white also blocks a vitamin (biotin). For soft-boiled with a runny yolk, choose very fresh eggs of good origin.
- Medium-boiled or soft-boiled, with the yolk still creamy: this is what Ibn al-Qayyim and digestion both prefer; an overcooked yolk loses a bit of its vitamins and digests more slowly.
- In the evening: a hard-boiled egg or a vegetable omelet is a light, filling dinner that doesn't weigh on sleep. The question "is it okay to eat eggs at night in Islam" has no religious answer: no rule sets the hour for eggs. The rule of thirds applies, as with everything.
- With what: vegetables, olive oil, cumin (Ibn Sina's advice), whole grain bread; no cured meats, no fried foods.
- How many: one a day for a healthy adult, without concern; up to two for the athlete, the pregnant or breastfeeding woman, the elderly person who eats little; half to one for a child depending on age.
- Which ones: free-range or organic (code 0 or 1 on the shell), as fresh as possible, kept refrigerated; the shell should not be washed before storage.
The external uses of the ancients, revisited
Egg white on a burn "prevents blisters from forming," says the professor citing the ancients: this is a universal folk remedy, but it is no longer recommended. A burn is cooled for ten minutes under lukewarm water, covered with a clean dressing, and raw egg white on it carries a risk of infection (salmonella) with no proven benefit. The same goes for the white as an eye wash: nothing non-sterile belongs in the eye. An egg-yolk hair mask, on the other hand, is harmless and nourishes the hair fiber; the egg shampoos the professor mentions are the practical version of this. Egg on the forehead with frankincense (louban) for bronchitis belongs to ancient medicine; we leave it to the books.
Contraindications and precautions
Egg allergy is one of the most common in young children; it is introduced around 4 to 6 months, well cooked, in small amounts, and monitored; it most often disappears before school age. No raw or runny egg for pregnant women, children under five, and the frail. People with type 2 diabetes or very high cholesterol should discuss it with their doctor, without alarm. A homemade mayonnaise or mousse made with raw egg should be eaten the same day, kept cold.
Frequently asked questions
Is there a hadith about eggs?
No, not an authentic one. The story of a prophet whom Allah advised to eat eggs for weakness is reported by al-Bayhaqi with a weak chain; Ibn al-Qayyim cites it for its meaning. The egg is a food praised by Muslim physicians, not a Sunnah.
Is it okay to eat eggs at night in Islam?
Yes: no religious rule sets the hour for eggs. A hard-boiled egg or a vegetable omelet is even a good dinner, light and filling. The only rule is that of thirds: don't go to bed full.
Are eggs bad for cholesterol?
Not for the healthy person: large cohorts find no cardiovascular risk with one egg a day, as the liver compensates for dietary cholesterol. What matters is what you eat with the egg.
How many eggs a day?
One for a healthy adult, up to two for the athlete, the pregnant woman, or the elderly person who eats little. Cooked, with vegetables and olive oil.
Is egg good for pregnant women?
Yes, and particularly so: its choline is needed for the fetus's brain, and a trial shows a benefit for the baby's attention when the mother consumes enough. Always well cooked during pregnancy.
