Allah mentioned in Surah ar-Rahman "ar-rumman," which is the pomegranate. Ibn al-Qayyim says in his book that a saying has been attributed, on the authority of Ibn Abbas and the Prophet ﷺ, that not one of your pomegranate trees is without being fertilized by a grain from the pomegranate trees of Paradise.
Arhab and others report that Ali said: "Eat pomegranates with their pulp, for they tan the stomach," and indeed the pomegranate contains tannins and flavonoids that are effective for people with diarrhea and digestive problems. Pomegranate peel is used in herbal teas and infusions for many digestive system problems.
Ibn al-Qayyim says that sweet pomegranates are hot and moist, which is effective for the digestive system, and for cardiovascular problems, particularly cholesterol. The peel, with honey as a base, is effective for the stomach and for those affected by ulcers.
The pomegranate and its juice are good for constipation problems, the throat due to the vitamin C it contains, the chest, and the lungs. They are antibacterial. Ibn al-Qayyim says that the juice relaxes the bowels and nourishes the body well, due to vitamin B and minerals such as copper. The pomegranate is an aphrodisiac because of the slight heat it generates in the stomach, and it is good for prostate problems and fertility.
Nevertheless, it is not suitable for people suffering from fever. It has an astonishing property: eaten with bread, it prevents spoiling in the stomach.
Sour pomegranates are cold and drying, slightly constipating, useful for an irritated stomach, and diuretic. They soothe bile, stop diarrhea, prevent vomiting, extinguish the heat of the liver, strengthen the organs, are useful against bile-related palpitations, and heart pain. They are very effective against cardiovascular problems, particularly hypertension. They improve blood circulation, strengthen the stomach, and expel its excesses. If the juice is extracted with the pulp and cooked with a small amount of honey until it reaches the consistency of an ointment, then applied to the eye, it will prevent yellowing of the eye and cleanse it of thick humors. Applied to the gum, this ointment is effective against infections affecting it; if the juice and pulp are extracted, this relaxes the bowels and dissipates biliary humors, and it is also useful against fever.
Tart pomegranates are of a moderate nature, leaning slightly toward the sweetness of the acidity. The seeds mixed with honey are useful for treating whitlows, and the calyxes are good for wounds. It is also said that whoever swallows three pomegranate flowers will be protected from conjunctivitis all year.
The pomegranate is effective for skin problems, particularly alopecia areata, as pomegranate-based ointments can be found. It is also beneficial for neurological problems such as Alzheimer's disease.
Pomegranate in the Qur'an and among the companions
Allah mentions it three times: among the fruits of the earth, "gardens of vineyards, olives, and pomegranates, similar yet different" (6:99, 6:141), and among those of Paradise, "there will be fruit, palm trees, and pomegranates" (55:68). The professor reports, according to Ibn al-Qayyim, the saying attributed to Ibn Abbas or to the Prophet ﷺ according to which "there is no pomegranate tree that is not fertilized by a seed from the pomegranates of Paradise": the chain is weak, Ibn al-Qayyim notes this, and it is cited as a saying of the early generations rather than an established hadith. What is reported with more strength is the saying of Ali: "Eat the pomegranate with its pulp (the white membrane), for it tans the stomach," meaning that it tightens and strengthens it, as tannin tans leather. It's the right word: the pomegranate is the fruit of tannins.
Sweet, sour, tart: three pomegranates, three uses
| Sweet pomegranate | Sour pomegranate | Tart pomegranate | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nature according to Ibn al-Qayyim | Hot and moist | Cold and dry | Moderate, leaning toward sweetness |
| On the stomach | Loosens, nourishes, good for constipation and the throat | Tightens, stops diarrhea and vomiting, calms an irritated stomach, diuretic | Balanced, for everyday use |
| On the body | Chest, lungs; mild warmth (the professor sees it as an aphrodisiac); not suited to someone with a fever | Extinguishes the heat of the liver, soothes bile, palpitations, heart; high blood pressure | Circulation, stomach |
| Who should choose it | Children, those recovering, and people with constipation | Those with diarrhea, an acidic stomach, or high blood pressure | Everyone |
The rule that ties all this together: what is acidic and tannic tightens, what is sweet loosens. The juice from the red seeds nourishes; the white membrane and the skin tighten. Hence Ali's advice: by eating the seeds with a bit of their pulp, one takes both at once, and the stomach benefits.
What the studies have measured
- Blood pressure. A meta-analysis of 14 clinical trials: pomegranate juice lowers systolic and diastolic blood pressure, with a more marked effect beyond 240 ml per day and two months (Phytother Res, 2023). This is the professor's "pomegranate against high blood pressure," confirmed.
- Cholesterol. The meta-analysis of randomized trials finds an improvement in total cholesterol and LDL in people at risk, with results varying by dose and duration (Phytomedicine, 2016).
- Skin. Pomegranate peel extract, rich in ellagic acid and tannins, is antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and antibacterial (J Food Biochem, 2022), active even against multidrug-resistant bacteria isolated from patients (Cell Mol Biol, 2023). This explains the peel infusion against diarrhea and the gum ointment described by Ibn al-Qayyim.
- Memory. A systematic review of animal and human studies suggests a favorable effect of pomegranate polyphenols on cognitive function, though it's not yet possible to speak of Alzheimer's disease prevention in humans (Curr Pharm Des, 2023). The professor moves a bit fast on this point; the lead is real, but the proof isn't there yet.
The recipes
- Everyday pomegranate: open the fruit, separate the seeds into a bowl of water (the white pulp floats, keep a little of it), eat one pomegranate a day in season, from October to January, before the meal.
- Peel infusion against diarrhea: air-dry the peel for a few days, break it into pieces; one tablespoon in 250 ml of water, simmer for 10 minutes over low heat, strain; one cup twice a day, for two or three days. Or 15 to 20 g of ground peel in 250 g of honey, one teaspoon twice a day, as the professor indicates in our remedies for diarrhea.
- The juice: homemade pressed juice, one 200 ml glass, for blood pressure and the heart; commercial juice is often diluted and sweetened.
- The honey ointment of Ibn al-Qayyim: juice with the pulp, cooked with a little honey to an ointment consistency, applied to inflamed gums. For the eye, one sticks today to sterile eye drops.
- Seeds in honey applied to a whitlow as a poultice, and powdered peel on a small clean wound, as the early scholars indicated.
Contraindications and precautions
Pomegranate juice interacts with certain medications the way grapefruit does, by slowing their elimination by the liver: caution with statins, certain blood thinners, and blood pressure medications; one glass a day is generally without issue, but it's worth discussing with a pharmacist. The peel infusion is very tannic: no more than three days in a row, not for children under six or pregnant women, and diarrhea lasting more than three days or with blood should be seen by a doctor. Sweet pomegranate "is not suited to someone with a fever," says Ibn al-Qayyim: the sour variety is preferred when one has a fever. Finally, the old recipes for the eye should not be repeated: nothing non-sterile belongs in an eye.
Frequently asked questions
What are the benefits of pomegranate in Islam?
It is a fruit of Paradise mentioned in the Qur'an, and Ali advised eating it with its pulp to strengthen the stomach. Ibn al-Qayyim makes it the fruit of the stomach: the sweet variety nourishes and loosens, the sour tightens and soothes.
Does pomegranate cause constipation or help with bowel movements?
Both, depending on the variety and part: juice from sweet seeds loosens the stomach, while the peel and white pulp tighten it. For constipation, sweet pomegranate juice; for diarrhea, the peel infusion.
How do you use pomegranate peel for the stomach?
Dried, as a decoction (one tablespoon per 250 ml, 10 minutes), one cup twice a day for two or three days; or ground into honey. It tightens, calms acidity, and fights bacteria.
Does pomegranate lower blood pressure?
Yes: 14 combined trials show a drop in blood pressure with pomegranate juice, especially beyond one glass a day for two months. It complements a treatment, it does not replace it.
Should you eat the white membrane?
A little, yes: that's Ali's advice. It's bitter and tannic, but it's what strengthens the stomach. Keep what remains attached to the seeds, without trying to eat more of it.
