Question:
Are these benefits of watermelon authentic?
البطيخ قبل الطعام يغسل البطن غسلا ويذهب بالداء أصلا
Answer:
Imam Ibn ‘Asakir (rahimahullah) has recorded this as a Hadith of Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) and has expressed reservation with regard to the authenticity (والحديث شاذ لا يصح)
(Tarikh Dimashq, vol. 6 pg. 102 and vol. 36 pg. 141)
Other Muhaddithun have also declared this Hadith a fabrication.
(Refer: Lisanul Mizan, vol. 1 pg. 699, number: 911, Dhaylul La-Alil Masnu’ah, vol. 2 pg. 541, Hadith: 649 and Faydul Qadir, Hadith: 3212)
‘Allamah Munawi (rahimahullah) has cited this as the statement of some doctors. This should therefore be quoted as the statement of a doctor and not as a Hadith of Nabi (sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam).
(Faydul Qadir, Hadith: 6998)
Translation
“[Consuming] watermelon before eating cleanses the stomach thoroughly and completely removes illnesses.”
And Allah Ta’ala Knows best.
Answered by: Moulana Suhail Motala
Approved by: Moulana Muhammad Abasoomar