Bismillahi Rahmani Rahim
In the Name of Allah, The Beneficent, The Merciful
Master Fard Muhammad
YOU CAN READ THIS BOOK IN ITS ENTIRETY BY CLICKING ON THE BOOK COVER
“HOW TO EAT TO LIVE. Eat that food that Allah (God) Has Prescribed for us. Even take little simple things such as beans. Allah (God) says that the little navy bean will make you live, just eat them. He Said to me that even milk and bread would make us live. Just eat bread and milk – it is the best food. He Said that a diet of navy beans would give us a life span of one hundred and forty (140) years.”
“SIMPLE navy beans is one of the best foods that we can eat. You do not have to strain the beans to eat them. Straining the beans is a real habit that we took up years ago. But, they are better if you eat them in their hull (skin).”
“DO NOT put a lot of spices, or what you call seasonings, in such good food. Do not do this. You will ruin your food. The value of the bean is taken away by your putting so much seasoning in them. Just put the beans on and cook them until they are done. Let the beans stay in its jacket. Of course I see them crush the beans, and since the cooks and the eaters like it like that, I go along with them. But I like it better when you just cook them right in the jacket.”
“I FEEL like I could eat a bowl full of beans right now while I am talking about it. You can eat that bean seven (7) days a week. It is very appealing to the appetite.”
“WE SHOULD have a great field of hundreds and thousands of acres of beans to feed our people. It is a very cheap and a very healthy food for us. We should buy canning factories for ourselves and can beans.”
(Excerpts from HOW TO EAT TO LIVE, BOOK II by The Honorable Elijah Muhammad [PBUH])
*You Can Read How to Eat to Live, Book II In Its Entirety Here.*
As-Salaamu ‘Alaikum Beloved Sisters,
As the person responsible for providing our family with healthy and nutritious meals, we should make it a priority to read the above book. I cannot overemphasize its importance in the health and well-being of ourselves and our families.
As written above, along with bread and milk, the small Navy Bean is one of the three BEST foods we can eat, according to Our Beloved Messenger (PBUH). Our Saviour, Master Fard Muhammad, to Whom Praise is Due Forever, taught him (The Messenger) that most of us cannot afford the expensive foods that rich millionaires eat so He prescribed for us dried navy beans, bread and milk. And He said that these are the BEST foods we can eat.
There are the white, pink, and red ones. I have only seen the white beans labelled as “Navy” beans in the grocery store. And now they are starting to just label them “small white beans” in some places. You may also find pink and red beans, but I am not sure if these are actually “Navy” beans because all of the ones I have seen are somewhat larger than the white ones.
Our Beloved Messenger (PBUH) taught us that Allah taught him that the only kidney-like bean should we eat is the “SMALL NAVY BEAN.” Not red, black, brown, pinto or any other type of bean. Not the Great Northern Bean either. Only the small, white, Navy bean.
Elsewhere in the book, he teaches us that the Navy Bean contains all of the protein, carbohydrates (starches) and fats that we need to keep us healthy and strong. The Honorable Elijah Muhammad (PBUH) taught us that, contrary to popular belief, the small, white, navy bean is complete in itself. It is not necessary to pair it with rice or meat. In order to “eat to live,” we must incorporate the Navy Bean into our diet.
On a trivial note, the beans are called “Navy Beans” because they were a staple of the United States Navy in the early twentieth century. The Navy bean is considered, even by the devil, to be one of the healthiest foods one can eat. It is packed with fiber, lowers cholesterol, gives you energy while burning fat, and prevents heart attacks and some say, even prevents cancer.
The best and tastiest dish that you can prepare for your family is The Bean Soup. I had some today and it was so good, I felt like licking the bowl!
In order to make Bean Soup, you can invest in a Crock Pot (slow cooker) or make it on the stovetop. Just put all the ingredients in a big pot with some water, keep a sharp eye on it, stirring occasionally, adding water when necessary, and the following recipe works just as well on the stovetop.
Crock Pots come in sizes of 4.5 quarts and 6 quarts now. Mine is 5 quarts, but you can vary the recipe to fit your Crock Pot as well as your tastes.
Here is a very simple recipe. Our Beloved Messenger (PBUH) taught us that “simple foods are the best”. So, I don’t use a lot of ingredients. But feel free to adjust the recipe as you like.
Ingredients
One lb. bag of small white beans
1/2 stick of butter
One large onion
3-4 Garlic cloves
2 teaspoons (t) salt
1/2 t Italian Seasoning
1/2 t Curry powder
1/2 green bell pepper (optional)
2 medium tomatoes (optional)
2 sticks of celery (optional)
2 sticks of carrots (optional)
Sort and wash beans, removing all rocks and any fragmented beans. Soak beans with about a tablespoon of baking soda overnight or about 8 hours.
When you are ready to prepare the soup, rinse beans and fill your pot with about 8 cups of water (* If you use the optional ingredients, you will probably need more water).
Pour in beans.
Add 1/2 stick of butter.
Add chopped onion and crushed garlic cloves.
Add optional ingredients chopped.
Add Italian Seasonings and Curry.
Stir. Cover.
If you are cooking on the stovetop, it may take about two hours to cook the beans thoroughly.
If you are using a Crock Pot, cook on “Low” about ten hours or “High” about 6 hours (I’m not exactly sure how long to cook on “High,” I haven’t cooked on “High” in a few years. Probably 5-6 hours. Check it after four though.)
Add salt.
*Note – Do not add the salt until after the beans have finished cooking. If you add the salt earlier, it will make the beans hard.
(*If you like, you can allow the soup to cool and then blend it in the blender. This gives it a different texture. Many people prefer it blended. I like it both ways.)
You can add other seasonings, like sage, turmeric and oregano, if you wish, but the Messenger (PBUH) taught us not to put too much seasoning in the soup. He wrote that you ruin the value of the bean by putting so much seasoning in them. He wrote, just put the beans on and let them cook until they are done and not half-done. If you eat half-cooked beans, you might get the colic. So just cook the beans and eat them. You can eat this soup seven (7) days a week. It is very appealing to the appetite.
I recently discovered CREOLE SEASONINGS and have been using it as my only seasoning with some fresh parsley and this was the batch that made me want to lick the bowl it was so good.
My son eats Bean Soup EVERY DAY for dinner, along with wheat toast w/cream cheese and vegetables. He only eats one meal per day and is very healthy. I eat one meal per week, and at every meal we eat Bean Soup. We have been eating Bean Soup every day since I first read HOW TO EAT TO LIVE over seven years ago.
You may encounter some resistance from your children when you begin to introduce the idea of eating Bean Soup every day. But once you explain to your family how healthy it is and that Allah (God) prescribed it as The Best Food you can eat, if they have a modicum of intelligence they will accept the proper way to eat. You prepare the meals, so ultimately, they will eat whatever you prepare.
Just make sure you vary the other foods you serve along with the soup, such as different types and ways of preparing vegetables and fish.
Also, if you begin to improve your eating habits, your family will bear witness to the results for themselves, which is the best example you can give them. Our Saviour, Master Fard Muhammad, to Whom Praise is due forever, said, “A diet of navy beans would give us a life span of one hundred and forty (140) years.” Don’t you want to live to see you great-great-great-great grandchildren??? Well, this is the best way to make it so!!!
As-Salaam-Alaikum!
Homemaking For The Black Muslim Woman Journal ™ 
ASA, APDTA for posting the bean soup recipe and all the information to help new Muslims. Peace and Blessings
All Praise is due to Allah, Sister!
Stay on the Straight Path and you will see the Hereafter.
excellent excellent excellent terrific awesome awesome article! I beg your pardon Sister, how long have you been eating once a week and what are some of your experiences from that level of awareness??
Bismillah
As-Salaam-Alaikum Beloved Brother,
All Praise Is Due To Allah! I began eating one meal a day in March 2006. At that time I weighed 206 pounds. After three months I was down to 135! I also have not suffered any illness in my body since 2010. I look and feel better than I did at 16 years of age.
May Our Saviour, Master Fard Muhammad, To Whom All Holy Thanks and Praises are due forever Bless you with the Power, Light and Life of Knowledge, Wisdom and Understanding in all your endeavors.
As-Salaam-Alaikum,
~ Sister Latifah Allah
ASA, Sis. I’m not registered yet but I wanna practice How 2 Eat 2 Live. Any suggestions on how I should start? What should I include in my diet? I’m very over weight?
Wa Laikum Salaam Sister,
I lost seventy pounds in three months just by eating one meal a day. I didn’t exercise or change my diet. Just cut your meals to twice a day and then after about two weeks, once a day. The pounds will fall off. People kept asking me “What did you do?” I just told them, “I started EATING TO LIVE!!!”
And PLEASE DO NOT “REGISTER” WITH FARRAKHAN. I have written an article entitled, “Why you should shun Louis Farrakhan.” If you type it in the search engine it will come up and you will learn why.
As-Salaam-Alaikum,
Your Sister,
~ Love
As-Salaam Alaikum,
All praises are due to Allah who came in the person of Master Fard Muhammad, and in memory of our last and greatest Messenger in the person of the Honorable Elijah Muhammad (PBUH). I greet you As-Salaam -Alaikum.
My dear sister Latifah Allah,
My name is Shafiq Shabazz and I want to thank you for you beautiful, and informative website. It is truly a breath of fresh air to read your information. I am living in Africa and it nice to able to see such a site.
May Allah bless you and in all the good that you do.
Your brother in Islam
Shafiq Shabazz
ALL PRAISE IS DUE TO ALLAH!
As Salaam Alaikum Sister, How many servings is it? Its just me, or should I store some of it in the freezer? Thanks
Wa Laikum Salaam Brother Sean!
Bean Soup does perfectly well in the freezer and lasts months, if not longer.
You should also consider purchasing a pressure canner to can your beans in the event of an emergency.
May Allah Bless You!
As-Salaam-Alaikum,
~Sister Love Allah
I’m going to do that
ASA
Do you have a recipe for the supreme navy bean ice cream?
Wa Laikum Salaam Dear Brother Johnny Muhammad!
That is an excellent question which I have pondered over myself briefly in the past.
Unfortunately, I don’t have a recipe for Bean Cream, per se. However, I do know how to make regular vanilla ice cream and I would imagine that to create the Bean Cream, one would just make regular vanilla ice cream and add the crushed Navy Beans for the added nutritional benefits.
Try it!
Aselamu Aleykum, I enjoyed reading your article and very informative. You mentioned that pairing the navy beans with rice not necessary. I am eating long grain rice cooked with navy beans since last week. Why is not good for me to eat together? Thank you
Brother H
In the Name of Allah
Wa Laikum As Salaam Dear Brother H!!!
I pray Allah, Master Fard Muhammad, To Whom Praises Are Due Forever, is Blessing you with Peace of Mind and Contentment!
My Dear Brother, there is a difference between “not necessary” and “not good for you.” Not good for you implies that you can acquire some sort of bodily harm from eating the rice with the beans, which is far from the truth. Our Beloved Messenger, The Honourable Elijah Muhammad (Sallahu alaihi wa salaam/Peace Be Upon Him) even taught us the proper way to cook rice in the book How To Eat To Live, Book Two.
“Eat rice, but do not eat the rice without washing it thoroughly until the water becomes clear as you pour it off the washed rice. And take the rice and parch it in a pan that has a little butter, vegetable oil or corn oil or olive in it. Keep turning the rice over in the pan and do not let it burn. Then put it into your boiler with water in it and let it boil slowly. Keep the fire low enough so that the water just pips. It does not take a lot of rapidly boiling water to cook rice. Just let it simmer on the stove until the grain of rice swells to two or three times its natural size.”
You can read the entire book HOW TO EAT TO LIVE here for free.
Again, it is not that rice is not good for you as you can see Our Beloved Messenger (saw) taught us how to cook it. However, it is not necessary to eat it with the Bean Soup. IMO, the soup tastes better without rice but with whole-wheat toast buttered with real butter and topped with cream cheese. My mouth is watering just thinking about it.
Whole-wheat bread is one of the best foods we can eat and the Messenger (saw) taught us that real butter is better than margarine or vegetable oil and that cream cheese is the best cheese.
In the Name of Allah
As-Salaamu ‘Alaikum!
Your Sister,
~Love Allah ❤ ❤ ❤
Wa Laikum Salaam Brother Ya’sin!
If you make your beans on a stovetop, I am told you have to watch them carefully because the water will evaporate and be absorbed by the beans, so you will have to replace it until they are thoroughly done. I’ve never made Bean Soup on the stovetop, so I can only speak from what I’ve heard and witnessed. However, I’m not afraid to try it. It should be simple enough. Google said beans can take from one to three hours.
May Allah Bless you with SUCCESS!!!
As-Salaamu ‘Alaikum!!!
❤ ❤ ❤
Elijah Muhammad was NOT a prophet. The last Prophet (may the peace & blessings of Allah be upon him) was Abu Al Qasim, ibn Abd Allah (saw). He was born in Makkah, Arabia. Muslims call him the “seal” of the prophets because he is the last one. He (saw) was sent by Allah (swt) to ALL of mankind to serve as an example of how to live in this life until the end of time. There will be and have been no more prophets!! Elijah Muhammad was a mere mortal man. It is blasphemous to suggest other than what the Qur’an states as fact!! May Allah guide you to the truth as only He can. Ameen.
Thank you for the bean soup recipe.
AS-SALAAMU ‘ALAIKUM TO YOU TOO PAMELA!
YOU ARE RIGHT. THE HONOURABLE ELIJAH MUHAMMAD (MAY THE PEACE AND THE BLESSINGS OF ALLAH FOREVER BE UPON HIM) WAS NOT A PROPHET! HE WAS THE LAST AND GREATEST MESSENGER OF ALLAH, WHO CAME IN THE DIVINE PERSON OF MASTER FARD MUHAMMAD, TO WHOM BE PRAISED FOREVER.
OUR BELOVED MESSENGER (SAW) WAS NOT A PROPHET, AS THERE IS NOTHING LEFT TO PROPHESY. HE WAS A MESSENGER (PBUH) TO WARN US OF THE DESTRUCTION COMING TO AMERICA AND TO GIVE US THE KNOWLEDGE, WISDOM AND UNDERSTANDING THAT WOULD RETURN THE SO-CALLED AMERICAN NEGROES BACK TO OUR PROPER PLACE ON TOP OF CIVILIZATION.
READ THIS http://www.seventhfam.com/temple/books/black_man/blkindex.htm
THE HOLY QUR-AN SHARRIEF PROPHESIES OF A WARNER SENT TO A PEOPLE TO WHOM NO WARNER HAS COME BEFORE.
THIS COULD NOT BE REFERRING TO THE PEOPLE OF PROPHET MUHAMMAD OF 1400 YEARS AGO (SAW) BECAUSE ALL OF THE PROPHETS HAD BEEN TO MECCA (IBRAHIM AND HIS TWO SONS FOR INSTANCE). THEREFORE, WE KNOW THAT THE PEOPLE TO WHOM OUR HOLY QUR-AN IS REFERRING IS NONE OTHER THAN THE SO-CALLED AMERICAN NEGROES WHO HAVE NEVER HAD A PROPHET IN OUR ENTIRE TIME HERE IN THE HELLS OF NORTH AMERICA BUT HAVE BEEN FOLLOWING AFTER THE RELIGION OF OUR SLAVEMASTERS, AS WERE THE CHILDREN OF ISRAEL TO WHOM MOSES WAS SENT. WHICH IS ALSO WHY THE HONOURABLE ELIJAH MUHAMMAD (SAW) IS THE PERSON TO WHOM THE HOLY QUR’AN AND BIBLE REFER TO AS BEING “A PROPHET LIKE UNTO MOSES”
FURTHERMORE, THE HONOURABLE ELIJAH MUHAMMAD (MAY THE PEACE AND THE BLESSINGS OF ALLAH FOREVER BE UPON HIM) WAS A MESSENGER RAISED UP BY ALLAH, IN ANSWER TO IBRAHIM AND ISHMAEL’S PRAYER (HOLY QUR-AN 2:129) WHOSE DIVINE SUPREME WISDOM TEACHINGS WILL GUIDE US INTO THE HEREAFTER. PROPHET ISA AND PROPHET MUHAMMAD (PEACE BE UPON THEM) BRING US UP TO THE RESURRECTION AND THE JUDGEMENT.
THE HONOURABLE ELIJAH MUHAMMAD (MAY THE PEACE AND THE BLESSINGS OF ALLAH FOREVER BE UPON HIM) IS THE MUHAMMAD OF THE HOLY QUR’AN. WHEN THE HOLY QUR’AN READS, “SAY THUS THUS AND THUS” IT IS INSTRUCTING THE HONOURABLE ELIJAH MUHAMMAD (SAW) OF WHAT TO SAY WHEN PEOPLE, LIKE YOU, DOUBT HIS MISSION.
AND YOU’RE WELCOME FOR THE BEAN SOUP RECIPE.
I HOPE YOU CHOKE ON IT FOR SAYING SUCH IRREVERENT THINGS ABOUT THE LAST AND GREATEST MESSENGER OF ALLAH (SWT)
AS-SALAAMU ‘ALAIKUM
im in awe…I haven’t been able to make the bean soup perfect and decent maybe a few times and I want to eat it how it is prescribed…thanks for your devotion to Allah sis may you be blessed!!!
Shukran! Thank-you! And you too!
Wa Laikum Salaam Dear Brother Fard,
Unfortunately, Dear Brother, I don’t eat one meal a week anymore. 😥 I did for about six months though and I felt better than I did when I was sixteen, although I still feel better than I felt when I was sixteen, even eating the way I eat now (traveler’s diet)
I don’t really remember a difference in my mental clarity, Dear Brother. I don’t think I was as intune to that type of thing back then as I am now. My mental clarity now is razor sharp and I just try to eat healthy foods and study, study, study.
My body weight was optimum – not too skinny – just right.
Actually, it was rather easy to maintain. I fell off after Ramadan,
Wa Laikum Salaam Dear Brother Fard!
Unfortunately, Dear Brother, I don’t eat one meal a week anymore. 😥 I did for about six months though and I felt better than I did when I was sixteen, although I still feel better than I felt when I was sixteen, even eating the way I eat now (traveler’s diet)
I don’t really remember a difference in my mental clarity, Dear Brother. I don’t think I was as intune to that type of thing back then as I am now. My mental clarity now is razor sharp and I just try to eat healthy foods and study, study, study.
My body weight was optimum – not too skinny – just right.
Actually, it was rather easy to maintain. I fell off after Ramadan, I believe. For some reason, once the restrictions are lifted, we tend to go crazy with our eating, and I am just as guilty.
I do not drink coffee between meals. That was a BIG problem for me to get off. If you notice, Our Beloved Messenger (May the Peace and the Blessings of Allah Forever Be Upon Him) wrote in How To Eat To Live, Book Two, that we should have nothing between but coffee, but he included a disclaimer “It is not good that we do this through our coffee” and that is for a good reason.
I used to get the worst headaches if I missed my daily morning coffee and I knew that that meant the coffee is not good for me, so now I only drink coffee with my meal.
Yes Sir, Dear Brother, in jail, all I ate for about two weeks was milk and bread. That was about the only food that was fit to eat. I never did it when I had my bean soup available although the Messenger (Peace Be Upon Him) taught us that either one is just as good as the other – Milk and Bread or Bean Soup and Bread.
I felt fine with just the milk and bread – no noticeable difference.
I feel like I know you, Dear Brother Fard. Thank-you so much for checking up on me. I have been cruising through life and now it’s time to get back in the fast lane. (smile)
As-Salaamu ‘Alaikum wa Barakatu, Dear Brother Fard, May Allah Bless You with success in achieving ALL YOUR GOALS!
As Salaam Alaikum,
Very,very good article of How to Eat
To Live Supreme Navy bean soup by the Most Hon. ELIJAH Muhammad from God in Person Master Fard Muhammad. This is beautiful sister all praise is due Allah.There is nothing more to say after the messenger and the God said it all in the book.As a matter of fact I’m preparing Navy Bean Soup as I write smile. So may Allah continue to bless you and your writings.
Wa Laikum Salaam, Dear Brother Reginald 2X,
You are absolutely right, Dear Brother. Our Beloved Messenger (May the peace and the blessings of Allah forever be upon him) brought us into all truth as the Jesus prophesied that he would.
Thank you for taking the time to comment, Dear Brother. I appreciate the feedback!
May Our Saviour, Master Fard Muhammad, to Whom Praises are due forever, Bless you with peace of mind and contentment, money, a good home and friendship in all walks of life.
As-Salaamu ‘Alaikum!
Love Allah
peace and blessings dear sister!
fortunate for me that the first food i ate from the noi was a bowl of hot bean soup! it was from a restaurant on fulton street in brooklyn ny on a cold wintry day, and the consumption of which did wonders for my body! i miss you brothers & sisters & your efforts at clean living & wholesome thinking! i am hoping that the recipe above will allow me to produce something close to what i consumed in those days! may you continue to be smiled upon!
Peace! Thanks for the recipe. Every time I make Bean Soup, I just pull up this article and keep it moving.
Tariq?
Bismillah, the Benevolent and Merciful
Inshallah, it was a great blessing to find this site. My sister was diagnosed with Diabetes in a very dramatic way last week. I was raised in the Nation but lost my way. I instantly remembered Bean Soup and how it soothed me as a child, and immediately your site come up. Thank you. Now I am off to my storage locker to find my book, so I can return to what made me.
As-Salaam-Alaikum, and peace be unto you!