According to our modest research, we believe that the first mention of honey among Arabs was specifically Yemeni honey. While the exact date of the first mention of Yemeni honey in history cannot be determined, it was evidently famous and traded during the Old Kingdom of Egypt around the 23rd century BCE.
The oldest known reference to Yemeni honey can be found in ancient Egyptian texts during the reign of Pharaoh Pepi I (around 2332-2283 BCE) of the Sixth Dynasty. During that time, there were trade expeditions between Egypt and the region known as “Punt,” which included Yemen, Abyssinia (current-day Ethiopia), and part of the Horn of Africa. These exploratory voyages aimed to acquire various luxury goods, including honey, precious woods, incense, and spices.
In the wall reliefs and stone carvings at the Temple of Deir el-Bahari in Egypt, specifically, the expedition to the inscriptions of Punt, the trading journey was depicted, and the goods brought back from Punt were mentioned, including honey. The ancient Egyptians highly valued Yemeni honey for its quality and distinctive flavor.
Professor Dr. Mohammed Said Khunbish mentioned that the honey trade ranked fourth in the economy of the Kingdom of Hadramaut during the 10th century BCE.
Yemeni honey is also mentioned in a historical narrative dating back 2600 years, narrated about Nizar bin Maad bin Adnan (the 18th great-grandfather of Prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him). In this narrative, he divided his estate among his four sons: Iyad, Anmar, Rabi’ah, and Mudar. He instructed them that if they disagreed or did not understand the division, they should go to one of the wise men of the Arabs in Najran, known as “Al-Af’a al-Jarhami,” to judge between them. Yemeni honey was among the offerings presented to them in reverence upon their arrival.
Before the mission of Prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him, honey was highly esteemed among the people of Mecca. Generous Arabs took pride in serving it as part of their meals.
One such person was Abdullah bin Jud’an, a member of the Tamim tribe, who used a huge bowl (Jafnah) from which people would eat from while riding on camels.
They mentioned that he would feed them dates, barley, and offer them milk. Until he heard Umayyah bin Abi As-Salt saying:
“I have seen the doers and their deeds,
So I saw Banu Dayan being the most generous.
The Wheat is kneaded with honey; their food,
Not like the Banu Jud’an feed us.”
Here, the poet praised Banu Dayan and described them as the most generous people because they mixed honey with wheat and served it to the people. He criticized Banu Jud’an because honey was not part of the food they offered. As a result, Abdullah bin Jud’an decided to send two thousand camels to the Levant (Sham), which returned carrying wheat, honey, ghee (clarified butter), and a caller would call every night on the top of the Kaaba, saying, “Come to the (Jafnah) of Ibn-Jud’an.” Umayyah mentioned that he had brought honey from the land of the Levant.
Islam granted honey a high status. There is a chapter in the Quran named “An-Nahl” (The Bee), in which Allah reveals:
{68. And your Lord inspired the bee, saying: “Take you habitations in the mountains, and in the trees and in what they erect. 69. “Then, eat of all fruits, and follow the ways of your Lord made easy (for you)” There comes forth from their bellies, a drink of varying colors wherein is healing for men. Verily, in this is indeed a sign for a people who think.}
Numerous hadiths (sayings of Prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him) also mention honey. It is reported that the Prophet loved sweets and honey.
In the hadith narrated by Abdullah bin Abbas, it was mentioned that the Prophet, peace be upon him, said, “Healing is in three things: a drink of honey, a slash of the cupping (hijama) instrument, and branding with fire (cauterization), yet I forbid my Ummah (nation) from cauterization.” (Bukhari)
The mention of honey in the Quran and the teachings of Prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him, greatly influenced the Muslims’ fondness for honey in general and among Muslim scholars in particular. This is evident in their writings and books.
In ancient times, bee hives were known among the Arabs as “Raqood,” which means a big jar. They also made beehives from leather.
The discussion of honey’s history is vast and fascinating, so we utilized our expertise in conjunction with research, studies and, reliable scientific sources to present honey in a way that delivers knowledge and enjoyment.
BARARI
THE JOY OF NATURE