History and Health Benefits of Honey in Civilizations & Religions

Honey is a sweet substance made by bees from the nectar of flowers. The history of bees is far more ancient than the history of humans on Earth. From the study of fossils, scientists say that bees existed millions of years before humans. Cave paintings found in the Mahadev Hills near Pachmarhi in Central India, and in Valencia, Spain, show that in ancient times people valued honey and had affection for it. Scholars like Aristotle, Cato, Virgil, Columella, and Pliny the Elder wrote books about honey and bees. According to Democritus, the founder of Atomism and a great Greek philosopher, honey has very strong healing power.

Hippocrates (460 BCE) and Galen (130–203 CE) also considered honey to be a cure for all diseases. In modern times, scientific experiments and research have also confirmed honey’s healing and life-extending qualities. In ancient civilizations like Egypt, Mesopotamia, and Assyria, honey was widely used as food and medicine. Egyptians even placed honey in tombs alongside mummies for their final journey.

In the royal tombs of the Egyptian pyramids, jars of honey over 3,400 years old have been found. The honey had turned dark but its quality had actually improved. Ayurvedic texts say that the older the honey, the better it is. Roman athletes used honey to quickly restore energy. In Indian culture, honey is included in the “five nectars” (Panchamrit) used in rituals. Because there are more flowers in the spring season, bees produce more honey then, and that is why spring is called “Madhumas” (the month of honey). In India, when a baby is born, honey is often given immediately as a first taste. As food, honey is considered a complete source of strength. Ayurveda contains deep knowledge about honey’s benefits, and even the ancient Rigveda — one of the oldest texts in the world and the foundation of Hinduism — praises honey’s greatness.

In the Islamic holy book, the Quran, Surah 16 mentions honey as a cure for all diseases. The Quran describes honey’s great importance. In Surah An-Nahl, Allah says that He inspired the bees to make their homes in mountains, trees, and places built by people. They collect food from all kinds of flowers and follow the paths set by their Lord. From their bellies comes a drink of various colors, which contains healing for people. For those who reflect, there is a clear sign of Allah’s greatness in this.

In the Holy Quran, there is a verse that says “Fihi shifaun linnas,” meaning “In it (honey) there is healing for mankind.” The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) loved sweet things and honey (Bukhari Sharif). He said there are two things that preserve health: (1) reciting the Holy Quran, and (2) consuming honey (Ibn Majah). He advised buying honey from your lawful earnings, mixing it with rainwater, and drinking it. Honey is also a medicine and can be added to any remedy without hesitation. For those who wish to live a long life, honey is like an elixir or water of life. It links good health with faith. This drink is beneficial and health-giving for all illnesses. The Prophet said that a person who drinks a little honey every morning will be protected from major diseases (Ibn Majah Sharif). In Greek civilization, honey was valued as a precious food and a gift from God. In Buddhism, “Madhu Purnima” celebrates the importance of honey. Almost all religions in the world praise honey.