Is it true that the whale's liver is the first food of the people of Paradise, and that it purifies and cleanses the stomach?
The first food for the people of Paradise upon their entry is the "caudate lobe of the whale's liver," as mentioned in the hadith of Thawban. This delicacy for the people of Paradise differs from their subsequent food, which will be the meat of the "ox of Paradise." The reason for specifying the caudate lobe of the whale's liver as the first food has not been mentioned in the sacred texts, but Muslims believe that Allah possesses ultimate wisdom in this regard. Some scholars have attempted to link the whale being an aquatic animal and the ox a terrestrial animal as a sign of the end of this world and the beginning of the Hereafter. As for the medicinal benefits of the caudate lobe of the whale's liver in this world, they are numerous, such as lowering cholesterol and fats, alleviating joint pain, and it is rich in vitamin D.
Summarized from the full answer at Ftawy · reviewed Sep 2, 2026
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