Excellent Benefits of Eating Dates
The Prophet Muhammad a said:
“A house in which dates are
not consumed is a house with ُ ٌ َ بيت ال
تمر فيه ِجياع اهله
hungry inhabitants” (Ṣaḥīḥ
Muslim).
“Whosoever consumes seven
dates in the morning, poison تمرات لم يرضه
ٍ من تصبح بسبع
ْ
nor magic will harm them” ُس ٌم و ال ِسح ٌر
(Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim).
Are dates special?
Yes they are, not least because Allāh mentions dates in the Qur’ān:
And tall date palms, with
وانلخل باسقات هلا طلع نضيد
ranged clusters (50:10).
And green crops (fields) and
date palms with soft spadix و زروع و خنل طلعها هضيم
(26:148).
In them (both) will be
fruits and date palms and فيها فاكهة و خنل و رمان
pomegranates (55:68).
As we well know, dates were a favourite food of the Prophet a too,
in particular Ajwa.
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What do dates contain?
Dates are extremely healthy. They contain many excellent ingredients.
In short in 100 grams of dates, you will find:
Carbohydrate 75grams Phosphorus 72mg
Water 20 grams Calcium 65mg
Fibre 2.4 grams Iron 2.2mg
Protein 2.2 grams Vitamin B1 0.08mg
Fats 0.6 grams Vitamin B2 0.05mg
Vitamin A 60 IU
Dates are also rich in glucose, potassium and magnesium.
What are the health benefits of dates?
a. They are low in fat.
b. They contain magnesium, they act as a cure to many diseases,
including some forms of cancer.
c. They contain calcium, they are good for the bones and teeth. In
a study by Dr. Raf ’at Hussain, the amount of fluorine in dates
was found to be found four times greater than any other fruit.
Fluorine is very important in stopping tooth decay.
d. Dates strengthen the eyesight because they contain vitamin A.
e. Fresh dates are excellent for mothers during childbirth. The fruit
of the date-palm contains a substance that causes the uterus to
contract and strengthen the uterine muscles, thus helping in
birth. It also reduces the amount of bleeding after childbirth.
Allāh mentions this regarding the pregnancy of Maryam in the
Qur’ān:
And shake the date-palm
towards you, it will let fall و هزي ايلك جبذع انلخلة
fresh ripe-dates upon you تساقط عليك رطبا جنيا
(19:25).
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Why Ramadan?
Deliberately, the Prophet a instructed Muslims to break their fasts
with dates. Why?
a. It is at the end of the fast that the glucose level is at the lowest.
Dates are brilliant at getting glucose to the body quickly and
harmlessly. Fatty food takes time to digest and so it does not
make you feel better straight away after the fast. Dates are much
quicker.
b. When you eat dates at the end of the fast, it enters into the cells of
the liver first, then the cells of the brain, blood, nervous system,
muscles and then all the other tissues. It helps to preserve the
proteins of the body.
c. In addition to glucose, dates are a brilliant source of potassium.
At the end of a fast, we are dehydrated and tired. Ifṭār is the time
when Muslims need to hydrate themselves. Because they contain
potassium (64% more than a banana), the body hydrates much
quicker.
d. Dates also contain fibre. This is good food to keep the bowels
healthy. Dates are a good remedy for constipation if they are
eaten in the morning on an empty stomach.
e. Dates also have a calming influence on the body. It is good for
the brain and thought.
In Short...
• Dates palm tress can survive in extreme conditions, places where
there is little water.
• Dates can be preserved all year round, with no need for special
treatment for preservation.
• It is delicious food.
• It has excellent health benefits.
• It is cheap.
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• Most importantly, it is a highly-prized sunna of the Prophet
a, which therefore earns us a reward every time we eat them.
Dr. Hafiz Ather Hussain al-Azhari (@hafiz_ather)
BA Principles of Theology, al-Azhar University, Cairo, Egypt.
MA Arabic and Islamic Studies, Dar al-Ulum Muhammadia Ghawsia, Bhera, Pakistan.
BA Political Science, MPhil Theology & PhD Theology, University of Birmingham.
