Latest Ramadan 2024: Reasons For Dates Are The First Best Eaten When Breaking Ramadan Fast

 Latest Ramadan 2024: Reasons For Dates Are The First Best Eaten When Breaking Ramadan Fast During Ramadan, one fasts from sunrise to sunset...

 Latest Ramadan 2024: Reasons For Dates Are The First Best Eaten When Breaking Ramadan Fast

During Ramadan, one fasts from sunrise to sunset. The Prophet Muhammad peace be upon him, is cited as having said, "When one of you is fasting, he should break his fast with dates; but if he cannot get any, then he should break his fast with water, since water is purifying," which is the source of this custom.

Muslims all throughout the world commemorate Ramadan, a holy month that is marked by introspection, prayer, and fasting from sunrise to sunset. Using dates to break the fast is one of the most beloved customs observed during this holy month. Date intake has great spiritual and nutritional importance beyond just being a cultural norm. It is an essential part of the iftar, the evening meal that breaks the day's fast 

       Historical And Spiritual Importance 

The Prophet Muhammad peace be upon him is credited with starting the custom of breaking fast with dates. It is stated that, in keeping with the Abrahamic custom, the Prophet himself broke his fast with water and dates. The rite, which marks the start of iftar and the conclusion of the daily fast, is deeply ingrained in Islamic teachings and has spiritual significance. 

Dates are a significant fruit for Muslims worldwide, as they are the fruit of the date palm and the Prophet (ﷺ). We all know and love dates, and they are a common food in Muslim households, but did you realise that eating dates has special significance in Islam?

We can infer that dates and the date palm are deeply ingrained in Islam because the Qur'an mentions them 22 times, more than any other fruit tree. The Prophet (ﷺ) loved eating them and was aware of its health benefits. He kindly urged everyone in his vicinity to follow suit. He would give them to his ummah as gifts and tell them about the health advantages of eating dates in Islam.

"There is a tree among the trees whose leaves do not fall and which is like a Muslim," declared the Prophet (ﷺ). Tell me the tree's name." Everyone's thoughts turned to the trees that grow in the desert. And I considered the date-palm tree, but I was too bashful to respond. "What is that tree, O Allah's Messenger (ﷺ)?" the other people enquired. "That's the date-palm tree," he retorted. [Bukhari]

The Prophet (ﷺ) was expressing that Muslims are weak in their faith and unwavering in their commitment to Allah (SWT) when he compared date palms to Muslims. Like the date palm's leaves and branches stretching for the sun, the believer is constantly reaching out for Allah (SWT). In the same way that the date palm and the fruit it produces may nourish the earth, the Muslim ummah can nourish Islam by propagating and adhering to the teachings of Allah (SWT).  

             Health Benefits Of Eating Dates  

The Prophet (ﷺ) has advocated eating dates in Islam due to its health benefits, but he has also compared the date palm to the believer. The Prophet (ﷺ) was wise enough to know that eating dates would benefit Muslims all across the world. "He who eats seven Ajwa dates every morning, will not be affected by poison or magic on the day he eats them," he is alleged to have claimed. [Bukhari]

Seven dates a day is the ideal serving size to support our bodies in maintaining a healthy physical balance. Dates are rich in vitamins and minerals that can help keep us healthy. These delicious fruits, which are cholesterol-free, high in fibre, and packed with antioxidants, can strengthen your immune system and help keep your body safe. "There is a cure in dates," as Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) once remarked to the Muslims. As the Prophet (ﷺ) told us, we can see today that eating dates supports a generally healthy body and 

      Dates Contain Such Kind Of Nutritious 

• A strong source of protein
• Fibre, which helps lower the risk of heart disease and prevents constipation
• Vitamins such as B1, B2, B3, B5, A, C, K and D
• Selenium, manganese, copper and magnesium, which are good for bone health
• Potassium, which helps support the nervous system
• Fluorine, which helps fight tooth decay
• Iron, which helps with anaemia
• Natural sugars

             Other Health Benefits Of Dates 

Additionally, the Qur'an describes how eating dates According to Surah Maryam, Islam can ease the agony of pregnancy and childbirth. When Maryam (as) was pregnant with Isa (as), she was in excruciating pain; therefore, Allah (SWT) told her to eat dates to calm her down.

“The pains of labour drove her to the trunk of a date-palm. She [Maryam] said, "Oh if only I had died before this time and was something discarded and forgotten!" A voice called out to her from under her, "Do not grieve! Your Lord has placed a small stream at your feet. Shake the trunk of the palm towards you and fresh, ripe dates will drop down onto you. Eat and drink and delight your eyes." [Qur'an, 19:23]

Eating dates when pregnant can assist reduce labour discomfort and ensure a safe birth for the unborn child. Dates contain folate, which aids in the formation of the foetus' spinal cord; magnesium eases pregnant cramps and spasms; vitamin K helps blood coagulate and maintains healthy bones; and potassium helps control blood pressure. The benefits of eating dates in the later stages of pregnancy are confirmed by a Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology paper that claims that date consumption “has been shown to positively affect the outcome of labour and delivery without adverse effect on the mother and and child. " Thank God!

  

                               Conclusion

Due to the Prophet's (ﷺ) saying that "when one of you breaks his fast, let him break it with dates because they are blessed," dates are particularly popular during Ramadan. Let him break it with water if they can't be detected because it's pure. [Tirmidhi]

 During the holy month of Ramadan, dates are served on iftar tables all around the world for Muslim families to enjoy with their loved ones.

During Ramadan, the Prophet (ﷺ) would either break his fast with juicy dates or, in the event that they were unavailable, would simply drink water. For someone who has been fasting all day on an empty stomach, they are helpful since they energise the body and are quickly absorbed.

Dates can bring you closer to our Prophet (ﷺ) and our faith, whether you eat them during Ramadan or at any other time of the year. Future generations of Muslims in our worldwide ummah will continue to enjoy the many benefits of this Islamic habit of eating dates!