Salamun alaykum,
An Nakhil: King of the Oasis :
Throughout the centuries, An Nakhil -the Date palm- has had a history of religious significance and myths. The ancient Egyptians used date palm leaves to symbolize longevity and had many medicinal uses from the fruit or juice of date palms.
The Jews are said to have derived the female name Tamara from the Arabic word "Tamr," hoping that their daughters would become like the blessed date palm; tall, pretty, and fertile.
In Christianity, it is believed by some that the "tree of life," in the Bible may in fact be referring to the date palm.
In the Holy Qur’an, the date palm is mentioned 22 times. It is mentioned more than any other fruit-bearing plant in the Holy Qur’an. Dates were one of the most frequently consumed foods by the Holy Prophet.
Iftar : not without dates:
Each day in the holy month of Ramadan, at the times of iftar- the fast breaking, the menu is incomplete without “tamr” or ripe dates. This is a common ingredient for all muslims around the world. This is in keeping with the traditions of the holy Prophet who commended dates for the breaking of the fast.
Double benefits:
The benefit of breaking the fast with dates is both spiritual and physical. One way of connecting with the holy Prophet and remembering him is to follow his tradition of breaking fast with dates. Thus deriving spiritual rewards.
At the end of the day long period of fasting the body is in immediate need of energy. The physical benefit of breaking the fast with dates is that our body benefits from the high level of natural sugars in dates. Sugars travel most quickly to the liver, where they are converted into energy more quickly than any other nutrient.
Eating a date first helps the body start its digestive process and gives it the energy to deal with the secondary, more complex foods, eaten during iftar.
It’s like a Multivitamin:
The sugar content of ripe dates is about 80%; the remainder consists of protein, fat and mineral products including copper, sulfur, iron, magnesium and fluoric acid. Dates are also high in vitamins A and B6, folic acid, potassium, Natural sodium, iron, and magnesium.
Dates also contain large amounts of dietary fiber, which can prevent any constipation that might result from eating the traditionally rich foods served during holy Ramadhan. Additionally, dates protect the stomach and intestinal tract from parasites and bacteria, and thus is a good preventative medicine.
Thus, eating dates daily during holy Ramadhan is like taking a daily multivitamin. This daily multivitamin can create a stronger and healthier body, one more fit for fasting.
According to a study by Al-Shahib and Marshall, in many ways, "dates may be considered as an almost ideal food, providing a wide range of essential nutrients and potential health benefits."
Wa ma tawfiqi illa billah
With salaams and duas
Fazle Abbas Datoo
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Resident Alim
Wessex Shia Ithna Asheri Jamaat
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Wessex Shia Ithna Asheri Jamaat. Al Mahdi, Wickham Road, Fareham, Hampshire . PO17 5BU. Reg. Charity Number: 1010076. Tel: 01329 832537. Fax: 02392-529766
E-mail: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.: Jamaat Web Site: www.almahdi.org.uk:
Project Web Site: www.almahdi.org.uk/almahdiproject
Member of the Council of European Jamaats
Member of Mosques and Imams National Advisory Board
___________________________________________________________________________________________
Wessex Shia Ithna Asheri Jamaat. Al Mahdi, Wickham Road, Fareham, Hampshire . PO17 5BU. Reg. Charity Number: 1010076. Tel: 01329 832537. Fax: 02392-529766
E-mail: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.: Jamaat Web Site: www.almahdi.org.uk: Project Web Site: www.almahdi.org.uk/almahdiproject
Member of the Council of European Jamaats
Member of Mosques and Imams National Advisory Board