Health Benefits of Dates in Ramadan

Author: Farhat

Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) recommended us to break the fast with fresh or dry dates. Today it is proven that Dates are rich in fiber, potassium and other nutrients. When we study the nutritional facts and the health benefits of this amazing fruit from the date palm, we will realize that it is indeed a must have fruit after fasting for hours in Ramadan as well as in other months. It is also recommended in a hadith to eat dates on daily basis at morning.

Anas bin Malik narrated: The Messenger of Allah would break the fast with fresh dates before performing Salat. If there were no fresh dates then (he would break the fast) with dried dates, and if there were no dried dates then he would take a few sips of water. (Jami` at-Tirmidhi 696, Book-8 Hadith-15)

6 Reasons to Eat Dates after Fasting

1. Dates are easy to digest so they don’t exhaust your stomach after fasting.
2. Breaking the fast with dates can quickly bring down the great hunger and we will not rush into excessive food right after breaking the fast, which can cause digestion disorders.
3. Taking dates prepare our stomach to receive the food after being inactive through out the day by activating the release of digestive secretions and juices.
4. Dates are very rich with ‘natural’ sugary energy which is a best nutrient for the brain cells and nerves.
5. Dates protects us from having constipation as a result of change in the eating times or low fiber intakes during fasting days.
6. The alkaline salts in dates can adjust the acidity of blood resulting from excessive intake of meat and carbohydrates which can cause a lot of hereditary diseases such as as diabetes, gout, renal stones, gall bladder inflammations, high blood pressure and hemorrhoids.

When Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ), Messenger of Allah, recommend us to do or eat something, we know it is a guidance from Allah SWT, our Creator, who knows what is good and bad for a human body!

Other Health Benefits of Dates

Due to its high magnesium and calcium content, dates are also reported to be useful in the treatment of respiratory disorders, heart conditions and cancer. It’s also recommended for anemia, allergies, and constipation. Bedouin Arabs, who ate them on a regular basis, showed an extremely low incidence rate of cancer and heart diseases. Dates contain seven vitamins and eleven minerals whose importance as a dietary supplement was appreciated by the desert people who, for thousands of years, ate dates with goat or camel milk as a complete sustenance.

Dates are also recommended for pregnant women. Scientific studies have shown that eating dates are highly beneficial for pregnant women and nursing mothers. Dates contain certain stimulants which assist in the strengthening of the muscles of the womb which can lead to an easier delivery. The sugar content of dates is about 80% making it an ideal high energy food for nursing mothers.

When Mary/Maryam (peace be upon her), mother of Prophet Jesus (peace be upon him), was giving birth to him and she was experiencing pain, the following verses were revealed to her by Allah:

Do not grieve! Your Lord has provided a stream at your feet. And ˹if you˺ shake the trunk of this palm tree towards you, it will drop fresh, ripe dates upon you. So eat and drink, and put your heart at ease.. (Quran 19:24-26)