Within half an hour, the body regains vigor. Every Ramadan, breaking my fast with a khajoor feels transcendent. Stressing these health benefits, the Prophet said to break the fast in the month of Ramadan with a date. One date contains more potassium per weight than a banana. Additionally, dates have high sugar intake, making them Mother Nature’s candy for mortals. Dates also contain many minerals, including magnesium, iron, phosphorous, copper, calcium and potassium. They contain vitamin A and numerous B-complex vitamins necessary for building healthy body tissue and muscle. The Prophet was once reported to have said, “People in a house without dates are in a state of hunger.” Dates boast many vital nutrients, plus they are fat-free, cholesterol-free, and sodium-free. This helps the dilation of the uterus at the time of delivery and reduces bleeding. The Prophet emphasized the importance of dates in the growth of the fetus and reportedly put chewed dates into the mouths of newborns. Experiments have also shown that dates contain stimulants that strengthen the muscles of the uterus in the last months of pregnancy. The Qur’an states that Mary was advised to eat dates while in labor with Jesus, to ease childbirth and strengthen the body. This gives the date a sort of mystical property, almost supernatural. While the proverb “an apple a day keeps the doctor away” is known in much of the world, the Muslim equivalent is “seven dates a day keeps the doctor away.” The Prophet argued that seven dates in the morning protected one from poison and witchcraft. Whether the fruit is called tamr (Arabic), khajoor (Urdu), hurmah (Turkish), or buah kurma (Indonesian), it is part of Muslim upbringing.Ī date market in Jubail, Saudi Arabia, c. The date palm, mentioned more than any other fruit-bearing plant in the Qur’an-22 times-is a symbol often associated with Muslims, even as the religion has spread around the globe. In fact, the Prophet Muhammed said that Ajwah dates-grown in the Madinah region of Saudi Arabia-are from paradise. Although the date can be traced back to 4000 BCE in ancient Arabia, Islam has stressed the holiness of the date and the date palm more than any other religion. Going on a date brings two people together, while the fruit unites one of the largest and most diverse communities-the Islamic world.īorn in the seventh century, Islam brought many attributes to the modern world, one of which was the significance of the date palm. Although the two meanings of the word “date” bear no resemblance, they share a common thread. My anecdote is not one merely of aching childhood nostalgia, but rather one that lies inherently in Muslim identity. As I was recognizing and relating to the world around me, I found that the opulent date was mystical. It was much more than nature’s bounty.Īs a child living in Karachi, Pakistan, the nutritious brown date was abundant at street vendors, weddings, religious ceremonies, holy days and celebrations. It was tied to the place and people, both culturally and religiously. At the time, I wasn’t aware that this sticky-sweet drupe was in fact a fruit. The memory comprises jammy, sticky, cockroach-looking, oval-shaped yumminess. No, not the date where two people meet to get to know each other, but rather the fruit. The change may take up to 48 hours to go into effect.It was at the age of four that I first became cognizant of the date.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply.AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |