Why You Need to Break Your Fast with Dates
“Break your fast by eating dates, if not, do it by water as it is purifying.” (Narrated by Ahmad).
Muslims around the globe are observing the fasting of the holy month of Ramadhan, and it’s a well-known tradition for Muslims to break their fasting with dates. It is actually recommended, as Prophet Mohammad (peace and blessings be upon him) used to do, as reported in Sunnah:
“Break your fast by eating dates, if not, do it by water as it is purifying.” (Narrated by Ahmad).
He (peace and blessings be upon him) said in another Hadith:
“The date that is from Al-`Aliyah [district in Al-Madinah] is a cure.” (Narrated by Muslim and Ahmad.)
The nutritional value of the relatively easy-to-store date fruit is high in sugar – comprising up to 70% of the fruit.
Dates are also good sources of iron, potassium (150mg in 100g), magnesium (important for use of voluntary muscles), sulphur, copper, calcium and phosphorus (important in building muscles and neuro-tissues), along with various vitamins, including thiamine, riboflavin, biotin, folic and ascorbic acid. Water is 13.8% and proteins are about 3%.
One kilogram of dates gives the body 3470 calories shortly after eating it. This energy will satisfy your appetite, which is very important especially while breaking your fasting.
The date palm (nakhl) is mentioned frequently in the Qur’an, especially when showing the miracles of Allah’s creation and the pleasures, which were created for man.
Also, in the story of Maryam, pains drove the blessed mother of Jesus (peace be upon them) to the trunk of a palm tree. She was ordered to eat from the fresh ripe dates.
“With it He produces for you corn, olives, date palms, grapes and every kind of fruit; verily this is a sign for those who give thought.”(Surat An-Nahl 16:11).
“And shake towards thyself the trunk of the palm tree, it will let fall fresh ripe dates upon thee…So eat and drink and cool (thine) eye.”(Surat Maryam 19:25-26).
According to scientific studies, the ripe date contains a substance that urges uterine spasms and increases contractions especially in the time of delivery.
This substance resembles ‘oxytocin’ that is secreted by the interior lobe of pituitary gland, which encourages contractions of the uterus.