The benefits of dates

[Zahra]

Assalamu Alaikum.

I know this would be more appropriate during Ramadhan, khair I got this email about the benefit of dates and thought I'd share it with you.

Walaikum Asalam,

Zahra

>>Subject: Benefits of Dates
>>Benefits of Dates
>>Muslims generally break their fast by eating dates.
>>Prophet Muhammad (sallallahu alaiyhi wassallam) is reported to have
>>said: "if anyone of you is fasting, let him break his fast with
>> >>dates. In case he does not have them, then with water. Verily
>>water
>> >>is a purifier."
>> >>
>> >> The Prophet(sallallahu alaiyhi wassallam) used to
>> >>break his fast by eating some dates before offering Maghrib
>>prayer,
>> >>and if ripe dates were not available, he used to substitute them
>> >>with some dried grapes. When they too were not available, he
>>used
>> >>to have a few sips of water, according to some reports. Modern
>> >>science has proved that dates are part of a healthy diet. They
>> >>contain sugar, fat and proteins, as well as important vitamins.
>> >>Hence the great importance attached to them by the
>> >>Prophet(sallallahu alaiyhi wassallam).
>> >>
>> >> Dates are also rich in natural fibres. Modern medicine
>> >>has shown that they are effective in preventing abdominal
>>cancer.
>> >>They also surpass other fruits in the sheer variety of their
>> >>constituents. They contain oil, calcium, sulphur, iron,
>>potassium,
>> >>phosphorous, manganese, copper and magnesium. In other words,
>>one
>> >>date is a minimum of a balanced and healthy diet. Arabs usually
>> >>combine dates with milk and yogurt or bread, butter and fish.
>>This
>> >>combination indeed makes a self-sufficient and tasty diet for
>>both
>> >>mind and body. Dates and date palms have been mentioned in the
>>Holy
>> >>Qur'an 20 times, thus showing their importance.
>> >>
>> >> The Prophet likened a good Muslim to the date palm,
>> >>saying, "Among trees, there is a tree like a Muslim. Its leaves
>>do
>> >>not fall."
>> >>
>> >> Sayyidah Mariam(alaiyhas salaam) mother of
>> >>Isa(alaiyhis salaam) had dates as her food when she felt labour
>> >>pains and during confinement. They are definitely the "crown of
>> >>sweets," and ideal food which is easy to digest, and within half
>>an
>> >>hour of taking it, the tired body regains a renewed vigour. The
>> >>reason for this is that a shortage of sugar in the blood is the
>> >>main factor that makes people feel hungry and not an empty
>>stomach
>> >>as is often assumed. When the body absorbs the nutritional
>>essence
>> >>of a few dates, the feeling of hunger becomes appeased. When one
>> >>breaking the fast with dates takes some other food afterwards,
>>he
>> >>cannot eat much. It would seem that breaking the fast with dates
>> >>then helps one avoid excessive eating.
>> >>
>> >> Experiments have also shown that dates contain some
>> >>stimulants that strengthen the muscles of the uterus in the last
>> >>months of pregnancy. This helps the dilation of the uterus at
>>the
>> >>time of delivery on one hand and reduces the bleeding after
>> >>delivery on the other. Dieticians consider dates as the best
>>food
>> >>for women in confinement and those who are breast-feeding. This
>>is
>> >>because dates contain elements that assist in alleviating
>> >>depression in mothers and enriching the breast-milk with all the
>> >>elements needed to make the child healthy and resistant to
>>disease.
>> >>The Prophet (sallallahu alaiyhi wassallam) has emphasized the
>> >>importance of dates and their effectiveness in the growth of the
>> >>fetus. He has also recommended they be given to women. Modern
>> >>dietary institute now recommend dates to be given to children
>> >>suffering from a nervous nature or hyperactivity. The Prophet
>> >>(sallallahu alaiyhi wassallam) has also recommended dates as a
>> >>medicine for heart troubles, according to some reports. Modern
>> >>science has also proved the effectiveness of date, in preventing
>> >>diseases of the respiratory system.
>> >>
>> >> Sayyidah Ayisha, (R.A.) wife of Prophet (sallallahu
>> >>alaiyhi wassallam), used to prescribe dates for those suffering
>> >>from giddiness. It is now well known that a fall in the level of
>> >>the sugar in the blood and low blood pressure are among the
>>causes
>> >>of giddiness. She was also reported to have used dates combined
>> >>with cucumber to treat her over-slim condition! She said,
>>"they've
>> >>tried to fatten me giving me everything. But I did not become
>>fat.
>> >>Then they fattened me with cucumber and ripe dates and I
>>gained!"
>> >>Ayisha was quite correct, as we now know that one kilogram of
>>dates
>> >>contains nearly 3,000 calories which alone are sufficient to
>>supply
>> >>the minimum daily requirements of an active man for one full
>>day.
>> >>
>> >> Dates are rich in several vitamins and minerals. When
>> >>the level of trace elements falls in the body, the health of the
>> >>blood vessels is affected leading to an increased heart-rate and
>>a
>> >>consequent inability to perform its function with normal
>> >>efficiency. As dates are also rich in calcium, they help
>>strengthen
>> >>the bones. When the calcium content in the body decreases,
>>children
>> >>are affected with rickets and the bones of adults become brittle
>> >>and weak.
>> >>
>> >> Dates are also important in keeping up the health of
>> >>eyes. It is quite effective in guarding against night-blindness.
>>In
>> >>the early years of Islam, dates served as food for Muslim
>>warriors.
>> >>They used to carry them in special bags hung at their sides.
>>They
>> >>are the best stimulant for muscles and so the best food for a
>> >>warrior about to engage in battle.
>> >>
>> >> The Prophet (sallallahu alaiyhi wassallam) used to
>> >>combine dates with bread sometimes. At other times he mixed ripe
>> >>dates with cucumber, or dates combined with ghee. He used to
>>take
>> >>all varieties of dates, but he preferred the variety called
>>Ajwah.
>> >>
>> >>
>> >>
>> >>
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>> >>
>> >>
>> >>
>> >> Random Quote:
>> >>
>> >> The month of Ramadaan is the month of Allah,
>> >> (bringing) His blessing, mercy and forgiveness.
>> >> ( Hadith )
>> >>
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[Saleel]

for that. Reminds me of when we brought back packs of dates from Madinah. Ajwah dates definitely do taste the nicest!

Experiments have also shown that dates contain some stimulants that strengthen the muscles of the uterus in the last months of pregnancy. This helps the dilation of the uterus at the time of delivery on one hand and reduces the bleeding after delivery on the other.

The uterus itself doesn't dilate, it's the neck of the uterus (i.e. the cervix). Just for accuracy purposes .

[UmmIbrahimIsa]

assalamu alaikum wr wb

jazakuAllahkhairun.
i think i posted this a few weeks ago on here but its good for reminders..
as the Prophet SAW said to give advice once, twice or thrice. That way people remember...and if people remember they reflect.

[Zahra]

Sorry i didnt realise it had already been posted! Khair its all good JKK for the scientific correction.