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.
>> >>
>> >>
>> >>
>> >>
>> >>--------------------------------------------------------------------
>> >>
>> >>
>> >>
>> >> Random Quote:
>> >>
>> >> The month of Ramadaan is the month of Allah,
>> >> (bringing) His blessing, mercy and forgiveness.
>> >> ( Hadith )
>> >>
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>> >>
>> >>
>> >>
>> >>
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>>Allah
>> >>Almighty curse and humiliate and destroy the oppressors of this
>> >>world Insha'Allah - Message Islam
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