Ramadan 2022: The holy month of Ramadan began on 2 April. The month of Ramadan is considered auspicious and holy for Muslims as this period signifies devotion, prayer and good deeds. During Ramadan, Muslims abstain from eating and drinking between sunrise and sunset. The fast begins after ‘Sehri’ before sunrise and ends with ‘Iftar’ after sunset. While Iftar consists of a variety of delicious foods, one thing that is common in most households is breaking the fast by eating dates.
Dates have a special significance in the Qur’an and are called the main iftar food without which the fast is incomplete. Dates are also considered sacred in Islam. Let us look at the history and importance of the particular fruit.
history of dates
Dates, scientifically known as Phoenix dactylifera, are one of the oldest cultivated objects. Dates are said to have originated from the Middle East and there are more than 3,000 varieties available. If we look at the history of date palm, it is one of the oldest cultivated fruits which dates back to millions of years ago. There are different meanings associated with dates in different cultures. In Greek mythology, it is associated with the immortal phoenix. It is believed that the date palm is immortal like the phoenix bird. There is also a belief that in the Americas, the Spaniards introduced dates to various regions, including Mexico and California, in 1765.
importance of dates in islam
Dates are mentioned more in the Holy Quran than any other fruit. It is mentioned 22 times in the holy book. Apart from this, many sayings of Prophet Muhammad shed light on the importance of dates in Islam. It is said that in the Qur’an the Prophet says that eating seven dates every morning in the morning prevents many diseases. Apart from this, it is also believed that the Prophet used to break his fast with only dates, which are now followed by Muslims around the world.
In different regions of the world, date is known by different names. It is called Khajoor in Urdu language and Tamr in Arabic.
Apart from religious significance, there is also science behind the use of dates during fasting. It is said that they are high in soluble fiber, which fills the stomach when taken after fasting. It prevents a person from overeating after a day’s fast.
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