Why is the Ramadan fast break with dates?
On March 12, 2024, the majority of Muslims in India and the subcontinent will start fasting in observance of the holy month of Ramadan, known as Ramzan in South Asia. One of the five pillars of Islam is Sawm, or fasting. The other four are Zakaat (charity or almsgiving to the poor), Salat (prayer), Hajj (pilgrimage to Makkah), and Tawhid (oneness of God).
During Ramadan, Muslims typically fast from sunrise to sunset (Sehri and Iftari). Generally speaking, they eat at dawn (Sehr) and then abstain from food and liquids until nightfall, when the fast is broken with dates in most Muslim countries and places with sizable Muslim populations.
However, why dates? The answer could be as simple as geography.
In West Asia, where there is a lot of desert, the date palm (Phoenix dactylifera) is a significant tree. UNESCO is shown here on the date palm:
The date palm is an evergreen plant that is typically found in deserts and dry, moderate settings. Its roots pierce the dirt deeply to find moisture. In oases found in desert regions with appropriate water levels for irrigation, date palms thrive.
It also says:
A rich cultural legacy that has been carried down through the ages has been made possible by the long-standing historical tie between the Arab region and date palms.
It is therefore not surprising that the date palm has had a significant influence on the development of Judaism, Christianity, and Islam, the three Abrahamic faiths.
The prophet on that particular day
The Prophet of Islam himself mentioned dates, which is another reason Muslims break the Ramadan fast with them.
Muhammad’s sayings and deeds are preserved in the Hadiths, which document his opinions on the occasion. The majority of Islamic scholars believe that the Kutub Al Sittah is an authentic compilation of Hadith literature. Among them are:
1. The Bukhari Sahih.
2. The Muslim Sahih.
3. Abu Dawood Sunan.
4. Tirmidhi Jame.
5. Sunai Nasai.
6. Ibn Majah Sunan.
One of the most significant books on the Hadith is the Sahih Bukhari. Regarding the date palm tree, it documents the following instance:
“There is a tree among the trees whose leaves do not fall and which is like a Muslim,” the Prophet Said. Please tell me the tree’s name. Everyone’s thoughts turned to the trees that grow in the desert. And the date-palm tree crossed my mind. The others then enquired, “O Allah’s Apostle, please tell us what that tree is.” “It is the date-palm tree,” he retorted.
Sahih Bukhari provides yet another example of the date palm tree’s significance. The Prophet states in it:
A person will be immune to poison and magic on that particular day if they eat seven Ajwa dates first thing in the morning.
He is quoted in the Sahih Muslim as saying, “There is a cure in dates, indeed.”
Lastly, he is quoted by the Jame Tirmidhi as saying:
Allow the person breaking their fast with dates since they are blessed. Let him smash it with water if they can’t be located; it’s pure.
As evidenced by contemporary science, dates are a nutrient-dense food.
The National Institutes of Health (NIH) in the United States maintains the National Center for Biotechnology Information, which states that “date flesh is found to be rich in sugars, mainly fructose and glucose, but low in fat and protein.” With an average of 314 kcal per 100 g of flesh, it is a high source of energy. There were ten identified minerals, with selenium, copper, potassium, and magnesium being the most common.
Vitamins C and B-complex are present in dates. Additionally, according to the NIH, 100 grams of dates can supply more than 15% of the daily required intake of selenium, copper, potassium, and magnesium.
The fruit is high in antioxidants, primarily carotenoids and phenolics, and dietary fiber.