The date palm is said to have
originated in the Middle East and has proven to be such a successful plant and
source (fruit) of nourishment that it has become a popular wholesome food across
the planet. In many ways, dates may be considered as an almost ideal food,
providing a wide range of essential nutrients and potential health benefits. It
is because of its food (energy) value, that Dates have special significance for
the fasting month of Ramazan. Man can survive for long years with good health if
only Date Fruits (Arabic, Tamar: Hindi/Urdu, Khajur) are eaten daily.
Many fruits and fruit-bearing
plants have been mentioned in the Qur’an, but it is the date palm that finds
maximum references. Under the Quranic names of Nakhl and Nakhil , it has been
mentioned in 20 Verses of the Quran. In Surat Al-Nahl, Allah Says: “With it He
produces for you corn, olives, date palms, grapes, and every kind of fruit:
Verily in this is a Sign for those who give thought” (XVI - Verse 11). The
Qur’an also narrates the incidence when Holy Maryam was provided with fresh ripe
dates when she was feeling pain during childbirth (Surat Maryam-Mary – XIX -
Verse: 23). It is this verse that is supposed to be the reason for considering
Dates to be beneficial to pregnant women during labour pains.
In Prophetic Traditions, many useful properties have attributed to Dates.
Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) advised his followers to break fast with
dates during Ramadan. He also advised: ‘‘Don’t miss evening meal, even if it
happens to be constituted of few dates. Missing of evening meals hasten aging.”
In another Traditions, taking dates in the morning is said to help in preventing
poisoning.
The botanical name of the date palm is Phoenix dactylifera, which belongs to the
family Palmae (Arecaceae). In Arabic, the date palm is called “Nakhl” whereas
its fruit is known as “Tamar,” although in many Arab and African countries the
Hindi word “Khajur” and Persian word “Khurma” have been of common usage for the
date fruits.
It is assumed that the domestication and cultivation of date palm started 6,000
to 8,000 years back in Mesopotamia. Probably no other fruit plant was in
cultivation at that time anywhere in the world and that may be the reason why
the date palm is supposed to be the plant most associated with the development
of human culture and civilization. According to an old saying in Arabic, the
uses of date palm are as many as the number of days in a year.
Dates are not only sweet and delicious but they are one of the best-known
nutritious diets for mankind. They contain more than 60 percent invert sugar
along with a small amount of sucrose in addition to protein, pectin, tannin,
cellulose, starch and fat in varying proportions. Vitamins A, B and C are also
present in appreciable amounts. Furthermore, the mineral constituents present
are iron, sodium, calcium, sulphur, chlorine and phosphorus. Wholesome dates are
used for making confectionery, beverages, sugar and a sugary syrup — very much
like honey.
Dates are reputed for their great medicinal value. They are demulcents,
emollients, a heart stimulant and help in checking the loss of memory. They are
also useful in respiratory disorders in general and asthma in particular. In
addition, dates are laxatives, diuretics and aphrodisiacs. Thus, taking into
account all of their constituents and qualities, they can be rated as a
nutritious diet and a health tonic.
Because of their beauty and elegance, date palm gardens are an exquisite sight.
In fact, most of the poets of Arabia, Africa and even Europe have described date
palms in their well-known poems. Homer, in his epic, “Odyssey,” has used the
word “Tamar” (date tree) to represent beauty. Similarly, Chaucer and Shakespeare
have also mentioned date palms in their writings.
Phyto-geographically, the area of cultivation of date palms extends from Western
India to the East of Africa. According to the UN Food & Agriculture Organization
(FAO) report of 2012, top ten producing countries of dates are Egypt, Iran,
Saudi Arabia, Algeria, Iraq, Pakistan, Oman, United Arab Emirates, Tunisia and
Libya.
However, some of the best varieties like Ajwah, Khalas, Zahidi, Muzafati, Hayati,
Afandi, Helwah, Jebaily,Shalaby,Rabiyyah,Rashudiah, Safawy, Maktoomi and
Sariyyah are produced in Saudi Arabia, Oman, Iran UAE and Iraq.
Total world date fruit production is about 7.8 million tonnes (2012- FAO
Report)) of which 87% comes from the ten countries referred to above.
India is the major importer of Dates after France. About 5 lakh metric tonnes
are imported in India every year
Chemical Composition of 100gms of Dates: Energy 280 kcal 1180 kJ; Carbohydrates,
75 g (Sugars, 63 g); Dietary fibre, 8 g; Fat, 0.4 g;Protein,2.5 g; Water,21 g;
Vitamin C, 0.4mg; Manganese,0.262 mg
Important Traditions (Hadiths- Prophetic Traditions)) on Dates
1. Narrated son of Busur (R) ‘‘we presented to him (the Prophet) butter and
dates because he liked them together.
2. Narrated Anas bin Malik (R). The Prophet (PBUH) said ‘‘don’t miss evening
meal, even if it happens to be constituted of few dates. Missing of evening
meals hasten aging.
3. Narrated Mohammad Ahmad Dhabi (R). The Prophet (PBUH) said ‘‘If you can
afford, breakfast with dates’’
4. Narrated Maharib bin Dithar (R). I heard Umar (R) saying that Apostle of
Allah (PBUH) said ‘‘the example of a believer is like the tree of date palm”
5. Narrated Um Manzar ® Once Apostle of Allah (PBUH) advised Ali (R) not to eat
more dates as ‘‘you have recently recovered from illness and you are weak (Masnad
Ahmad0
6. Narrated Jabir bin Abdullah (R). The Prophet (PBUH) advised not to eat
raisins and dates together.
(Source: PLANTS OF THE QURAN by Dr. M.I.H. Farooqi)