Dates fruit are closely associated to fasting and the month of Ramadhan. They are considered Sunnah food by Muslims and consuming dates are considered the "way" of many practicing Muslims around the world.
In this All Kurma UpDates, we would like to take the opportunity to explore the story behind how dates gained its place as Sunnah Food.
The Way of The Prophet
The word Sunnah (Arabic: سنة) is an Arabic word meaning "tradition" or "way". For Muslims, Sunnah means "the way of the prophet". The Sunnah is made up of the words and actions of Muhammad, the prophet of Islam. Muslims believe Muhammad's life is a good role model for them to follow in their own lives.
The Prophet said: "Break your fast by eating dates and drinking water as it is purifying." On the basis of that Hadith, Muslims then insist on breaking their fast with dates and water.
The Prophet's way of breaking fast with dates and water carries nutritional and sustenance significance, before people realized or any science could comprehend it at the time. During the fasting period, our body is deprived of food and nourishment, when we break fast, the best and most subtle way to recharge our body and stomach's electrolytes are with dates and just plain water.
Dates come under low to medium Glycemic index food, which means the high sugar content in dates will be slowly digested and not dramatically raise and shock our blood sugar levels, most especially after a daylong fast. And water, in its purest form of course, is the best nourishment one can consume to reintroduce food back into our system.
Besides that, dates are high in fiber and carbohydrates, which plays a very important role during the fasting month. When we consume dates during Suhoor (pre-dawn meal before the beginning of the daylong fast) it will keep us contented longer through a combination of high fiber, which satiates hunger, and its sugar content that is digested slowly, giving our body enough energy to burn throughout the day.
Date Fruits and Modernization.
Consuming dates today is no longer confined to only religious and cultural practices. Dates have gained popularity due to their tremendously high nutritional value. In fact, dates are so nutrionally dense, it has been named one of the superfoods of this century.
Research has shown that minerals and vitamins in dates are beneficial to our health, with minerals and vitamins such as Potassium, Iron, Vitamin B6, Anti-oxidant and many more.
Its high fiber content too is extremely good for our digestive system, promoting bowel movement and, if consumed regularly, reduces constipation significantly. Just 3 - 5 dates a day (medium sized) provides 50% of our daily fiber requirements.
Nutritionist world-wide believe that this almost weather-proof fruit is a good energy booster. Dates contain 70 - 80% carbohydrates in the form of sugar, and because of it is Low Glycemic Index, sugar will be released and turned into energy slowly, resulting in us having enough "preserved" energy throughout the day.
There we go, some brief insights on how our favorite superfood made its way to becoming Sunnah food and some of its most significant and best benefits. If you have not been including dates in your everyday diet, now is a good time to start.
Of the many varieties we have, Medjool dates, Ajwa dates are among our best sellers. Add some sweetness into your life with our top pick and most favorite dates, you have read it all, now you can have it all.
Now that you've gotten your dose of upDates! Till our next date, Eat Fresh and Stay Well, only from All Kurma.
References :
https://simple.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sunnah
https://www.sisters-magazine.com/superfoods-from-the-sunnah/
http://www.arabnews.com/node/386249
https://www.thespruceeats.com/islamic-tradition-breaking-fast-with-dates-2394244
