Here's Why Dates Are So Important To Muslims During The Fasting Month

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You can feel it in the air: the faint smell of smoke and spices from the bazaar Ramadan, the jingle of iconic on the radio that only show up during Ramadan (yeah, you know which one I'm talking about: Yusuf... Taiyooob....), and the malls filled with families preparing for Hari Raya.

You might have already seen it in supermarkets and mamaks everywhere even before Ramadan starts — boxes of one, sweet, chewy, delectable fruit: dates.

But why, you may ask, are dates very significant to Muslims during Ramadan? Why do you see it in bowls and jars on dinner tables or handed out in small packages? 

There are really only two main reasons: Muslims are following the practices of the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH), and dates help restore the energy used throughout the day.

The most general answer is that the Muslim community are simply following the exemplary practices of the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH). In Islam, a Muslim is encouraged to adopt the habits of the Prophet (PBUH) so that they would be blessed with many good returns.

The Prophet (PBUH) used to break his fast (iftar) by eating a few dates, or if there weren't any, he'd take a few sips of water. This fact is narrated in an authentic saying, or hadith sahih, that goes:

"Anas ibn Malik reported: "The Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, would break his fast before praying with fresh dates. If there were no fresh dates, then with dry dates. If there were no dry dates, then with some sips of water."

Aside from being on the list of the Prophet's (PBUH) favourite food, dates were his preferred 'snack' for breaking his fast. There are other hadith sahih that confirm this fact as well.

It is, however, not mandatory to break one's fast with dates but it is encouraged. If dates are not available, anything sweet or just water would do just fine.

Aside from the religious significance of the fruit, dates are also one of the ideal fruits to consume to restore energy after over 10 hours without food or water. Dates have a high nutrient content, namely sugar, fibre, phytonutrients, vitamin C, potassium, magnesium, and some protein and fat. Because dates are digested easily, it helps in the quick restoration of glucose levels in the body, so all that energy lost in the whole day of fasting will come right back with just a few dates! 

Dates are also a good survival food because they're packed with all the necessary nutrients, and can be stored for long periods of time.

There isn't just one kind of date, either. There's the medjool, the ajwa, and the 'queen of dates', the deglet noor variation. Different dates have different textures and tastes. Some are described to taste like caramel, some are compared to honey, and some even likened to butterscotch.

Dates be eaten as is, or incorporated into a variety of dishes, desserts, and drinks. There are no rulings in Islam towards what specific date to eat or how to eat it, so if you've been looking at that recipe that uses dates, you should probably try it out.