3 Chapter 3
Episode 1
Healing by Foods.
Dates.
Green Dates.
In the Sahih Hadith, it is narrated that when Prophet Muhammad Sallallaho Alaihe Wasallam, Abu Baki and UmarRadi Allaho Anhum were guests of Abu Al-Haitham bin At-Taihan Radi Allaho Anh, he brought them a cluster of dates, (which is similar to a cluster of grapes). Prophet Muhammad Sallallaho Alaihe Wasallam said:
"Why do you not choose some ripe dates for us"?
Abu Al-Haitham replied, "I wanted you to choose whatever you like of its green and ripe dates".
Busr is hot and dry, and its dryness is more than its hotness. In addition, Busr dries out excess moisture, coats the stomach, relaxes the bowels and helps the gums and mouth. The most beneficial type of Busr is the tender and sweet Busr. Yet, eating excessive amounts of Busr (green dates) regularly causes obstructions or clogs in the intestines.
Dried Dates
In Sahih Hadith, it is narrated that Prophet Muhammad Sallallaho Alaihe Wasalam said "Whoever ate seven dates in the morning from the area of Aaliyah will not be harmed by poison or magic for the rest of that day". He also said "People of a house where there are no dates are hungry". Prophet Muhammad Sallallaho Alaihe Wasalam ate dried dates with butter, with bread & alone.
Tamar is hot in the second degree & either wet or dry in the second degree. Dried dates strengthen the liver, relax the bowels, increase semen production, especially when taken with pine & relieve soar throat. As for those who are not used to eating dried dates, such as the residents of cold areas, dried dates cause them clogs, harm the teeth & cause headaches, unless they are eaten with almonds & poppy.
Dried dates are among the most nutritious fruits; their essence is hot & wet. Also when someone eats dates in the beginning of the day, they help kill worms. Dried dates are hot & they have the strength of an antidote against worms, killing / decreasing their count, especially when dried dates are taken frequently on an empty stomach. Dried dates are a fruit, type of food, a cure, a drink & a sweet.
Ripe Dates
Allah Said to Maryam Alaih as Salaam:
"And shake the trunk of date palm towards you; it will let fall fresh ripe dates upon you. So eat, drink, and be glad. Moreover, if you see any human being, say: Verily, I have vowed a fast unto The Most Gracious (Allah) so I shall not speak to any human being this day". (Maryam: 25, 26)
In addition, in the Sahihain, it is narrated that Abdullah bin Jafar Radi Allaho Anh said: "I saw the Messenger of Allah (Sallallaho Alaihe Wasallam) eating cucumbers with ripe dates".
Abu Dawood narrated in his Sunan that Anas Radi Allaho Anh said: "The Messenger of Allah (Sallallaho Alaihe Wasallam) used to break his fast with some ripe dates, and if he did not have any, then with dry dates. Otherwise, ifhe even did not have the dry dates, he would have several sips of water".
Ripe dates are just like water, hot and wet; and they are favorable for and strengthen the cold stomach, increase theproduction of semen and fertility, are suitable for cold temperaments and are very nutritious.
Ripe dates are the best types of fruit for the people Madinah al Munawwarah specifically and for all others in general where ripe dates grow. It is a very beneficial fruit for the body. But ripe dates spoil quickly in the stomach (of those who are not used to eating them) and thus produce putrid blood. Eating excessive amounts of ripe dates causes headaches, produces the black bile and harms the teeth. Oxymel (Sakanjabeen ~ a drink made with honey, vinegar and water) helps neutralize the irritants that accompany eating ripe dates.
When Prophet Muhammad Sallallaho Alaihe Wasallam used to break his fast, he used to eat first ripe or dry dates, or would drink some water. This is a wise decision, because fasting empties the stomach of food. Thus the liver would not find any sufficient energy that it could transfer to the various organs. Sweets are the fastest food to reach the liver and are favored by the liver, especially when one eats ripe dates, in which case the liver accepts it even more favorably, benefits from it and then transfers the benefit to the rest of the organs of the body. If there are no ripe dates available, one should eat dried dates because they are sweet and nutritious as well. Otherwise, some sips of water would extinguish the heat of the stomach and the Fast.
The stomach's appetite would then increase and become ready to accept (and digest) other foods.
Date Palm Tree
Date palm is mentioned in Quran at several places. In Sahi'hain, it is narrated that Ibn Umar Radi Allaho Anh said "We were with Prophet Muhammad Sallallaho Alaihe Wasallam and a spadix of date palm was brought to him. On that occasion he said, among the trees is a tree; the leaves of which do not fall and it resembles a Muslim , I wanted to say that it was the date palm tree but as I was the youngest of all of them, I kept quiet. And then Prophet Muhammad Sallallaho Alaihe Wasallam said, "it is the date palm tree". I mentioned all of that to my father Umar Radi Allaho Anh and he said, "Had you said it would have been better to me than such & such".
This Hadith contains many benefits, such as the scholar training his students by asking them questions and testing their knowledge. It also contains parables and demonstrates the shyness of Prophet's companions, the leaders & the commoners among them, as they all kept quiet & were shy to answer Prophet's question. The Hadith also demonstrates that the parent would be happy if his child does something right, it also shows that it is allowed for the children to answer questions in the presence of their parents; even if the father did not know the answer, as this does not constitute misbehaving with the father or elderly.
The Hadith compares a Muslim with the Nakhlah, the date palm, because of its tremendous benefits, constant shade & sweet fruit that it produces throughout the year. Dates are eaten fresh, dried, ripe & unripe and are both a type of food & cure. Dates are nutritious; a type of sweet, a drink and a fruit. Date's tree trunk is used for building purposes, in making pots and so forth & its seeds are used as fodder for camels and as ingredients in various medicinal remedies & in KOHL (eyeliner). Fruit of date palm is known for its beauty, refreshing shape and the handsome way the fruits are arranged on their branches, which also brings comfort to the eyes. Merely looking at the fruits of date tree reminds (a human) of its CREATOR; Whose creation is both excellent & perfect, just as is His Wisdom. Therefore the date palm tree resembles the righteous believer, for he is pure goodness who brings about benefit both inwardly & outwardly.
Also, the Nakhlah was the tree trunk that yearned & longed for the Messenger of Allah when he no longer used it as a podium / pulpit (in Masjid-e-Nabawi). The trunk yearned for Prophet's closeness & for hearing his speech. Also, we should mention that the tree that Maryam Alaihess Salaam took refuge under when she gave birth to Issa Alaih as Salaam was the date palm. There is a difference of opinion regarding which is better, the date tree OR the Hablah (grapevine tree). Allah Has Mentioned both trees in several verses of Quran. Also, both trees are truly similar to each other, although each is at its prime in its natural habitat and the land that accepts it the most.
A Muslim's example is given with a date palm tree.
Similarly, our Kalimah لا اله الله محمد رسول الله is also like a date palm tree, whose roots are firm & strong inside a Muslim's hearts, its branches are always pointing towards the sky (showing a connection with Allah), & it gives fruit in all seasons.
"Have not you seen that how Allah sets forth a parable? - A goodly word (Kalimah) like a goodly tree, whose root is firmly fixed, and its branches (reach) to the heavens of its Lord. It brings forth its fruit at all times, by the Order of its Lord. So Allah sets forth parables for men, in order that they may receive admonition." (14: 24, 25)
The seeds are a fodder for camels & are used in medicines & as eyeliner (KOHL).
