Muslims generally break their fast by eating dates (kurma). Prophet Muhammad (SAW) is reported to have said:
"If anyone of you is fasting, let him break his fast with dates. In case he does not have them, then with water. Verily water is a purifier."
The Prophet used to break his fast by eating some dates (ripe / dried dates) before offering Maghrib prayer, or with water if there are no dates available.
Dates’ Nutrients: Sugar Fat Proteins and calcium (help strengthen the bones) Important vitamins and iron Contain natural fibers
Other Benefits?
Easy to digest - within half an hour of taking it, the tired body regains a renewed strength.
Breaking the fast with dates then helps one avoid excessive eating because it’s filling. Don’t you agree?
Strengthen the muscles of the uterus in the last months of pregnancy.
Good for nervous nature, heart troubles and hyperactivity.
Arabs usually combine dates with milk and yogurt or bread, butter and fish. This combination indeed makes a self-sufficient and tasty diet for both mind and body. Dates and date palms have been mentioned in the Holy Qur'an 20 times, thus showing their importance. The Prophet likened a good Muslim to the date palm, saying "Among trees, there is a tree like a Muslim. Its leaves do not fall."
Sayyidah Mariam, mother of Isa (AS) had dates as her food when she felt labour pains. They are definitely the "crown of sweets”.
Nabi (SAW) at times used to combine dates with bread. At other times he mixed ripe dates with cucumber, or dates combined with ghee. He used to take all varieties of dates, but he preferred the type called Ajwah.
And…love your date because it’s a sunnah and it’s just simply DELICIOUS!
Ramadhan is not a month where you suffer. In fact it is a month of virtues and blessings for us. It is a special month and a special time, a month to be closer to Allah Ta’ala and to seek His forgiveness. It is also the time to forgive those who wronged us, and seek forgiveness from those whom we wronged.
Our beloved Prophet SAW said in a sermon which he gave to a gathering towards the end of Sya’baan:
“O people, a great and a blessed month is approaching you. In this month, there is a night that is better than 1000 nights. Allah Ta’ala has made fasting obligatory and prayers at night commendable during this month. Whosoever will do a voluntary good deed during this month, it is as if he performed an obligatory good deed at another time and whosoever will perform an obligatory good deed, it is as if he performed 70 obligatory good deeds at another time. This is the month of patience and the reward of patience is Paradise. This is the month of kindness. In this month the believer’s provision is increased. Whosoever will give food to a fasting person in this month, it will bring forgiveness for his sins, will save him from the Hellfire and he shall have this reward while the fasting person will not lose any of his reward.”
Allah (SWT) chose this month and a particular night in this month to grace humanity with his Final Testament, His Last Message, the Qur’an. Allah (SWT) has filled this month with countless blessings, one of it is that we have a greater urge and desire to do good deeds.
Allah (SWT) will make our Ramadhan very beneficial if we use it the proper way.
So let us spend our time in Ramadhan with these things:
1-Sincere intention of fasting to gain the pleasure of Allah.
2-Observe the sunnah of fasting - It is the most acceptable way of fasting towards Allah.
3-Avoiding haraam and makrooh - You’ll be shocked of how many haraam and makrooh are there on the TV. Try to leave that too!
“Whosoever does not leave bad words and bad actions, Allah does not care if he leaves his food and drink”
(Al-Tirmidhi)
4-Reciting the Qur’an - Try to finish the Qur’an at least once by our own personal reading.
5-Solah, Dua and Zikir -This is the best time for devotion and seeking Allah Taala’s forgiveness especially during Iftaar, and the last 10 days.
6-Zakat, Sadaqah and Generosity - Be very charitable. Share your meal with your family, neighbors or just any poor and needy. Don’t be stingy!
7-Spend quality time with family - Eating sahur, breaking fast (iftaar) and other Islamic activities. Allah’s special mercy comes to family that is united, harmonious and peaceful.
8-Good conduct with everyone - Transform our selves to a different person.
Be extra kind, let’s try to forgive and forget. Leave back biting, lying and hurting others.
9-Be happy and cheerful - Don’t feel miserable and tired, just feel relax and alert. Don’t’ let the fasting bring your spirit down!
