We can't discuss food in Ramadan without talking about the significance of the date fruit. My dad first introduced me to dates over a kitchen table full of board games and Sicilian snacks: pistachios, hazelnuts, dried figs and large, plump dates. He often joked with me that those were the only kinds of "dates" I could have at the time. Little did I know then that this fruit would become a very significant part of my adult life.
The palm tree has been around since prehistoric times and is historically significant to many cultures and religious groups. Dates from these trees are closely associated with Muslims during Ramadan, the Islamic holy month, when Muslims fast from sunrise to sunset. At the end of the fasting day, it is a tradition to break the fast with a date or two because that was the tradition of Muhammad, the prophet to whom Muslims believe the Quran was revealed during this very month. Muhammad used to break his fast with fresh dates before praying; if there were no fresh dates, then he broke fast with dried dates, and if there were no dried dates, he would take a few sips of water. As a result, the Ramadan tradition of breaking the fast with dates has become a sunnah, or action of the prophet, that Muslims follow.
Whether you are eating dates for tradition or just for taste, they are known to be a great source of iron, fiber, B-complex vitamins and magnesium — and have even more potassium than a banana. Dates also contain naturally occurring sugars like fructose and glucose, giving us a good deal of energy without the sugar crash that comes along with most unhealthy, sugar-filled foods. This is particularly true after a long day of fasting, when the date seems to be the perfect food to lift up the body, mind and spirit.
Adapted from Yvonne Maffei's blog, My Halal Kitchen.
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