
Blessed Foods of the Holy Prophet صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم
Eating Dates with other Foods
Mawlana Ahmad Raza Attari Madani
The dietary choices of the beloved Prophet صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم were excellent from both a medical and natural perspective. Among the foods honoured to be on his dining mat, dates held significant importance. The beloved Prophet صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم cherished dates as food in various ways, one of which was pairing them with other foods such as cucumber, watermelon, and melon. The benefits of combining different foods will be explored in detail below.
The nature and effects of dates and other food
The temperament of cucumber and watermelon is cold and moist in the second degree,[1] whereas the temperament of dates is hot in the second degree and dry in the first.[2]
Aḥādīth regarding the pairing of dates with other food
The combination of dates with other foods has been mentioned in several Aḥādīth. Some mention cucumber, while others mention watermelon. Let’s have a look at some of these.
Eating dates with watermelon
The mother of the believers, Sayyidah ꜤĀˈishah رَضِیَ اللّٰهُ عَنْهَا reports that the beloved Prophet صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم would eat watermelon with fresh dates, and he used to say, “We break the heat of this [date] with the coolness of this [watermelon], and the coolness of this [watermelon] with the heat of this [date].”[3]
The mother of the believers, Sayyidah ꜤĀˈishah رَضِیَ اللّٰهُ عَنْهَا narrates that the beloved Prophet صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم used to eat watermelon and fresh dates together.[4]
Sayyidunā Anas رَضِىَ اللّٰهُ عَـنْهُ reports that the beloved Prophet صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم ate watermelon with fresh dates.[5]
Sayyidunā Anas b. Mālik رَضِىَ اللّٰهُ عَـنْهُ reports that the beloved Prophet صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم would hold fresh dates in his right hand and watermelon in his left hand. Then he would mix the dates with the watermelon and eat. This was his favourite fruit.[6]
Eating dates with cucumber
Sayyidunā ꜤAbdullāh bin JaꜤfar رَضِىَ اللّٰهُ عَـنْهُ narrates that the beloved Prophet صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم used to eat cucumber with fresh dates.[7]
Eating dates with butter
Sayyidunā Salīm bin ꜤĀmir رَضِىَ اللّٰهُ عَـنْهُ reports that the beloved Prophet صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم came to visit us and we offered him butter and dates, for he liked butter and dates.[8]
Eating dates with melon
Sayyidunā Anas رَضِىَ اللّٰهُ عَـنْهُ reports, “I saw the holy Prophet صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم eat fresh dates and melon together.”[9]
Sayyidunā Jābir رَضِىَ اللّٰهُ عَـنْهُ reports that the beloved Prophet صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم would eat melon with fresh dates and say, “These two are excellent.”[10]
Eating ripe dates with raw ones
The mother of the believers, Sayyida ꜤĀˈishah رَضِیَ اللّٰهُ عَنْهَا reports that the beloved Prophet صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم said, “Eat بلح (raw dates) with ripe dates.”[11]
Benefits of eating dates with other foods
When the warmth of dates, the moisture of watermelon, and the coolness of cucumber combine, balance is brought about in the food that results in equilibrium in the body, calmness in one’s temperament, and energy. This is the natural balance that the Prophetic wisdom صَلَّى الـلّٰـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم put into practice, and modern medicine has highlighted many of its benefits. Here are some of these:
* Dates have a hot and dry temperament, while cucumber has a cold and moist temperament. Their combination creates balance in the body.
* Dates strengthen the stomach, while cucumber softens and improves the digestive system, thereby reducing the risk of constipation.
* Cucumber contains a high amount of water, which balances the heat of dates and helps maintain moisture in the body.
* Cucumber helps eliminate toxins from the body, while dates strengthen the kidneys. Therefore, their combination is beneficial for kidney health.
* The vitamins in dates and the antioxidants in cucumber make the skin healthy and radiant.
* Dates provide natural sugar, while watermelon is rich in water, which brings energy and freshness to the body.
* The heat of dates and the coolness of watermelon together help regulate the body’s temperature, making their combination especially beneficial during the summer.
* Dates strengthen the liver, and watermelon helps cleanse the liver and eliminate toxins.
* Watermelon is a light food that does not burden the stomach, while dates improve digestion. Together, they strengthen the stomach.
* Dates contain potassium and iron which strengthen the heart, while watermelon contains an antioxidant called lycopene, which helps protect against heart disease.
(Derived from various medical websites.)
Note: All foods and medicines should be used only after consulting your doctor.
[1] Khazaˈin Al-Adawiyyah, vol.2 p. 157, vol. 3 p. 343
[2] Khazaˈin Al-Adawiyyah, vol. 3 p. 415
[3] Sunan Abī Dāwūd, vol. 2, p. 508, Hadith 3836
[4] Nawādir Al-Usūl, vol. 1, p. 366, Hadith 236
[5] Nawādir Al-Usūl, vol. 1, p. 367, Hadith 237
[6] Al-MuꜤjam al-Awsaṭ, vol. 6, p. 36, Hadith 7907
[7] Sunan Abī Dāwūd , vol. 2, p. 508, Hadith 3835
[8] Sunan Abī Dāwūd , vol. 2, p. 509, Hadith 3837
[9] Musnad Imam Aḥmad, vol. 4, p. 286, Hadith 12452
[10] ShuꜤab Al-Īmān, vol. 5, p. 112, Hadith 5998
[11] ShuꜤab Al-Īmān, vol. 5, p. 112, Hadith 5999
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