“The date that is from high [branches] is a
cure”. (Narrated by Muslim and Ahmad.)
Let’s look at the characteristics and benefits of dates.
Date palm, Phoenix dactylifera L., is one of the oldest fruit trees
in the world, known as the tree of life. The number of date palms is
about 105 million worldwide covering an area of 800,000 ha, of which
62 million palms are found in the Arab world. The place of origin of
the date palm is uncertain. Some claim that the date palm first
originated in Babel, Iraq, while others believe that it originated
in Dareen or Hoff, Saudi Arabia or Harqan, an island on the Arabian
Gulf in Bahrain.
The date palm is a perennial plant and is characterized by its slow
growth. There are male and female trees. The females normally begin
to bear dates within an average of five years from the time of
planting. The date palm can live for about 150 years.
Date palm is distributed throughout the Middle East, North Africa
and South Sahel, areas of East and South Africa, Central and South
America and even in Southern Europe (Spain and Italy).
On a commercial scale, the Middle East and North Africa are the
major date palm producing areas in the world.
Date palm trees are essential integral components of farming systems
in arid and semi-arid regions, and can be produced equally well in
small farm units or as large scale commercial plantations. The great
advantage of the tree is its resilience, its need for only limited
water input, its long-term productivity and its multiple purpose
qualities.
The fruit of the date palm is delicious and sweet. In addition to
producing a valuable dessert fruit, valuable by-products such as
building materials and versatile starting materials for handicrafts
can be derived from its leaves and trunks. The palm tree is one of
the basic elements of the flora in the region and supplies 1.4
million tons of DPLM (date palm leaves) annually.
The date palm also makes a significant contribution towards the
creation of equable microclimates within oasis ecosystems, thus
enabling agricultural development to be sustained in many drought-
and saline-affected areas.
Nutritional value of dates:
The nutritional value of the relatively
easy-to-store date fruit is high in sugar - comprising up to 70% of
the fruit. (In most varieties the sugar component consists of
glucose and fructose.) Dates are also good sources of iron,
potassium (150mg in 100g), magnesium (important for use of voluntary
muscles), sulphur, copper, calcium and phosphorus (important in
building muscles and neuro-tissues), along with various vitamins,
including thiamine, riboflavin, biotin, folic and ascorbic acid.
Water is 13.8% and proteins are about 3%.
One kilogram of dates gives the body 3470 calories shortly after
eating it. This energy will satisfy your appetite, which is very
important especially while breaking your fasting.
This rich fruit plays an important role in the nutrition of human
populations in the above regions. Its use also as a supplement
fodder for livestock gives the tree more value. The secondary
products generated from fruits are syrups, jams, ice creams, baby
foods, alcoholic beverages and soft drinks. Small and
intermediate-scale industries can therefore be supported over long
term periods in both urban and rural situations. This is reflected
in its widely acknowledged sustainability value in social, economic
and ecological terms.
An ongoing study at Ain Shams University in Cairo has been exploring
the possibilities of manufacturing wood from the midrib sections of
date palm leaves, which are abundant in Egypt and the Arab world
Palm trees (Nakhl) in Quran:
Nakhl is mentioned frequently in the Quran, especially when showing
the miracles of Allah’s creation and the pleasures, which were
created for man.
And shake towards thyself the trunk of the palm
tree, it will let fall fresh ripe dates upon thee…So eat and drink
and cool (thine) eye. (Surat Maryam: verses 25, 26)
According to scientific studies, the ripe date contains a substance
that urges uterine spasms and increases contractions especially in
the time of delivery. This substance resembles ‘oxytocin’ that
is secreted by the interior lobe of pituitary gland, which
encourages contractions of the uterus.
The best kind of palm tree is the kind that is grown without any
artificial chemicals, sprays, fumigants, or sulphur and without
steaming, hydrating or preservatives.
California is one of the places where they are grown that way: 68
feet below sea level in the 110-degree heat of the California
desert.
Don’t miss a breakfast with dates when sunset appears.
