Ramadan is the ninth month in the Islamic lunar calendar. It is considered a holy month during which Muslims are obliged to refrain from eating, drinking, smoking and having sex from sunrise to sunset. The purpose of the fast is to show respect for the prophet Mohammed, to exercise disclipine and restraint, and to learn to empathize with people who are less fortunate. It is also a time to give to the poor.
The tradition of eating dates during Ramadan dates back to the 7th century when it is said that the Muslim prophet (the messenger of Allah) used the dates to break his fast. When fresh dates weren't available, he would use dried dates. The purpose of the dates is that at 12 to 15 minutes after sunset, an odd number of dates are eaten to break the fast.
The dates are the way that Muslims begin the daily celebration of Iftar, the evening meal at which they break the fast. Eating one to three dates and drinking two glasses of water is considered the healthy way to break the fast. All over the Muslim world, street vendors and markets stock lots of dates so that people can make sure that they have enough dates to break their fast each day.
HEALTH BENEFITS
The health benefits of dates are incomparable. Ripe dates contain about 80% sugar. These sugars are natural sugars. Sugar travels to the liver faster than anything else, and the sugars are converted to energy faster than other nutrients. Simple sugars are not healthy. Dates contain sugars that come from a complex carbohydrate.
A DIGESTIVE AID
Eating a date after fasting all day helps the body start the digestive process and it gives the body the energy it needs to deal with more complex foods. Dates are also very high in fiber, and fiber will fill one up faster than other foods, and this may help prevent over eating.
SOURCE OF IMPORTANT VITAMINS AND MINERALS
Dates are high in vitamins A, B6, folic acid, potassium, magnesium, iron and natural sodium. They also contain a small amount of protein, some good fats, and additional minerals including copper, sulphur and fluoric acid. They are extremely beneficial for the stomach and for the digestive tract because they can prevent bad parasites and bacteria from infiltrating the digestive tract and causing all sorts of digestive and intestinal problems.
DATES AND THE BEDOUIN
For Bedouin Muslims, dates are an incredibly important part of their diet. They are easy to transport, they keep well without refrigeration, they are readily available they are a rich source of vitamins. Dates are regularly sold at desert oases and are considered a staple food.
AS A DAILY MULTI VITAMIN
For Muslims who eat dates to break the fast prior to Iftar during Ramadan, they are essentially taking a multiple vitamin that will replace some of the important vitamins that have been lost because of the fast all day. Additionally, Ramadan fasting stipulates that the fast must be a total fast, and therefore, one cannot even drink water. In areas where the weather is extraordinarily hot, by not even drinking water, dehydration is always possible.
Breaking the daily fast during Ramadan with dates may be traced back to 7th century traditions. We can't really know whether people during that time understood how nutritious dates really are. Consuming a few dates before the sunset prayer and before Iftar will provide badly needed energy, a multitude of vitamins, minerals, and beneficial fiber.
In short, eating a date may be significant because of tradition, but the greater importance lies in the abundance of nutrients that they provide, making the process of breaking the fast and eating the full meal substantially easier.