Ajwah Dates: In Light of Ahadith and its Proven Benefits

Ajwah Dates are the most popular today and there are many important reasons why, they are a delightfully soft and fruity, quite dark in color and tend to be a more of dry variety of date from Saudi Arabia, which is actually cultivated in Madinah Munawwarah.

 

 

Following are few interesting ahadith relating to the Ajwah dates in particular

• Narrated by Saud; The Messenger (Sallallaahu Alayhi Wasallam) said, “If Somebody takes seven Ajwah dates in the morning, neither magic nor poison will hurt him that day.”[Sahih Bukhari, Book #71, Hadith #664 (also 663, 672)]
• The Messenger (Sallallaahu Álayhi Wasallam) also said, “Ajwah dates are from paradise.”[Tirmidhi (2068)]
• Referring to eating seven Ajwah dates, the Messenger (Sallallaahu Álayhi Wasallam) said, “He will not be harmed by anything until he reaches the evening.” [Sahih Muslim (2047)]
• Ayesha (RAA) reported Allah’s Messenger (Sallallaahu Alayhi Wasallam) as saying: “The ‘Ajwah dates of ‘Aliya’(particular locality near Madinah) contain heating effects and these are antidote in the early morning.” Sahih Muslim, Book #023.
• Narrated by Sa’ad: The Prophet said, “If somebody takes some Ajwah dates every morning, he will not be affected by poison or magic on that day till night.” (Another narrator said seven dates). (Sahih Bukhari, Hadith #5083) 
  

Ibn Qayyim in his Tibb al-Nabawi writes:

"For the people of Al-Madinah, dried dates are their staple, like wheat is to other people. In addition, dried dates from the area of al-Aliya in Al-Madinah are one of the best kinds of dates ... Dates are a type of fruit that is also used for its nutritional and medicinal value, being favorable for most bodies and for their role in strengthening the natural heat. Moreover, dates do not produce harmful wastes or excrement like other types of food and fruits. Rather, dates preserve the body wastes from being spoiled and from rotting, especially for those who are used to eating dried dates."  

(Healing with the Medicine of the Prophet, Translated by Abd el-Qader bin Abd el-Azeez, Dar al-Ghadd al-Gadeed, al-Mansoura (Egypt), 2003 p.121)

Below are some Benefits given to Dates:

1. Dates are considered as a natural resource for nutrition, it provides the body with high percentage of proteins, minerals and vitamins e.g. Vitamin A, B1, B2 and BB which are constructive ingredients for building up the body tissues and muscles.
2. Dates also help in pregnant women’s delivery; it activates the womb muscles in the months of pregnancy and helps in the womb movement at the time of delivery as well dates minimize the post-natal blooding.
3. Dates help in healing the liver from many parasitic diseases and a good medicine for the hepatitis and it contains vitamins B2.
4. Dates vitalize the aging so it delays the aging elements and it provides immunity against brain and body tiredness.
5. Dates are easy to digest, stimulates the urine, clean the kidneys and useful to the liver
6. Dates are good appetizer. Dates are the perfect natural snack

  Link to Buy Best Ajwa Dates In India

1.  Markstor Ajwa. Blessed Fruit from Al-Madina Al-Munawwara - 1 KG 

2.  Ajwa Dates Al Madinah Al Munawwarah

3.  Ajwa Dates 500gm Tin Pack

Click here for all other special dates to buy it online in India  

 Also Read:

Ajwa dates contain cancer-preventing property: Arabnews

Pomegranates In Islam & Its Proven Benefits/Cures

The pomegranate is one of the fruits of Paradise. 

Allah, may He be exalted, says (interpretation of the meaning):

“in them (both) will be fruits, and date- palms and pomegranates”[ar-Rahmaan 55:68]. 

 

Ibn Katheer (may Allah have mercy on him) said: 

The date-palm and pomegranate are singled out for mention because of their superiority over other fruits. Tafseer Ibn Katheer (7/507)
 

It was narrated by Ibn ‘Adiyy in al-Kaamil (7/543), and via him by Ibn ‘Asaakir in Tareekh Dimashq (56/186), via Muhammad ibn al-Waleed: Abu ‘Aasim told us, from Ibn Jurayj, from Ibn ‘Ajlaan, from his father, from Ibn ‘Abbaas, who said: I heard the Messenger of Allah (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) say: “There is not one of your pomegranates but it is pollinated with a grain from the pomegranates of Paradise.”
 

It should be known that the fruit of Paradise resembles the fruit of this world in name only; as for its reality, there is a great difference between the two, the extent of which is known only to Allah.
Ibn Jareer at-Tabari (may Allah have mercy on him) narrated in his Tafseer (1/392), with a saheeh isnaad from Ibn ‘Abbaas (may Allah be pleased with him), that he said: Nothing in Paradise resembles anything in this world, except in name. According to another version: There is nothing in this world of that which is in Paradise, except names.
And Allah knows best.

Health Benefits / Uses / Cures:

۩    Most powerful anti-oxidant of all fruits
۩    Potent anti-cancer and immune supporting effects
۩    Inhibits abnormal platelet aggregation that could cause heart attacks, strokes and embolic disease
۩    Lowers cholesterol and other cardiac risk factors
۩    Lowers blood pressure
۩    May have benefits to relieve or protect against depression and osteoporosis
۩    Anti-Inflammatory
۩    Help Fight Prostate Cancer
۩    Useful Against Breast Cancer
۩    May Lower Your Risk of Heart Disease
۩    May Help Treat Erectile Dysfunction
۩    Help Fight Bacterial and Fungal Infections

۩    May Help Improve Memory
۩    Stomach cough
۩    Hepatitis
۩    Muscle pain
۩    Heart and liver diseases
۩    Piles
۩    Eye diseases
۩    Dental problems
۩    Oral diseases
۩    Diarrhea and dysentery.
 

Pomegranate in Holy Quran:
 

۝  And it is He who sends down rain from the sky, and We produce thereby the growth of all things. We produce from it greenery from which We produce grains arranged in layers. And from the palm trees – of its emerging fruit are clusters hanging low. And [We produce] gardens of grapevines and olives and pomegranates, similar yet varied. Look at [each of] its fruit when it yields and [at] its ripening. Indeed in that are signs for a people who believe. (6:99)

 

۝  And He it is who causes gardens to grow, [both] trellised and untrellised, and palm trees and crops of different [kinds of] food and olives and pomegranates, similar and dissimilar. Eat of [each of] its fruit when it yields and give its due [zakah] on the day of its harvest. And be not excessive. Indeed, He does not like those who commit excess. (6:141)
 

۝  In both of them are fruit and palm trees and pomegranates. So which of the favors of your Lord would you deny? (55:68-69)

 

Ramadan & Its Blessings

Ramadan is one of the blessed month of an Arabic calendar. It is a month which is regarded with a great respect in Islamic religion, and it is distinguished from the other months by a number of characteristics and virtues, few of them are following:

1 – Allah has made fasting this month the fourth pillar of Islam, as He says 

“The month of Ramadan is the one in which the Qur’an was revealed as guidance for mankind, and as clear signs that show the right way and distinguish between right and wrong. So those of you who witness the month must fast in it.” (Surah Al-Baqarah, 185)

In Hadith narrated by Ibn ‘Umar, that the Prophet (PBUH) said: “Islam is built on five (pillars): the testimony that there is no god except Allah and that Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah; establishing prayer; paying zakaah; fasting Ramadan; and Hajj to the House (the Ka’bah).” (al-Bukhaari, 8; Muslim, 16) from the hadith

2 – Allah revealed the Qur’aan in this month, as He says in the verse mentioned above 

“The month of Ramadan is the one in which the Qur’an was revealed as guidance for mankind, and as clear signs that show the right way and distinguish between right and wrong."(Surah Al-Baqarah, 185)

And Allah says:

 “We have sent it (the Qur’an) down in the Night of Qadr.”(Surah Al-Qadr, 1)

3 – Allah has made Laylat al-Qadr in this month, which is better than a thousand months, as Allah says :

“Verily, We have sent it (this Qur’aan) down in the Night of Al-Qadr (Decree). And what will make you know what the Night of Al-Qadr (Decree) is? The Night of Al-Qadr (Decree) is better than a thousand months (i.e. worshipping Allah in that night is better than worshipping Him a thousand months, i.e. 83 years and 4 months). Therein descend the angels and the Rooh [Jibreel (Gabriel)] by Allah’s Permission with all Decrees, (All that night), there is peace (and goodness from Allah to His believing slaves) until the appearance of dawn” (Surah Al-Qadar1-5)

Also Says:

“We sent it (this Qur’aan) down on a blessed night [(i.e. the Night of Al-Qadr) in the month of Ramadan — the 9th month of the Islamic calendar]. Verily, We are ever warning [mankind that Our Torment will reach those who disbelieve in Our Oneness of Lordship and in Our Oneness of worship]” (Surah al-Dukhaan 3)

Allah has blessed Ramadan with Laylat al-Qadr. Explaining the great status of this blessed night, Surah al-Qadr was revealed, and there are many ahadith which also speak of that, such as the hadith of Abu Hurayrah (RA) who said: The Messenger of Allah (PBUH) said: “There has come to you Ramadan, a blessed month which Allah has enjoined you to fast, during which the gates of heaven are opened and the gates of Hell are closed, and the rebellious devils are chained up. In it there is a night which is better than a thousand months, and whoever is deprived of its goodness is indeed deprived.” Narrated by al-Nasaa’i, 2106; Ahmad, 8769.

And Abu Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him) said: The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said: “Whoever spends Laylat al-Qadr in prayer out of faith and in the hope of reward, will be forgiven his previous sins.” Narrated by al-Bukhaari, 1910; Muslim, 760.

4 – Allah has made fasting Ramadan and spending its nights in prayer out of faith and in the hope of reward a means of forgiveness of sins, as was proven in al-Saheehayn (al-Bukhaari, 2014; Muslim, 760) from the hadith of Abu Hurayrah according to which the Prophet (PBUH) said:

“Whoever fasts Ramadan out of faith and in the hope of reward, his previous sins will be forgiven.”

And al-Bukhaari (2008) and Muslim (174) also narrated from Abu Hurayrah that the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said:

“Whoever spends the nights of Ramadan in prayer out of faith and in the hope of reward, his previous sins will be forgiven.”

The Muslims are unanimously agreed that it is Sunnah to pray qiyaam at night in Ramadan Al-Nawawi said that what is meant by praying qiyaam in Ramadan is to pray Taraweeh, i.e., one achieves what is meant by qiyaam by praying Taraaweeh.

5 – In this month, Allah opens the gates of Paradise and closes the gates of Hell, and chains up the devils, as is stated in al-Saheehayn (al-Bukhaari, 1898; Muslim, 1079), from the hadith of Abu Hurayrah who said that the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said:

“When Ramadan comes, the gates of Paradise are opened and the gates of Hell are closed, and the devils are chained up.”

6 – Every night Allah has people whom He redeems from the Fire. Imam Ahmad (5/256) narrated from the hadith of Abu Umaamah that the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said:

“At every breaking of the fast, Allah has people whom He redeems.”.

Al-Bazzaar (Kashf 962) narrated that Abu Sa’eed said: The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said:

“Allah has people whom He redeems every day and night – i.e., in Ramadan – and every Muslim every day and night has a prayer that is answered.”

7 – Fasting Ramadan is a means of expiation (Kaffarah) for the sins committed since the previous Ramadan, so long as one avoids major sins. It was proven in Saheeh Muslim (233) that the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said:

“The five daily prayers, from one Jumu’ah to the next and from one Ramadan to the next are expiation for (sins committed) in between, so long as you avoid major sins.”

8 – Fasting in Ramadan is equivalent to fasting ten months, as is indicated by the hadith in Saheeh Muslim (1164) narrated from Abu Ayyoob al-Ansaari:

“Whoever fasts Ramadan then follows it with six days of Shawwaal, it will be like fasting for a lifetime.”

Ahmad (21906) narrated that the Prophet (PBUH) said:

“Whoever fasts Ramadan, a month is like ten months, and fasting six days after al-Fitr will complete the year.”

9 – Whoever prays qiyaam in Ramadan with the imam until he finishes, it will be recorded for him that he spent the whole night in prayer, because of the report narrated by Abu Dawood (1370) and others from the hadith of Abu Dharr (may Allah be pleased with him) that the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said: 

“Whoever prays qiyaam with the imam until he finishes, it will be recorded for him that he spent the whole night in prayer.” Classe

10 – ‘Umrah in Ramadan is equivalent to Hajj. Al-Bukhaari (1782) and Muslim (1256) narrated that Ibn ‘Abbaas said: The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said to a woman among the Ansaar, 

“What kept you from doing Hajj with us?” She said, “We only had two camels that we used for bringing water.” So her husband and son had gone for Hajj on one camel, and he left the other for them to use for bringing water.” He said, “When Ramadan comes, go for ‘Umrah, for ‘Umrah in Ramadan is equivalent to Hajj.” According to a report narrated by Muslim, “… is equivalent to doing Hajj with me.”

11 – It is Sunnah to observe i’tikaaf (retreat for the purpose of worship) in Ramadan, because the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) always did that, as it was narrated in the hadith of ‘Aa’ishah (may Allah be pleased with her) that the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) used to spend the last ten days of Ramadan in i’tikaaf until he passed away, then his wives observed i’tikaaf after him.” Narrated by al-Bukhaari, 1922; Muslim, 1172.

12 – It is mustahabb in the sense of being strongly recommended in Ramadan to study the Qur’aan together and to read it a great deal. You may study the Qur’aan together by reciting it to someone else and by having someone else recite it to you. The evidence that this is mustahabb is the fact that Jibreel used to meet the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) every night in Ramadan and study the Qur’aan with him. Narrated by al-Bukhaari, 6; Muslim, 2308.

Reading Qur’aaan is mustahabb in general, but more so in Ramadan

13 – It is mustahabb in Ramadan to offer iftaar to those who are fasting, because of the hadith of Zayd ibn Khaalid al-Juhani (may Allah be pleased with him) who said: The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said: “Whoever gives iftaar to one who is fasting will have a reward like his, without that detracting from the fasting person’s reward in the slightest.” Narrated by al-Tirmidhi, 807; Ibn Maajah, 1746; classed as saheeh by al-Albaani in Saheeh al-Tirmidhi, 647.

Wallahu Aalam

Wa Ma Alaina Illal Balaag

10 Tips to avoid weight gain during Ramadan

Here are 10 simple steps to avoid gaining weight during Ramadan:

1. Avoid overeating. Have a light Iftar that includes reasonable food portions.

2. Chew your food slowly to avoid indigestion.

3. Have your soup and salad first. These are low in calories and make you feel full.

4. Drink at least eight glasses of water during the non-fasting hours.

5. Have fresh fruits and fresh juices without added sugar, instead of the readymade ones, which may contain high amounts of sugar.

6. Choose low fat dairy products and lean meats(fully trimmed of all visible fats).

7. Eat a fruit salad instead of Arabic or Indo-Pak sweets every now and then.

8. Walk everyday for at least half an hour to one hour in order to burn the extra calories.

9. When cooking, make your favourite Ramdan recipes healthier by avoiding deep frying whenever possible. Instead, reduce the amount of fat in your meals by cooking your food with a little bit of vegetable oil, baking, roasting, steaming or grilling.

10. Avoid eating continuously, especially between Iftar and Suhour, which is sometimes accompanied by tiredness because of the feeling of fullness. Also try to avoid direct sleeping after Iftaar

Please Forward and Share for the benefits of other, do remember in your prayers & Ramadan Mubarak

The Fast Of 15th Shaban (Revised Opinion)

The Fast Of 15th Shaban (Revised opinion of Justice Mufti Taqi Usmani)

By Mufti Taqi Usmani

Question:

I have read the Shabaan issue of your magazine Al-BALAGH certain questions are bothering me with regard to fasting on the 15th of Shabaan. I would like to explain the reason for this question. Several months ago a friend explained to me that there is no special significance of the fast of the 15th of Shabaan. However, he says this Hadith is absolutely weak to such an extent that one of its narrators was a person who was regarded by some scholars of Hadith as a fabricator of Hadith and a liar. Hence, he says that, until another reliable Hadith can be found the fast of the 15th of Shabaan has no special virtue. He also explained to me the following points :

(1) He has not come across any of the Fuqaha having even mentioned fasting specifically on the 15th of Shabaan; where as they have mentioned the fasts of Aashura and the six fasts of Shawwal etc.

(2) While it has been narrated in many authentic Ahadith that Rasulullah (S.A.W.) fasted for most of the month of Shabaan, this cannot be used to prove any special significance for the specific fast of the 15th of Shabaan. He told me that those Ahadith must be explained as they are i.e. for the entire month of Shabaan - not the 15th of the month.

(3) The Hadith regarding visiting the graveyard on the 15th of Shabaan is much more authentic and reliable compared to the Hadith regarding fasting on the 15th of Shabaan. However, despite this the Ulema have prohibited the people from making it a habit. Therefore, since a very great number of people observe only the fast of the 15th of Shabaan and regard it as a Sunnah, whereas the Hadith in this regard is absolutely and totally weak, the Ulema should stop the people from this also.

(4) When I suggested that what Harm, can here be if people observed this fast even if in reality it is not Sunnah or even Nafl, he stated: This is the way many Bidat have started (though this practice is not a Bid'ah). Furthermore this is a matter of "Aqeedah" and to regard something as Sunnah which in reality is not Sunnah is a very dangerous and grave matter. Hence it is necessary that either the act be proved Sunnah or else the people should be stopped from this since, if they practice, it they would do so regarding it as a Sunnah.

Hence I now wish to pose my questions.

(1) He has stated that this Hadith is "totally and absolutely weak" whereas Mufti Sahib has stated that "the Scholars of Hadith have some doubts regarding the authenticity of this Hadith." Has he exaggerated in this claim of "totally and
absolutely weak"?

(2) is it true that one of the narrators was regarded as a fabricator and liar?

(3) Are his arguments in (1),(2),(3) and (4) above correct?

(4) On page 14 Mufti Sahib has written; "Although the scholars of Hadith have some doubts about the authenticity of this report, yet it is mentioned earlier that the fasts of the first half of Shabaan have special merits...." I have not found any narration in the article which explains the special merits of fasting in the first half of Shabaan. All the narrations deal with the fasts of the FIRST HALF of Shabaan, please quote this for me.

(5) Mufti Sahib also stated the practice of the Salaf (elders). Who is meant by "elders"?

(6) If it is accepted that one of the narrators was accused of being a fabricator and a liar did the "Salaf" regard this Hadith as authentic "as is" i.e. despite the condition of this narrator?

(7) Mufti Sahib has stated; "therefore, it is advisable to fast on the 15th of Shabaan as an optional (nafl) fast" Most people regard this fast as "Sunnah" and not nafl. Is in incorrect to regard this fast as Sunnah?

(8) Is this Nafl fast equal to keeping a nafl fast on any other day for example, the 1st of January; whichever Islamic date that may fall on? (excepting Ramadan, the 10th of Muharram, etc)?

I hope Mufti Sahib will quickly answer these questions and remove my doubts and the doubts of many others here in this regard.
(Yousuf Desai, South Africa) 

Answer:

I am grateful to you for your question which provided me with an opportunity to revise my article and to study the subject in more detail. In fact, the fast of the 15th of Shabaan is based on a tradition reported by Sayiddna Ali. Its text runs as follows :

When the Middle Night of Shabaan arrives, you should stand (Praying) in the night and should fast in the day following it…….. This Hadith is recorded by Ibn Majah in his Sunan ( English reference: Vol. 1, Book 5, Hadith No.1388 – Arabic reference: Book 5, Hadith No. 1451), one of the famous six books of Hadith, and also by Baihaqi in his famous book Shu'ab-al-'iman'. Both of them have reported it without any comment about its authenticity. But after a critical analysis of its chain of narrators it is found that this tradition is mainly based on the report of Abu Bakr Ibn Abi Saburah whose narrations cannot be relied upon. That is why the scholars of Hadith have declared it as a weak (da'if) tradition. However, the allegation that the narrator of this Hadith i.e. Abu Bakr ibn Abi Saburah, is a fabricator who used to coin forged traditions does not seem correct. In fact, he was mufti of Madinah, a well-known jurist and he was appointed as a Qadi (Judge) of Iraq in the days of Mansur and was succeeded in this office by Imam Abu Yousuf. He was a colleague of Imam Malik.

Once Mansur, the Abbasi Caliph, asked Imam Malik referred to three names, and one of them was that of Ibn Abi Saburah. Had he been a fabricator, Imam Malik would have never referred to his name in this context. But despite his high position among the jurists, his memory was not of the standard required for the uthenticity of a tradition. That is why most of the critics of Hadith like Imam Bukhari etc. Have held him as weak, but did not declare him a fabricator. Only Imam Ahmed is reported to have remarked about him that he fabricates Hadith. But this remark alone is not sufficient to hold him as a fabricator, for two reasons: Firstly Imam Ahmed was born long after him, and his contemporary scholars never held him as such, secondly the Arabic words used by Imam Ahmed are some times used for confusing one tradition with another, and not for deliberate fabrication.

This is the reason why the majority of the scholars of Hadith have held Abu Bakr ibn Abi Saburah as a weak reporter of Hadith, but they did not declare him as a forger or fabricator. Now, coming to his tradition about the fast of the 15th Ramadan it is held by the scholars to be weak but i have not come across an authentic scholar who has treated it as a fabricated (Mawdu) Hadith. There are a number of books indicating the fabricated Ahadith, but this tradition is not included in these books as fabricated.

It is well-known that Ibn Majah consists of about twenty Ahadith held to be fabricated. The list of these fabricated AHadith is available, but the tradition in question is not included therein.

Therefore, the correct position is that this Hadith is not fabricated. However, being reported by a weak narrator, it cannot be relied upon in the matter of the injunctions of Shariah. Thus, the fast of the 15th of Shabaan cannot be termed as Sunnah or Mustahab in the strict sense of the term. Nevertheless, it may be advisable to fast in the 15th of Shabaan without taking it as Sunnah for several reasons:

Firstly it is fully established through a large number of Ahadith that the Holy Prophet (S.A.W.) has emphasized on the merits of fasting in Shabaan, and particularly in the first half of the month. The 15th day of Shabaan, being the last day of the first half, is included in the preferable days for fasting.

Secondly, the merits of the 15th night of Shabaan is established by more than a dozen Ahadith. It means that this night should be spent in prayers and other forms of worship. On the other hand, all the blessed nights which the Muslims are advised to spend in worship are generally followed by fasting on the coming day like in the Laylatul-Qadr, where fasting on the following day is obligatory, or like the first night Zilhijjah where fasting on the following days is optional, rather advisable. on this analogy, too, the 15th night of Shabaan may be followed by an optional fasting on the following day.

Thirdly, the tradition relating to the merits of fasting on 15th of Shabaan is, no doubt, a weak tradition, not competent to prove this practice to be a Sunnah or a formal Mustahabb, but it can be acted upon as a measure of precaution, provided that the practice is not taken as Sunnah or a formal Mustahabb. It is for these reasons that some Ulama and elders have been fasting on the 15th of Shabaan and have been taking it an advisable practice. It is in this context that I had mentioned this fast as advisable in my previous article. But when I revised the article after receiving your question, I now feel that the relevant paragraph may create misunderstanding and it needs clarification. I now amend it in accordance with what is stated above in this article.

Again, I am thankful to you for your letter which enabled me to revise and correct my previous article. May Allah give you the best reward for it.

Justice Mufti Taqi Usmani