Saudi Arabia’s Most Prized Dates – Ajwa

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They are one of the priciest in the market, but they are the most beneficial too.

Cultivated in the city of Madinah, the Ajwa date is a soft variety. Small in size, dark in color the Ajwa dates can be spotted easily. Even amongst the Ajwa of Madinah, the prized variety is the one that is cultivated in the Aaliyat al-Madinah area.

Prophet Muhammad (PBUH)‘s Sayings On Ajwa Dates

The Ajwa dates have been mentioned in many hadiths of the Prophet (PBUH), here are two of them that highlight its benefits.

• Narrated by Sa’d ibn Abi Waqqaas, the Prophet (PBUH) said: “Whoever eats seven ‘Ajwa dates in the morning, will not be harmed by any poison or witchcraft that day.” [Al-Bukhaari (5445) and Muslim (2047)]
• Aisha (RA) reported Allah’s Messenger (PBUH) as saying, “The Ajwa dates of al-‘Aliya contain healing and they are an antidote (when taken as) first thing in the morning.” [Muslim (3815)]

Medically Proven Benefits Of The Ajwa

A research carried out by the King Saud University has shown that the fruit has anti-inflammatory properties similar to commercially available drugs like aspirin. It has also found that antioxidants in Ajwa dates are equal to existing commercial antioxidant products available in the market.

Apart from the antioxidant and anti-inflammatory benefits, the sugar in Ajwa dates consists only of monosaccharides, making the date beneficial for people who suffer from Type 2 diabetes.

The Recommended Way To Eat Dates

The Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) used to eat fresh dates with cucumbers.

Abdullah bin Ja’far (RA) reported: I saw Allah’s Messenger (PBUH) eating cucumber with fresh dates. [Muslim, Book 36, Hadith 204]

In another narration Aishah (RA) has said: “My mother was trying to fatten me up when she wanted to send me to the Messenger of Allah (PBUH) (when she got married), but nothing worked until I ate cucumbers with dates; then I grew plump like the best kind of plump.” [Sunan Ibn Majah, Book 29, Hadith 3324]