Ajwa dates from Medina

Ajwa dates are the providential fruit of the palm tree. These small, black, very sweet fruits are usually eaten dried. Rich in fibre, they are packed with health benefits.

The fruits of the date palm

Date palm fruit is very rarely sold fresh, because it keeps for many months when dried. Fresh fruit is in fact a beautiful yellow ball. They are plump and crunchy, with a good date flavour. The same dried fruit will be amber, brown or even black. This concentrate of fibre and sugar is well known today. Useful for sportsmen and women, it provides the nutrients needed for prolonged physical effort, and will also give students the little boost they need for intellectual effort. Many parents prefer to give their children dates rather than industrial sweets. In doing so, they are reviving ancestral traditions, where the sweets were none other than those famous dates dripping with juice and sugar.

A centuries-old palm tree blessed by the hand of the Prophet ﷺ

Back to history: When the Prophet ﷺ was expelled from the city of Mecca, he emigrated (known as the Hegira, which marked the beginning of the Muslim calendar) to Medina. The city was then called Yathrib. It is more than 400 km north of Mecca. He settled there with his family and companions, and was welcomed by the Muslims of Medina, the Ansars. Medina then became the capital of Islam. The Prophet ﷺ built the Medina mosque there, the same one whose foundations still stand today. The Prophet ﷺ was not only a head of state, but also a worker, working the land with his hands. For example, we learn that he planted a tree in Medina, blessed by his own hand, a palm tree. These palm trees, planted and replanted over the centuries, are harvested every year. These dates, planted by the hand of the best of men, are known as Ajwa dates.

Numerous hadiths

Numerous hadiths, or prophetic traditions, speak of these famous dates. The most famous of them is this one: According to Sa'd ibn Abi Waqass, the Prophet ﷺ said: "Whoever has breakfast in the morning with seven dates from Al Ajwa, nothing can harm him that day, neither poison nor sorcery". Authentic hadith, reported by Al Boukhari and Mouslim in their Sahih.

This hadith therefore enjoins the consumption, on an empty stomach, of 7 Ajwa dates, the variety of dates planted by the hand of the Prophet ﷺ . These beneficial effects continue even after the death of the Prophet ﷺ. On the one hand through the blessings of his plantings in general, and through the truthfulness of this hadith in particular. This Sunnah, which is little practised today, was practised in particular by an eminent scholar of the Muslim community: Sheikh Ibn Baz, who was reported by those who knew him to have eaten 7 dates every morning while fasting. It is often recommended for people suffering from psychological disorders. It is also recommended for those suffering from witchcraft, in accordance with the previous hadith.

What does it look like?

There are many varieties of dates. Some Arab countries even have date markets. Dry, fresh, yellow, brown, matte, shiny, there's something to suit every taste. As for Ajwa dates, they are generally small and very black. They are generally semi-dry. They retain a slight moisture content, which gives them a unique flavour. Their skin is quite fleshy, and their flavour is powerful and sweet. From Medina, they are harvested once a year, in summer. In recent years, the harvest has coincided with the Hajj period. Many pilgrims have been lucky enough to bring home bags of freshly harvested dates.

When should Ajwa dates be used?

While their rarity is due not only to their location (Saudi Arabia) and their exceptional blessing, their daily consumption is sometimes difficult to put into practice. Dates (in general) and the Ajwa date in particular can be used for some of the purposes mentioned below:

• Digestion: dates facilitate transit, which can be described as "lazy" transit, thanks to their high natural fibre content.
• Post partum. After giving birth, women are weakened. Many verses in the Koran (citing the story of Maryam, mother of 'Issa) recommend eating dates after giving birth.
• Dates are rich in magnesium and are sufficient to meet the body's magnesium requirements. They are said to protect against a number of diseases linked to the colon, blood pressure and even the risk of stroke.
• dates, now considered to be a 'superfood', are in fact rich in minerals and vitamins essential to the functioning of the human body, even during physical exertion.

Testimonial:

"Since my cousin brought them home, I've been eating them every day. I have a sweet tooth and it's a risk-free pleasure, because these dates are cholesterol-free, so I don't spoil my pleasure and I enjoy them guilt-free!

"A lot of raqis recommend using Ajwa dates, but I was wondering whether it was worth it, given the price. The raqi then explained to me that he had seen how effective they were, but that sometimes the feeling of laziness or doubts that might come from taking these dates, or other treatments, came from the witchcraft itself".

A varied range

A wide range of packagings are available to meet varied demand, and to be accessible to all pockets. The smaller the pack, the lower the cost. However, as with any product, the larger the quantity, the more attractive the price/weight ratio for the buyer. We take particular care over the origin of our Ajwa dates. We conscientiously check every batch we receive. The dates are top quality, from the latest harvest. They are vacuum-packed and stored in the best possible conditions to preserve all their goodness.