… Continued
Why the Prophet would break his fasting with dates
This is a prophetic miracle. Dates are one of the finest foods and are rich in glucose and are therefore ideal nourishment for the body to break the fast with because it contains a high percentage of sugars (from 75% to 87%) out of which glucose represents 55% and fructose 45%.
Dates also include some proteins, fats, and vitamins (A, B2 and B12) in addition to some important minerals (including calcium, phosphorus, potassium, sulfur, sodium, magnesium, cobalt, zinc, florin, copper, manganese) and a percentage of cellulose.
Fructose transforms into glucose very quickly and it is absorbed directly from the digestive system to quench the body’s thirst for energy, especially for some tissues that directly depend upon it such as brain cells, neurological cells, red blood cells and bone marrow cells.
Fructose and cellulose activate the vermiform movement of the intestines. Phosphorus is important in nourishing the brain's chambers and it enters in the structure of phosphate compounds like triphosphate adenosine and guanine that transport energy and control its use in all body cells.
Moreover, all the vitamins that are present in dates play a vital role in assimilation (A, B1 and B2), as well as biotin, riboflavin and others. They also serve as tranquilizers, while minerals play a key role in forming some enzymes that are necessary for vital body processes. They also play a very important role in the contraction and extension of the muscles as well as the acid-base neutrality. This removes any muscular or nervous tension, and provides the body with vitality, tranquility and quietness.
On the other hand, if one breaks his fast on fatty substances or those rich in protein, it will require a long period to be digested and then absorbed, and this will not satisfy the body’s urgent need for energy in addition to allowing the amino acids to increase in the body as a result of having food that does not contain sugars, which causes a drop in blood sugar.
All these benefits show us the rationale behind the command of the Prophet to break our fasting with dates. He said: “Whoever can find dates should break his fast with them, and whoever cannot find dates should break his fast with water, for truly it is pure (and purifies).” [Abu Daawood & At-Tirmithi: Hasan Saheeh (Sound)]
It is narrated on the authority of Anas, may Allah be pleased with him, that he said, “The Messenger of Allah used to break his fast before he would pray (Maghrib (the sunset prayer)) with a few fresh date-fruits. If he could not find fresh date-fruits, he would break his fast with a few dry date-fruits. If he could not find dry date-fruits, he would have a few sips of water.” [Abu Daawood & At-Tirmithi: Hasan (Sound)]
The Messenger of Allah commanded the fasting person to be calm and avoid quarrelling
With anger, excitement and tension, the secretion of adrenaline increases in the blood quite markedly and may, during severe anger or quarrelling, amount to as much as 20-30 times its normal rate. Should this happen in the beginning of fasting, it would cause disorder in the process of food digestion and absorption, not to mention the general dysfunction of all bodily systems. This is because adrenaline contributes to the relaxation of smooth muscles in the digestive system, reduces the gall contraction, narrows the peripheral blood vessels, widens the coronary vessels, raises the arterial blood pressure, and increases the pulse rate and the quantity of blood coming into the heart.
If the anger and quarrelling takes place at midday or at the end of the day, after food absorption, it leads to the decomposition of the remaining glycogen stored in the liver and the body protein into amino acids, and oxidation of more fatty acids. All this raises the glucose level in the blood to burn and provide the body with the energy necessary for quarrelling. In this way, the energy would be consumed wastefully. Some glucose may also be lost in the urine in case of its increase beyond the normal rate; hence, the body loses a large amount of important vital energy uselessly, and is forced to oxidize more fatty acids to consume energy from them, leading to the production of harmful ketone bodies in the blood.
The severe increase of adrenaline in the blood also results in the discharge of a large quantity of water through urination and may lead to heart attacks or sudden death among those suffering from hyper blood pressure, and the heart muscle’s need for oxygen because of its rapid beats. Anger may also lead to cerebral strokes among those suffering from very high blood-pressure and arteriosclerosis.
The rise of adrenaline resulting from psychological pressure in the state of anger increases cholesterol formation from low-density protein fat, which may increase during fasting, and was proven to be related to arteriosclerosis.
For all these reasons, the Messenger of Allah advised the fasting person to remain tranquil and avoid clamor, excitement or quarrelling.
It is narrated on the authority of Abu Hurayrah, may Allah be pleased with him, that he said: The Messenger of Allah said: “If it is the day on which anyone of you is fasting, let him neither have sexual relations nor make clamor; and if anyone abuses him or quarrels with him, let him (simply) say ‘I am fasting.’” [Al-Bukhari & Muslim]