Assalamu Alaikum, There is a hadith that if a person eats odd number ajwah dates, he will be protected from magic and poison. During a muslim debate with christians, christian scholars challenged to prove this hadith. The muslim scholar said that the hadith is against Quran and common knowledge and hence cannot be accepted. Is the hadith acceptable and scientifically provable.

All perfect praise be to Allaah, The Lord of the Worlds. I testify that there is none worthy of worship except Allaah, and that Muhammad, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, is His slave and Messenger.

First of all, we would like to mention that it is only a person who is well-versed in religious knowledge who should debate with the Christians or other people of falsehood. We have clarified this issue many times; for more benefit, please refer to Fataawa 91585 and 84059.

Also, the person who debates with them should be wise so that he can draw their attention to the essential issues of faith instead of debating about secondary issues which sometimes may be based on mere submission, meaning that its wisdom is not known to us.

In addition to this, the Christians have many flaws in their religion, among which is the contradiction between their Gospels, so one can direct the debate to such issues as well.

On the other hand, the Hadeeth which you mentioned in the question is at the highest degree of authenticity. Al-Bukhari and Muslim reported in their two books of Saheeh Hadeeth, which are the most authentic books after the Book of Allaah, that the Prophet said: “Whoever has seven 'Ajwah dates every morning, he will not be harmed on that day by poison or magic.” Therefore, a Muslim should submit himself to that and believe in it.

Besides, the Muslim’s conviction of the truth that he is upon is very important in a way that his belief is not shaken or disturbed for any minor misconception that he may face, or that he resorts to denying an authentic and confirmed religious text as it happened with that person whom you described as "Muslim scholar"!

Moreover, the irrefutable evidence that Islam is the religion of truth which may be presented to the people of falsehood may not benefit them, like the Christians and people of other false religions in their position in regard to the evidence of scientific miraculousness of the Quran and Sunnah. This confirms the Saying of Allaah (what means): {Indeed, those upon whom the word [i.e. decree] of your Lord has come into effect will not believe. Even if every sign should come to them, until they see the painful punishment.}[10:96-97] Allaah also Says (what means): {And if they see a sign [i.e. miracle], they turn away and say, “Passing magic.}[Quran 54:2]

For us, Muslims, it is enough to know that the religious text is confirmed as authentic and that it explicitly refers to the intended meaning, hence we should believe in its meaning and not reject it on the grounds that this context has not been proven by modern science while we know that this modern science is lacking (in many fields) in a way which only Allaah Knows. For instance, many matters were not known to the people specialized in the scientific field and then they discovered it much later.

Since this is the case of this science, so how come it be a criterion over the revelation which is from the Lord of heavens and the earth, Who created the creation and knows what is beneficial for them in their worldly life and Hereafter. Allaah Says (what means): {Does He who created not know, while He is the Subtle, the Acquainted?}[Quran 67:14]

It is appropriate to mention here a narration reported by Al-'Aajurri in “Al-Sharee’ah” from Yahya Ibn Sa’eed who said that ‘Umar Ibn ‘Abdil ‘Azeez, may Allaah have mercy upon him, said: “He who makes his religion a target of debates, he keeps moving (i.e. from one religion to another).” Therefore, a Muslim must be sure of his religion because he has evidence from his Lord Who had sent down the Book explained in detail. Allaah Says (what means): {Say, “Indeed, I am on clear evidence from my Lord, and you have denied it. I do not have that for which you are impatient. The decision is only for Allaah. He relates the truth, and He is the best of deciders.”}[Quran 6:57]

Finally, it should be noted here that believing and having certainty in what was mentioned in a religious text that a given thing is a remedy for a given disease, has a major impact on fulfilling that. Ibn Al-Qayyim said: “The Ruqyah depends on the one who performs it (on the patient) and it depends also on the latter’s (i.e. the patient’s) acceptance of it, in the same manner that the sword depends on the one who hits with it and on the acceptance of the item to be cut by it……But this is according to the strength of faith and the correctness of certainty of the person, [and it is Allaah alone Whose help can be sought].”

Allaah Knows best.