The HEALTH Plus | OCTOBER, 2019
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p16
D
ATE trees and palm oil trees
come from the same family
origin of plants – arecaceae
or palmae. Even though it is
from the same source, both of
these plants provide diff erent
benefi ts from one another.
Treats during Ramadan and the Hajj
Dates receive the highest demands during the
fasting month of Ramadan. The high sugar
count is helpful for a fasting person. The same
can be said during Hajj season. Dates and the
zam-zam water are the sought souvenirs to
be brought home. On the other hand, palm
oil has an all-year demand for its versatility in
processing foods and non-foods item.
Besides that, the durability of date trees
are admired as they can fl ourish in a dry
atmosphere and can last up to 60 years.
Therefore, they are grown widely across the
Middle-East. In comparison, oil palm is best
grown in tropical regions to grow and it only
has a lifespan of an approximate 25 years.
Other plants that belongs in the same
family are the snakefruit trees, the metroxylon
sagu, palm tree and others. The date trees are
considered a blessed fruit among the Muslims
as the family has been mentioned in the holy
Quran multiple times.
A gift to humans
According to the General Manager of Kuiscell
Sdn Bhd, Don Daniyal Don Biyajid, the date fruit
is a food-sent gift to the Arabs. In accordance to
the Sirah Nabawiyah, the date trees were grown
bountifully across the Arabian Peninsula in the
past while historically, the palm oil tree, which
belongs in the same tree family was brought to
our country from South Africa.
“The dates are one of the staple of our
prophet,” says the celebrated personality. “This
in fact is because the tree can be grown so
bountifully in the Medina. Also, the trees were
planted by the prophet himself. There are over
a thousand type of dates that exist in the world
but the Ajwa dates was his favourite. It is also
known as the ‘Prophet’s Dates’ commercially
worldwide. Don explains that the date trees
thrive in Medina. There are three fruit valleys
that provides the perfect irrigation. “One of the
valley that were mentioned by the prophet is
known as the Wadi Muthan. The irrigation is
what gives the trees their fertility,” he says.
“Besides the valleys, the blessing and
prayers of the Great Prophet Muhammad and
The Prophet Ibrahim also plays a role. This
was mentioned in the Surrah al-Baqarah, verse
126. Meanwhile, some other types of date was
portrayed in Surrah Maryam, verse 25,” he
continues.
How our
dates came to be
Same, but diff erent. Ustaz Don Daniyal shares the story of oil palm’s close
cousin – the dates
(Top) Dates are popular
during the fasting season
as they were mentioned
in the holy Quran.
LIGHT MOOD :
Don Daniyal, a known
television personality
tells the story of Salman
al-Farisi with a smile.
The tale of Salman al-Farisi
“There are multiple stories that speaks of the
date fruit. One of them is the story of Salman
al-Farisi in regards of how he identifi ed the
last prophet which leads to his conversion to
Islam. While travelling, Salman arrived at a
farm that was owned by a Jewish farmer and
Palm trees can grow
fortuitously in the
Middle East as they
can grow in a dry
atmosphere.
“The dates
are one of
the staple
of our
prophet,
this in fact is
because the tree can be
grown so bountifully
in the Medina. Also, the
trees were planted by
the prophet himself.
There are over a
thousand type of dates
that exist in the world
but the Ajwa Dates
were his favourite.
– Don Daniyal
decided to stay and build his career helping
the farmer,” he begins.
“One day, he caught wind that the last
prophet will arrive to Mecca from Medina
on his pilgrimage. He then decided to meet
with the prophet and he brought the dates
that he had grown to be donated. After being
handed the dates, the prophet gave the dates
to his disciples who were accompanying him.
He didn’t save a single one for himself,” he
continues.
“On the very next day, Salman were to meet
the prophet again. He brought some of his
dates and they were to be given as a gift. This
time around, the prophet took the fruits and
ate some of them. He was then convinced that
the very man in front of him is the real deal as
said in the prophecy, the fi nal prophet shall
not receive donations but he is to receive gifts.
He then converted to Islam,” according to Don.
“Diff erent than the palm oil where there
was never a sirah or hadith to tell the tale of the
tree. However, if the prophet were to be sent in
Malaysia, it’s not impossible that the oil palm
would be as blessed as the date fruits,” he says
with a chuckle. — The Health Plus