RELIEF OF PAIN: A MEDICAL DISCOVERY
It is a long-established custom among Muslim parents to put a piece of well-chewed date (or other available sweet fruit) in the mouth of a newborn baby. Muslims do this following the practice of the Prophet Muhammad, upon him be peace, believing him to be, as the Qur’an says, sent as a healing and a mercy to mankind. We may infer from the way this custom originated that there is a virtue in it. There is – complimentary to the virtue and pleasure of following the Sunnah (the practice of the Prophet) – placing a `sugary substance’ inside the mouth of a new-born baby dramatically reduces pain sensation and heart rate.
An interesting scientific medical study, published in the British Medical Journal (No. 6993, 10 June 1995), proved beyond any doubt the benefit of giving a new-born child sugar, in order to reduce the feeling of any painful procedure like heel pricking for a blood sample or before circumcision.
The study, entitled `The analgesic (pain killing) effect of sucrose in full term infants: a randomised controlled trial’, was done by Nora Haouari, Christopher Wood, Gillian Griffiths and Malcolm Levene in the post-natal ward in the Leeds General Infirmary in England.
60 healthy infants of gestational age 37-42 weeks and postnatal age of 1-6 days, were randomised to receive 2ml of one of the four solutions: 12.5% sucrose, 25% sucrose, 50% sucrose, and sterile water (control).
The first group of 30 babies received sugar syrup before a routine blood test (heel pricking, which is usually painful) done to detect jaundice. The other 30 babies were given only sterile water as a control group.
Placing 2ml of a 25% or 50% sucrose solution on the tongue before pricking the heel significantly reduced the crying time, compared to babies who got water. Also, their heart rate returned to normal more quickly. The stronger sugar solution had the greater effect, crying being reduced further with increasing concentration of sucrose. From which we may conclude that sucrose (sugar) placed on the tongue may be a useful and safe form of analgesia for use with newborn infants.
Blass and Hoffmeyer also showed that 12% solution of inter-oral sucrose significantly reduced the duration of crying in new-born babies subjected to heel pricking or circumcision. This study was reported in The Independent newspaper (Friday 9 June 1995) as well as in the British Medical Journal article.
The practice of the Prophet, upon him be piece, is recorded in the collections of his sayings and reports about him, of which the most revered are the two Sahih collections of Bukhari and Muslim:
Abu Buradah reported from Abu Musa, who said: `I had a new-born baby; I took him to the Prophet Muhammad, upon him be peace and blessings, who called him Ibrahim. The Prophet chewed a date then he took it and rubbed the inside of the baby’s mouth with it.’
There are many other reported incidents like this one.
The date contains a very high percentage of sugar (70-80%); it has both fructose and glucose which have high calorific values, it is easily and quickly digestible, and very helpful to the brain. The date contains 2.2% protein, vitamin A, vitamins B1, B2 and nicotruic acid (against Pellagra); it has traces of minerals needed for the body such as potassium, sodium, calcium, iron, manganese, copper. Potassium, of which percentage is very high, has been found to be very effective for cases of haemorrhage, such as the occasions of birth or circumcision.
We may note that the Sunnah also commends dates for the breaking of the fast in Ramadhan. Dates should be eaten, if available, before the sunset prayer – this is medically and nutritionally the best way and the Sunnah.
The great worth of dates is also indicated in a famous and beautiful passage of the Qur’an, surah Maryam, verses 25-6:
And shake towards you the trunk of the palm-tree and it will drop on you fresh ripe dates. So eat and drink and be comforted.
This was the prescription of God, the Creator, for the blessed Virgin Mary at the time of the birth of Jesus, the blessed Prophet of God. It was a prescription to make the delivery easy and comfortable.
We shall show them our signs on the furthest horizons and within themselves until it becomes clear to them that it is the truth. Is it not sufficient that your Lord is witness over all things? (Qur’an Fusilat, 41.53)
As the authors of the medical study referred to intend trying new sugary or sweet substances, we shall recommend that they try dates for the newborn for the relief of pain. (www.missionislam.com)
March 22, 2007 at 10:23 am |
As-salaamu ‘alaykum, Umm Reem. Although this is an old article, it has stood the test of time. Fantastic post.
March 22, 2007 at 12:04 pm |
Yes it is, but I recently received it in my email and found it quite interesting…
Would you mind me asking you why you still call yourself Abdul Quddus?
March 22, 2007 at 12:46 pm |
Not at all, ukhti. Besides it being my name, the meaning of “Abdul Quddus” hasn’t left my heart and mind. Even atheists and agnostics long for the Truth and Most Holy, I believe.
March 22, 2007 at 1:08 pm |
Thanks for allowing me to ask.
I am not too familiar with the agnostic belief, but I thought athiests out right deny the existence of the Most Holy?
March 22, 2007 at 2:47 pm |
Atheism is the lack of belief in God or gods. One cannot entirely disprove the existence of a Supreme Being, nor prove it altogether. God is just a three-lettered word, a concept. Everyone is an atheist in regards to most of the deities abound in world religion. Check out “List of deities” at Wikipedia. Man loves to create idols and imaginary friends. Equally so, atheists and Muslims vehemently reject Zeus and Shiva as nonexistent. Staunch atheists just go one god further and reject the Abrahamic god as well. Even the atheist missionary Richard Dawkins claims that the existence of God is possible. I believe there is a transcendence, but categorically reject the notion that it has a personality, nickname, Right and Left Hands, a Throne, a temper, or a favourite city and people. Here is one of my favourite articles on Islaam:
http://www.islam101.com/religions/provingGodExists.htm
March 22, 2007 at 3:22 pm |
So basically your objection to Islam is the ‘Names and Characteristics’ of Allah azzawjal? Otherwise you do believe in Qur’an as being the divine book?
March 22, 2007 at 3:42 pm |
I sincerely view all the Abrahamic religions as idolatrous and their books as man-made. The depictions (depiction: n, to represent or characterize in words; describe) of Allaah is one reason why I abandoned the deen. If a Supreme Being does exist, I’d think it would be beyond words because, in order to describe and define something, you have to set limits upon it. You cannot limit God. I cannot be Muslim because my expectations of Allaah are too high and great.
March 22, 2007 at 3:53 pm |
[...] Date Anyone? An old article about the scientific benefits of tahneek, an Islamic practice for welcoming a new child. [...]
March 22, 2007 at 4:35 pm |
But who said that we, Muslims, limit God. In fact, we do believe that Allah is beyond our imagination, beyond our limits. This is the very underlying difference that we have with other faith, including the rest of the Abrahamic faith.
Your last statment
“I cannot be Muslim because my expectations of Allaah are too high and great.”
would seem contradictory to rest of the Muslims, becuase Allah Himself has said in Qur’an that ‘there is nothing like Him…”
We make a clear distinction between the Creator and Creation.
March 22, 2007 at 5:37 pm |
The Qur’aan itself, coupled with the Ahaadeeth, describe, define, and designate Allaah. Your ilah rose over (istawa) His Throne and is firmly established. There is present in Islaamic scripture descriptions of this deity that no Muslim can ever deny (e.g., The Shin of Allaah.) There will come The Day when you yourself will prostrate to it, says your rasool. True, the Qur’aanic translation of the ayaah means “there is none like unto Him.” (Soorah 112) However, there are many things that are unique. Without religion, one can easily worship a Supreme Being without the figurative expressions and depictions found in Islaamic scripture.
There are many religions that believe in transcendence without using metaphoric language.
Buddhism mentions it by using only negatives such as the Unborn, the Unmade, and the Unconditioned. That makes it more iconoclastic than Islaam. Even Hinduism, specifically Advaita Vedanta, has Brahman as “the unchanging, infinite, immanent, and transcendent reality which is the Divine Ground of all matter, energy, time, space, being, and everything beyond in this universe.” (source: Wikipedia)
The Qur’aan is problematic for true monotheists, in my opinion. It claims to be the infallible speech of God. This text, or recitation to be technical, is statically frozen in a particular theological viewpoint held by the seventh-century Arabians. Therefore, if you reject The Shin of Allaah, you’re not a Muslim. An adherent to the institution of Islaam cannot progress from its mere convention. Instead of reality, his faith is destined to be crippled because of metaphors, allegory, and parables in accordance with traditional belief.
March 22, 2007 at 6:02 pm |
Dear Abdul Quddus,
The attributes of Allah only share the same name , their reality is unknown to us , We describe as Allah described himself , these are matters of the unseen and we do not have any knowledge of it except that has been revealed to us and we submit to what Allah has said.
You may want to read the following link especially the initial posts http://lotaenterprises.wordpress.com/aqeedah-2-light-upon-light/
March 22, 2007 at 6:43 pm |
…wa ‘alaykum as-salaam Shakeeb.
Symbolism is like a sign, pointing to the literal. Prior to written language, humankind had spoken language. Written language itself is derived from symbols. The earliest systems of writing were pictograms of zoomorphic representations. Unfortunately, symbolism must obfuscate reality with abstract concepts. Many people misunderstand all this and end up worshipping the sign instead of what it’s pointing to.
Theologically, Muhammad succumbed when he conceptualized Allaah. In the beinning, the Islaamic religion was absolutely innocent of this. In fact, Soorah Al-Ikhlaas (chapter 112) is a Makkan revelation. However, this approach was sacrificed and later the deity was anthropomorphically rendered and depicted in the literary imagination.
Perhaps I’m just guilty of having higher expections of Allaah.
March 22, 2007 at 7:45 pm |
Salaamualaykum,
From what I understand , no Muslim in history has ever “worshipped the sign instead of what it is pointing to”.
This includes the non-sunni sects . Could you point to any ?
Islam does not have an anthropomorphic creed, If u are going to say that Allah has a hand is anthropomorphic then by the same principle the statement that Allah is Merciful is also anthropomorphism because Mercy too is a human attribute, so does many other attributes of Allah which you don’t seem to have problems with.
Anthropomorphism is to believe that Allah’s Mercy is like the Mercy of the King, His Hand is like is like the hand of a man , so on and so forth.
We believe in all the attributes of Allah with out comparison to anything that is in the creation , His attributes are supreme and there is None like Him.
If u really want to go in depth, you could contact Yasir Qadhi of almaghrib who gives classes on aqeedah and one his classes is exclusively on the names of attributes of Allah or you could even take the class
PS:No I am in no way affiliated to almaghrib , I dont even live in the US/Canada where these classes are offered.
March 22, 2007 at 7:51 pm |
O mankind, eat from whatever is on earth [that is] lawful and good and do not follow the footsteps of Satan. Indeed, he is to you a clear enemy.
He only orders you to evil and immorality and to say about Allah what you do not know. [2:168-169]
March 23, 2007 at 11:59 am |
[...] Dates can be great, UmmReen explains. Powered by Gregarious (21) [...]
March 28, 2007 at 6:18 pm |
On a lighter note: a recipe for Date cake
The original recipe came from browsing the Arab News in Najran. It got lost in the migration from country to country. Yours truly looked for it on internet. And all the internet recipes I accessed required use of sugar! Why on earth would you need extra sugar when consuming dates – a rich source of natural sugar and fiber, not to mention vitamins and above all – a sunnah
Women are always conducting scientific experiments in the kitchen, the end results of which are expected to be relished with gusto by their unsuspecting spouses (with a rolling pin hanging over their heads!)
The following measurements are approximate -
Load a 2 quart pan with seeded, chopped dates upto 2/3 the capacity of the pan
Throw in a stick of butter/margarine chopped into smaller pieces
Pour in water to cover the dates (if you accidently add a tad more water, you can always boil it away scientifically)
Simmer on low heat until the contents of the pan are mushy (like baby’s food)
Shovel in 2 and 1/2 cups of wholewheat flour/atta
Augment with a handful of chopped/crushed almonds/walnuts/pecans
Blend thoroughly
Transfer mixture to a baking pan – round, square, rectangular – whatever (if you want thicker pieces use a smaller pan)
Swelter at 350F for at least 40 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean (toothpick goes in the experiment, not your teeth!)
March 28, 2007 at 6:50 pm |
JazakAllah khair Musafira…it sounds delicious, inshaAllah i will try it out.
AbdulQuddus: I would recommend taking Sh. Yasir’s class on Names and Attributes of Allah (swt) too. I took it and it was very informative. You can find more information on http://www.almaghrib.org or try getting sh. Yasir’s advice on muslimmatters.org
Also, I would sincerely suggest that you pray to AlQuddus to guide you to the truth, to His Path and to His Pleasure.