There is a hadith of the Prophet ﷺ that advises eating 7 dates a day:
according to Sa'd ibn Abi Waqqas, the Prophet ﷺ -peace and blessings of Allah be upon him- said: "Whoever eats seven dates of 'al 'Ajwa' in the morning, nothing will harm him that day, neither poison nor sorcery"
The number 7 is often mentioned in the Sunnah, and the Arabs used it a great deal. It is therefore advised to eat an odd number of dates, with 7 being the best choice, following the example of the Prophet ﷺ.
What the science says: dates
What published research says about the remedies mentioned above, for context — the studies address material causes, while healing belongs to Allah.
Dates
A food of the Sunnah, dates have been studied in particular in pregnant women: consumption in late pregnancy is associated with a shorter labor and better cervical dilation (J Obstet Gynaecol, 2011), confirmed by a meta-analysis (Explore, 2021) and a recent review (Sultan Qaboos Univ Med J, 2024). Rich in fiber, potassium, and readily available sugars, dates are also the ideal food for breaking the fast. Precaution: energy-dense and sweet — use in moderation if diabetic (3 to 7 dates per day according to tradition, to be adjusted to one's situation).
