Reliever It is an established practice among Muslim parents to place a piece of well-chewed date (or other sweet fruit) in the mouth of a newborn. Muslims do this because they follow the deeds and actions of Prophet Muhammad, God’s blessing and peace be upon him, and believe that, as it is in the Quran, he has been sent as a healing and grace to humanity. We can conclude from the path that this custom took that there is a special value hidden in it. It is – in addition to the value and joy of following the Sunnah (the deeds of the Prophet) – putting a ’sugar-like substance‘ in the mouth of a newborn baby reduces sensitivity to pain and heart rate.
An interesting medical study published in the British Medical Journal (No. 6993, June 10, 1995) no doubt demonstrated the benefit of giving sugar to a newborn baby to reduce the feeling for any painful procedure like this Stab in the heel to take a blood sample or before circumcision.
The study, „The Analgesic (Pain Relieving) Effect of Sugar in Fully Developed Infants: A Controlled Random Study,“ conducted by Nora Haouari, Christopher Wood, Gillian Griffiths, and Malcolm Levene in the infant division of the Leeds General Infirmary in England.
60 healthy infants at a gestation of 37-42 weeks and ages 1-6 days were randomly given one of four solutions: 12.5% sugar solution, 25% sugar solution, 50% sugar solution and sterile water (control ). The first group of 30 babies received sugar syrup before a routine blood test (heel stabbing is usually very painful) to determine jaundice. The other 30 babies were given sterile water for control.
Applying 2 ml of a 25% or 50% sugar solution to the tongue before pricking the heel significantly reduced the crying phase compared to babies who had only been given water. And her heart rate also normalized faster. The stronger sugar solution was also more effective, the crying decreased even more with increasing sugar concentration. From this we can conclude that sugar on the tongue can be a useful and safe form for the use of pain relievers in newborns.
Blass and Hoffmeyer also showed that 12% sugar solution significantly reduced the duration of the crying phase in newborn babies from whom heel blood is being taken or who is being circumcised. This study was reported in The Independent newspaper (June 9, 1995) and the British Medical Journal.
The way in which the Prophet acted that God’s blessings and peace be upon him has been preserved in the collections of his statements and in reports about him, most of which can be found in the two authentic collections of Al-Bukhari and Muslim.
Abu Buradah reported from Abu Musa, who said:
“I had a newborn baby; I took it to the Prophet Muhammad, who called him Ibrahim. The Prophet chewed a piece of date, then took it and rubbed it on the inside of the baby’s mouth. ”
There are many other reports like this.
The date contains a very high sugar content (70-80%); it contains both fructose and glucose, making it fairly high in calories; it is easy and quickly digestible and very helpful for the brain. The date contains 2.2% protein, vitamin A, vitamin B1, B2, nicotinic acid (against Pellagra); it has trace elements such as potassium, sodium, calcium, iron, manganese, copper. Potassium, the proportion of which is very high, is very effective in heavy bleeding, such as in cases of birth and circumcision.
We can add that the Sunnah also recommends eating dates when breaking the fast in Ramadhan. The dates should, if possible, be eaten at sunset before prayer – this is the best way, medically and nutritionally, and it corresponds to the Sunnah.
The great value of the dates is also pointed out in a famous and very beautiful passage of the Quran, in the chapter called Maryam, verse 25-26:.
“And shake the stem of the palm towards you and it will drop fresh ripe dates on you. So eat and drink and be of good cheer. ”
This is the prescription of God, the Creator, for the Blessed Virgin Mary at the time Jesus was born, the Blessed Prophet of God. It was a prescription to make birth easier.
As for the authors of the medical studies, who intend to try new sugary or sweet substances, we can recommend trying dates for the newborn to ease the pain.
“We will let them see Our Signs all over the world and on themselves so that it becomes clear to them that it is the truth. Isn’t it enough that your Lord is a witness of all things? ” (Quran 41:53)
Source: https://www.islamland.com/deu/articles/datteln-schmerzstiller