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Applying the Ḥadīth of Seven ‘Ajwa Dates for a Fasting Person The ḥadīth states: مَن تَصَبَّحَ سَبْعَ تَمَراتٍ عَجْوَةً، لَمْ يَضُرَّهُ ذلكَ اليومَ سُمٌّ ولا سِحْرٌ "Whoever eats seven ‘Ajwa dates in the morning will not be harmed by poison or magic that day." Al-Bukhārī (5768), Muslim (2047) For a fasting person, the question arises: Can they consume the dates at Suḥūr (pre-dawn meal) and still receive the protection mentioned in the ḥadīth? Al-Ḥāfiḍh Ibn Ḥajar stated in Fatḥ al-Bārī (10/239): "As for the endpoint mentioned in the phrase ‘until nightfall,’ its implication is that the protective effect of ‘Ajwa dates in repelling the harm of magic and poison ceases once night falls for the one who consumed them in the morning. This also indicates that the term ‘day’ can refer to the period between the rising of Fajr or the sun until sunset, without necessarily including the night. I have not found in any of the ḥadīth narrations a ruling regarding someone who consumes ‘Ajwa at the beginning of the night whether they would receive the same protection from poison and magic until morning as someone who ate it in the morning. However, what appears most likely is that this benefit is specific to consumption in the morning, as it is usually taken on an empty stomach. It is possible, though, that one who eats it at night while fasting thus having an empty stomach may share in this benefit." Benefit: It is reported in one wording of the ḥadīth collected by Muslim (2047): مَن أَكَلَ سَبْعَ تَمَراتٍ مِمَّا بَيْنَ لَابَتَيْهَا حِينَ يُصْبِحُ، لَمْ يَضُرَّهُ سُمٌّ حَتَّى يُمْسِيَ "Whoever eats seven dates from (the land) between its two lava fields in the morning will not be harmed by poison until the evening." Shaikh Ibn ‘Uthaymīn رحمه الله commented: "This ḥadīth is general and includes all dates of Madīnah, whether ‘Ajwa or other types. If a person eats seven dates in the morning, they will not be harmed by poison or magic. Does this apply to all dates everywhere? Some scholars have said that it includes all dates, regardless of location. Our Shaikh, ‘Abdur-Raḥmān رحمه الله, inclined toward this view. However, some scholars restricted it specifically to the dates of Madīnah." https://www.alathar.net/home/esound/index.php?op=codevi&coid=115296 ____ Abū 'Aṭīyah 29/7/1446H.