Israeli Dates Spoil the Fast

by Dr. Abdul-Sattar Kassem

Some clergymen may object to this view, but I insist on it, and I am ready for open deliberation, argument, and debate.

To begin with, it is a disgrace to all of us that, after some forty years of occupation, we still consume Israeli goods that we do not need and that are in no way essential — things like Israeli dates, Israeli grapes, shampoos, corn flakes, ice cream, perfumes, chocolate, and so on. How much greater is this disgrace when we translate the purchase of the enemy’s goods into religious terms?

It is not permissible for a Muslim or an Arab to buy Israeli goods unless he is in dire need of them and the benefit of buying them outweighs the resulting harm. Buying Israeli goods amounts to supporting the Israeli economy, which in turn helps buy weapons, confiscate land, build settlements, build prisons, and kill Arabs. It is a sinful act by every religious meaning and every religious teaching. God commanded us to fight those who drove us from our land and who backed our expulsion; He did not command us to buy their goods and trade with them. By buying the enemy’s goods that we do not need, we are practicing something un-Islamic and violating the spirit of Islam and its texts.

Buying these goods was never permissible at any time — so how much worse is the matter in Ramadan, while a person is fasting and hoping for God’s forgiveness? Breaking one’s fast on an Israeli date is an un-Islamic act, one that violates the spirit, wisdom, and purpose of the fast, and I do not believe such an act leads to forgiveness from God, glory be to Him.

Under these difficult circumstances, we should break our fast on dates grown in Gaza and Jericho, or on water if Arab produce is unavailable. We need to support our national economy and support the Palestinian farmer — otherwise, what is this faith that drives us to support the Zionist farmer instead?

Faith is what settles in the heart and is confirmed by deeds; justifying sins and lapses has no place in the realm of faith. Sadly, many clergymen do not take the initiative to translate Islamic teachings into practice on the ground. For instance, a great many people, at condolence gatherings, offer Israeli dates on the theory that dates are blessed and will bring about forgiveness for the deceased. I do not believe Israeli dates will be a source of forgiveness for the dead; I rather suspect that offering them brings sin upon the deceased’s family.

We must be honest with ourselves and with God.

And I repeat: eating Israeli dates spoils the fast.

Source: Translated from the original Arabic, “التمر الإسرائيلي يفسد الصوم” by Dr. Abdul-Sattar Kassem.