By Lubna Abdel-Aziz The winds of change may blow and bluster through the land, but some things remain constant and unshaken. For thousands of years Egypt has withstood hardships of every kind from famines to floods, yet it still stands, perpetual and persistent. While others have vanished in a gust of desert sand or have been submerged under deep blue seas, Egypt remains bold and defiant. Men may come and men may go, but as long as the mighty river Nile flows through this blessed spot of land, with its rows of palm trees guarding its shores, and the warm rays of the sun shining brightly in its clear blue skies, it still stands, and there it will stay. Egypt endures with its honest humble natives, still struggling for a better future, one that resembles their distant past. Synonymous with Egypt is its mighty river, its great pyramids and its graceful palms. This holy season of Ramadan is the time to partake of the fruit that this elegant tree has offered mankind for thousands of years. It comes when it comes, spring, summer, winter or fall. Ramadan is either 29 or 30 days, as it follows the lunar calendar, (11 days off the Gregorian calendar), as long as the crescent moon is sighted. It is welcomed with gusto by Muslims around the globe. The holiness of the month stems from the fact that it marks the day when the angel Gabriel first transmitted the Holy Book of the Koran to the prophet Mohamed. The exact date is not known but is believed to be one of the last 10 days of the month, called , "Laylat al Qadr" While the sights and sounds of Ramadan are prominent throughout the Muslim world, it is the taste of Ramadan that is singular and distinct. Breakfast time everywhere promises a rich repast, with exotic sugary desserts, chased down by full-bodied, gratifying beverages. With well over 1 billion Muslims observing the fast, foodstuffs naturally differ from culture to culture. The table set up at sundown after a fast that starts at sunrise in China, differs greatly from the one laid out in Morocco, except for one common item---the date. It was 14 centuries ago that the holy prophet Mohamed, founder of Islam, would break his fast by eating a date or two, soaked in a little milk. Try as we might to follow in his footsteps, we find ourselves rushing to the lavishly spread feast, forgetting the profound lessons of the holy prophet and the simple date. More than a sweet fruit, dates are an excellent source of fibre, sugar, magnesium, and potassium. According to "Al Shahib and Marshall:" Dates may be considered an almost ideal food, providing a wide range of essential nutrients and potential health benefits." The name of the date palm conjures visions of desert romance and the mystical, mystifying Orient. The Bible speaks of it, so does the Holy Koran, and it is included in many poems of desert sands and "Sheikhs of Araby". Dates have been a staple food of the Middle East for thousands of years. They are believed to have been cultivated by humans before any other tree, in pre-historic Egypt and Mesopotamia, as early as 4000 BC. The ancient Egyptians were most resourceful and had many versatile uses for the fruit, including a date wine. Jews, Christians and pagans used its feather-like leaves in their religious services. Because of their high tannin content, dates today are used medicinally as a detersive and astringent for intestinal troubles. They are also administered for sore throats, bronchial catarrh, fever, as well as tooth aches, diarrhea and hangovers caused by intoxication. The tree trunk provides fuel and building materials, and baskets and bags are weaved from their elegant leaves. It was the Arabs who spread dates around the world, to Southwest Asia, Northern Africa, Spain and Italy. The Spaniards brought the date to Mexico and California, and all those gorgeous palms that embellish any capital have their origins in ancient Egypt, which remains the world's leading producer of dates, followed by Iraq, Saudi Arabia, Iran, Algeria, Pakistan and Sudan And there it stands, the proud palm tree in its ancient native land, with its roots dug deep in the ground, its slender stem straight and tall, its splendid leaves swaying gently with every soft summer breeze. There it stands by the river, guarding the shores of Egypt since the beginning of time. It has heard the cry of Poverty and Despair. It has enjoyed days of Rebellion and Victory. It has blushed at the sight of Shame, Sin and Corruption. It has witnessed the Rise and Fall, of mighty kings, now perished and withered in their graves, and it still stands. It has watched Jews, Christians and Muslims worship under its shade, as the Nile gently flowed and caressed its roots. Men may come and men may go, but there will always be the generous palm offering its bounty, comfort and sustenance to all mankind. Ramadan is a daily reminder of how nature has blessed this land with its many gifts of majesty and splendour, which have helped it survive and endure. Attempts to destroy it exist today as they have in the past, but like its great mighty river, its immortal monuments, and its tall slender palms, Egypt is here to stay. Poems are made by fools like me, But only God can make a tree -- Joyce Kilmer (1886-1916)
