Medical Perspectives of the Descriptions of the Date Palm in the Quran

There are many references to the date palm in Judeo-Christian scripture and also in the Islamic holy book, the Quran. The date palm is prominently featured in the description of Maryam’s (also known as the virgin Mary) travails during her childbirth. By reviewing some of the verses mentioning the date palm in the Quran and relating them with current scientific findings, this paper explores the potential beneficial properties of the date palm to human health. Although relatively few scientific studies have been done on the date palm, many very promising beneficial properties are shown and further work should be done to highlight the benefits of this important plant.