“What a good suḥūr (pre-dawn meal) for the believer dates are.”

Narrated by Abū Dāwūd (no. 2345), Ibn Ḥibbān (no. 3475), al-Bayhaqī in al-Sunan al-Kubrā (no. 8197), and al-Bazzār (no. 8550), from the ḥadīth of Abū Hurayrah — may Allah be pleased with him.
Authenticated in Silsilat al-Aḥādīth al-Ṣaḥīḥah (no. 562) and Ṣaḥīḥ al-Targhīb wa al-Tarhīb (no. 1072).

Brief Explanation of the Hadith

God’s blessings upon His servants are immense and His bounties are abundant. Among the greatest of His favors in food and drink is the blessing of dates, which the Prophet — may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him — singled out in this ḥadīth, highlighting their virtue as the best food for suḥūr (the pre-dawn meal before fasting). This is due to the blessing, lightness, and ease of digestion that dates provide.
For the expression “Ni‘ma” (نِعْمَ) is a form of commendation and praise; thus, suḥūr itself is a source of blessing, and its specification with dates adds another blessing — combining two great forms of barakah (blessing). Moreover, it carries immense reward through following the Sunnah of the Messenger — may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him.
The word “saḥūr” (with the vowel fatḥah on the sīn) refers to the food or drink taken before dawn, whereas “suḥūr” (with ḍammah on the sīn) refers to the act itself (of taking that pre-dawn meal).
The ḥadīth highlights the virtue of taking dates for suḥūr, showing that dates are a blessed nourishment which strengthens the fasting person for worship and combine sweetness with sustenance and strength.