Ramadhan: Win For Muslims As Govt Spares Dates From Tax

President William Ruto's government has handed a vital victory for the Muslim community by allowing the importation of tax-free dates for use ahead of the Holy month of Ramadhan.

In a statement, Treasury Cabinet Secretary Njuguna Ndung'u indicated that the dates will be exempted from the Import Declaration Fee and Railway Development Levy.

The Ramadhan period will be observed soon when Muslims around the world will be fasting in observance of the Holy month. During this period, the Muslims are expected to break their fast at sundown each evening by consuming dates prior to any other foods.

A plate of dates during Ramadhan. /FILE

"In the past few years, the Government, in support of our Muslim brothers, has allowed the duty-free importation of dates for use by the Muslims or paid the relevant taxes in the absence of legal provision for waivers.

"In order to give the same support to our Muslim brothers, the Government has authorized that the dates imported and cleared between 13th March and 30th April 2023 be done without the payment of taxes, Import Declaration Fee and Railway Development Levy," Ndung'u stated in part.

The taxes due on the dates imported and cleared during that period will be the responsibility of the Government.

Defence Cabinet Secretary (CS) Aden Duale, who shared his Treasury counterpart's statement on social media, commended President Ruto for allowing the importation of tax-free dates.

"Breaking the fast with dates has always been a Ramadan tradition. They are therefore a staple part of the diet throughout the prayer and fasting season. In support of the Muslim faithful, I want to thank President William Ruto for his kind gesture of authorizing a tax waiver on dates imported and cleared between 13th March and 30th April 2023.

"This will go a long way in supporting the Muslim Community as they prepare for the Holy Month," he wrote.

Why Do Muslims Eat Dates During Ramadhan?

Dates have long been a staple of Middle Eastern culture and cuisine, as they're indigenous to the Middle East and Northern Africa; but these sweet fruits take on a particular significance during Ramadan.

According to Popsugar, before heading to iftar each night, Muslims break their fast with dates (it's traditional to consume seven pieces of the sweet fruit, sometimes accompanied by milk or yoghurt). It's said that Prophet Muhammad broke his fast with dates, and the tradition has been passed on for centuries.

In addition to religious and cultural significance, dates pack loads of health benefits that are particularly useful after long hours of fasting. Because of their high sugar content, dates provide an instant energy boost to weary fasters.

Low blood sugar, headaches, and fatigue are common at the end of the day and munching on a few dates before iftar can help aid digestion for your big meal. The fruit's high fibre count also helps create a feeling of fullness, ensuring that you don't overeat through the night.

Muslims consider Ramadhan, to be more than just a time of fasting but a month of restraint for the whole body. During this period, they give charity to the needy and poor and feed them as required by their religious practices.

The fast is compulsory for every Muslim male or female with exemptions for children under the age of puberty, insane individuals, and men and women who are too old to undertake the obligation of fast. Others excluded from the fast include sick people whose health would be severely affected by the observance of the fast, pregnant women, breast-feeding women and those undergoing their menstrual cycle.

According to the 2023 Ramadhan calendar, the Muslim community will begin their fast on March 23 until April 20. The festival of Eid al-Fitr, the Festival of Fast-breaking, is an important religious holiday celebrated by Muslims worldwide that marks the end of Ramadan, the Islamic holy month of fasting.

The holiday celebrates the conclusion of the 29 or 30 days of dawn-to-sunset fasting during the entire month of Ramadan.

As the date of Eid depends on the sighting of the moon, there may be variations in the exact date that is celebrated around the world. The announcement of the exact dates of Eid Al-Fitr may not happen until close to the start of Ramadan.

Muslim faithful from Garissa pray during Idd-Ul-fitr following the end of the Holy month of Ramadhan. /FILE