Cucumber has a cold effect and dates have a hot one. By combining the two it becomes mild. From this hadith we gather that it is recommended that the effect (hot or cold) of things eaten should be taken into consideration. Cucumber is insipid and tasteless, and dates are sweet which results in the cucumber also tasting sweet.

In Tirmidhi and other narrations, in explaining this, Sayyidina Rasoolullah sallallahu alaihe wasallam also said, The cold effect of one removes the heat of the other, and the heat of one removes the cold effect of the other.

Some ulama have translated this also as watermelon’ instead of musk-melon, the reason being, as in the first narration, here also the cold effect is intended. But it is clear that musk-melon is meant here. The reason for eating dates is also that it gives the melon a sweeter taste. It is not necessary that one’s benefit be gauged everywhere. It is possible that this is due to some other benefits. According to this humble servant the eating of watermelon with dates has its own benefit and that is to create evenness in the effect of both, so that it becomes mild. The eating of musk-melon with dates has its own benefit and that is that if the melon is insipid and tasteless, many a time, due to it being insipid sugar is mixed before it is eaten. Therefore it is not necessary to give the same reasons for both watermelon and musk-melon.

Besides the previously mentioned benefits of cucumbers and dates, it makes the body plump too. Sayyiditina Aisha radiyallahu anha relates that, After my marriage, when the time came for me to go and live with Rasoolulla sallallahu alaihe wasallam, my mother thought I be a bit plump and my build become better. She gave me cucumbers and dates to eat. As a result my body became nice and plump.

It is related in a weak hadith that Sayyiditina Aisha radiyallahu anha said that Sayyidina Rasoolullah sallallahu alaihe wasallam ate cucumber with salt. It is possible that he at times ate it with salt and at times with dates. Sometimes one prefers something that is sweet and at other times a thing that is salty.

This is the same hadith mentioned above. Here it is mentioned briefly. The narrator doubts if it was jewellery or gold.