Musannaf Ibn Abi Shaybah

It is narrated from Ibrahim that the earlier people used to like that dates should not be finished from their homes. Ibrahim says: I will explain its interpretation. When someone would enter their homes and they wanted to honor and respect him, they would stop him and present food to him. If he ate it, they would honor him, and if he did not eat it, that would suffice for them. Ibrahim says: According to another explanation, if a beggar came and the household did not have bread, and the household found themselves inclined to give the beggar some wheat or flour, they would instead give him one or two dates, etc. Thus, this would suffice for the household and would also fulfill the need of the beggar.