Musannaf Ibn Abi Shaybah

It is narrated from Hazrat Aisha (may Allah be pleased with her). She says that the Noble Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said to me: "O Aisha (may Allah be pleased with her)! The members of that household are hungry in whose house there are no dates."

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.

26092 - Ibrahim said: And I will explain it: When a visitor entered upon them and they wanted to honor him, they would detain him and bring him close by. If he ate from it, they honored him, and if he did not eat, it sufficed for them.

26093 - Ibrahim said: And another instance is when a beggar comes and the people of the house do not have bread, and they do not feel inclined to scoop out for him from the flour or wheat, so they give him a date or two dates or something similar, and thus the people of the house are excused and the beggar is satisfied with it.

It is narrated from Hazrat Anas. He says that I saw the Noble Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him) eating dates in such a manner that he had joined his shin and thigh together and was sitting on his haunches.