Those who considered it recommended to have dates in the household

It is narrated from Sayyidah Aishah (may Allah be pleased with her); she said: The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said to me: "O Aishah! The people of a house with no dates in it are hungry."

It is narrated from Ibrahim that the earlier people used to consider it recommended that dates should not run out of their homes.

Ibrahim said: I will explain this. When someone came in to them and they wished to honour him, they would detain him and offer him something from what was close at hand. If he ate from it, they would honour him, and if he did not eat, it was sufficient on their part.

Ibrahim said: On another occasion, a beggar would come when the household had no bread, and they did not feel inclined to scoop out flour and wheat for him, so they would give him one or two dates or the like. This would suffice on behalf of the household, and the beggar would be set right by it.

It is narrated from Sayyiduna Anas (may Allah be pleased with him); he said: I saw the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) eating dates in this state: he (peace and blessings be upon him) had drawn his shins and thighs together upright and was sitting on his hips.