Prohibition of Eating Two Dates Simultaneously

باب النهى عن القران بين تمرتين ونحوهماإذا أكل جماعة بإذن رفقته

This chapter preserves a piece of fairness so fine it can be missed, when people share a single pile of food, no one should grab two pieces at once at the expense of the rest. The setting is a time of famine and scarce dates, which is exactly when greed shows itself and when restraint matters most. The Arabic term al-qiran means coupling or pairing, here the pairing of two dates in one mouthful.

The relief in the ruling is the small clause at the end, unless one first asks permission from his eating companion. The point is not stinginess but courtesy among those sharing from one dish.

Hadith 741

Jabalah bin Suhaim reported:

عن جبلة بن سحيم قال: أصابنا عام سنةٍ مع ابن الزبير، فرزقنا تمراً، وكان عبد الله بن عمر رضى الله عنهما يمر بنا ونحن نأكل، فيقول: لا تقارونوا، فإن النبى نهى عن الإقران، ثم يقول: "إلا أن يستأذن الرجل أخاه" ((متفق عليه))

We were with 'Abdullah bin Az-Zubair (May Allah be pleased with them) in a time of famine, then we were provided with dates. (Once) when we were eating, 'Abdullah bin 'Umar (May Allah be pleased with them) passed by us and said: "Do not eat two dates together, for Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) prohibited it, unless one seeks permission from his brother (partner)." [Al-Bukhari and Muslim].

In plain words

When people share from one pile of food, no one should take two pieces at once unless his companion agrees. Simple fairness so that all eat their share, especially in times of scarcity.

Reference : Riyad as-Salihin 741 In-book reference : Book 2, Hadith 15