At the time of Ibn Az-Zubair, we were struck with famine, and he provided us with dates for our food. `Abdullah bin `Umar used to pass by us while we were eating, and say, “Do not eat two dates together at a time, for the Prophet (ﷺ) forbade the taking of two dates together at a time (in a gathering).” Ibn `Umar used to add, “Unless one takes the permission of one’s companions.”