549 – Salman ibn ʿĀmir al-Ḍabbī (may Allah be pleased with him) reports that the Prophet ﷺ said, “When one of you breaks his fast, let him do so with dates; if he cannot find any, then with water, for it is purifying.” It was narrated by the Five, and Ibn Khuzaymah, Ibn Ḥibbān, and al-Ḥākim all declared it authentic. (1)

Hadith rating
This ḥadith is classified as sound (ḥasan).

There are three reports in this chapter:

1. The present narration, whose transmitters the author has just identified.
2. The report of Anas, traced back to the Prophet, worded: “He liked to break his fast with three dates, or with something untouched by fire.” It was recorded by al-ʿUqaylī in al-Ḍuʿafāʾ and by al-Ḍiyāʾ al-Maqdisī (5/131).
3. The report of Anas: “The Messenger of Allah ﷺ would break his fast with fresh dates before praying; if none were available, then with dried dates, and if even those were unavailable he would take a few sips of water.” It was narrated by Abū Dāwūd (2009) and al-Tirmidhī (632), who graded it “ḥasan, gharīb (sound, singular).” This is the most reliable of the three reports; it is therefore judged sound (ḥasan). Al-Tirmidhī declared it ḥasan, Abū Ḥātim and al-Ḥākim authenticated it, and al-Dhahabī concurred.