Musnad Ahmad Hadith 8633

Abu Uthman Nahdi, may Allah have mercy on him, says that once I stayed as a guest with Abu Hurairah, may Allah be pleased with him, for seven days. He had divided the night into three parts between himself, his wife, and his servant. First, one person would pray, then he would wake the next, and after he prayed, he would wake the third. One day I asked, "O Abu Hurairah! In what order do you fast?" He replied, "I fast three days at the beginning of the month, and if any necessity arises, then I fast at the end of the month. And I heard Abu Hurairah, may Allah be pleased with him, say that once the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, distributed some dates among his companions, may Allah be pleased with them. I received seven dates, one of which was unripe. To me, it was the best among them, as I had to chew it hard (and my gums and teeth were moving)."