he said he used to say i never benefited from eating dates except with the zanj and the people of isfahan. as for the zanj he does not choose and i choose. as for the isfahani he takes a handful and does not eat from anything else and does not look at what is in front of him until he finishes with the handful. this is laxity and choosing is shame and injustice. there is no doubt that what remains of the dates is not of benefit to the family if it is in front of someone who chooses. he used to say
قال وكان يقول لم أنتفع بأكل التمر قط إلا مع الزنج وأهل اصبهان. فأما الزنجي فإنه لا يتخير وأنا أتخير، وأما الأصبهاني فإنه يقبض القبضة ولا يأكل من غيرها، ولا ينظر إلى ما بين يديه حتى يفرغ من القبضة. وهذا سدل، والتخير قرفة وجور ٣ . ولا جرم أن الذي يبقى من لتمر لا ينتفع به العيال إذا كان قدام من يتخير. وكان يقول